My columns in the paper lately have seemed to follow the "People That JJ Knows" vein. Well, yup - here's another one... The Whitecaps came to town on Saturday, and an old schoolmate was playing for them. So I wrote this leading up to the game (which they won 4-0)...
There was a time when Geordie Lyall was a goal-scoring machine. And yes, I’ll admit it, it was he — and not me — who was the star of the Glenlyon-Norfolk Grade 6 boys
soccer team in Victoria.
Now a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Lyall was, basically, the entire offence of the our elementary school team. It was easy to see then that he had talent far beyond that of his peers.
Now, playing for a United Soccer League First Division side, his role has changed somewhat.
“Scoring goals in the ISA tournament (in elementary school) is totally different than the real world,” laughed the 28-year-old. “ I’ve been a right back ever since UVic — and I played sweeper there. After a while, people just start moving further and further back (in the formation), I guess. But I’m fine with that. Some guys aren’t, but I am.”
Lyall and the Whitecaps are paying a rare visit to the Okanagan this weekend, when they take on the Portland Timbers at the Apple Bowl. The game, at 7 p.m., is part of a doubleheader with the Whitecaps’ women’s team, who take on the Seattle Sounders at 4 p.m.
It’s been seven years since Lyall joined the team, ironically, as they were interested in one of his teammates at UVic, Simon Vickers. But his university coach convinced them to take at look at Lyall, and the Caps placed him on the reserve team after seeing him work out.
Half a season later, they called him up, and he’s been there ever since.
“It’s been a good ride,” said Lyall, who’s played 105 career games with Vancouver.
And a rough one, too.
“It’s treated me well,” he said tongue-in-cheek, listing off a lengthy rap sheet of injuries.
From a knee operation, to wonky ankles, strained abs, pulled groins, and a strained hip flexor (“It’s like a disease — it never goes away,” he said) the life of a professional athlete has taken it’s toll on the shaggy-haired five-foot-11, 165 pounder.
And it’s not as if taking all this abuse has made him rich, either. There are very few BMWs in the players’ parking lot at Swanguard.
“I drive a Mazda 626, which is barely hanging in there,” he laughed. “And it was free — my grandpa gave it to me when he couldn’t drive
anymore.
“There’s no superstar here. I’m not your standard professional athlete.”
Lyall just earned his teaching degree from UVic, and entered the highly competitive field of subsitute teaching to supplement his income.
Ironically, the first place he wound up teaching was back at our alma mater, GNS.
With the USL playing a short summer season, Lyall still lives in Victoria and teaches during the off-season, commuting to games and practices. He’ll be putting his teaching skills to work on Saturday, when the Whitecaps host a youth clinics before the game.
It’ll be a welcome stretch of the legs, after the expected five-hour bus trip up from Vancouver today, as well as Saturday night’s game.
“We just got back from Portland, which is an eight-hour drive. There’s a lot of busing in this league,” he said. “But it’ll be pretty good for people outside of Vancouver to see a decent level of soccer. Kelowna’s always been a good soccer town, so I’m sure the game will draw well.”
And here are some pictures which I took at the game... I had to play photographer - AGAIN - but at least the Province and Sun planned to pick up the pictures ...
