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Personal
Fullname: Tom (Thomas?) Lally
aka: Tom Lally
Born: 1949
Birthplace: Galway
Signed: 15 August 1970
Position: Goalkeeper
Internationals: Ireland
International Caps: 0
International Goals: 0
Biog
Irish goalkeeper picked up from Sligo Rovers in 1970 to understudy Evan Williams. Lally began his career with Galway Bohemians, West United and Galway Hibernian before signing for Sligo in 1968.
He never played in the first team, but featured in the ridiculously strong reserve side of the period. Tom is believed to have spent time on loan to Morton, before heading back across the Irish Sea in October 1971. Celtic famously signed numerous keepers under Jock Stein and competition for a place was tough.
Tom then enjoyed a long career in the Irish League, including spells playing for and managing his home town club.
Answered an SOS to come out retirement and don the gloves for Sligo Rovers in 1987/88.
Post-Celtic
Almost immediately, a number of cross-channel clubs turned their attention to the Sligo Rovers goalkeeper.
“Crystal Palace were one of them, but Glasgow Celtic were also showing an interest,” Tom revealed.
With Sligoman Sean Fallon at Parkhead and Pat McCluskey returning to Celtic to tout the talents of Lally, the ‘keeper went to Glasgow for two week trails and stayed for five.
Celtic offered Rovers money for the Galwayman, but Sligo were seeking £10,000. Lally eventually left for £4,000.
“It was a huge move for me. Again, I found the difference extremely tough. The level of training alone was at least two steps up from Rovers, but I enjoyed it and I was determined to do my best,” Tom adds.
At that time, the Glasgow giants played a lot of exhibition matches and with Evan Williams the ‘number one’ and John Fallon next in line, Lally was third choice.
He continued to make progress, however, and in his second season he took over as the Reserve ‘keeper and in the 1971/72 season was on the bench for European matches.
“I believed I was getting pretty close to the first team at that stage, but a few injuries and a few bad displays meant that things took a turn for the worst.
“I made my debut in a Glasgow Cup match against Clyde, but I then suffered a very bad dislocation in my finger. Celtic told me to take a few weeks off, but perhaps my own personality got the better of me and I began to push things.
“I was very close to making the big breakthrough. I wanted to play first team football with Celtic. I quickly became disillusioned and later asked for a transfer. Celtic offered me to Preston North End.
“Perhaps I should have come back to Sligo Rovers, but I joined St. Patrick’s Athletic and I ended up in the 1974 F.A.I. Cup Final against Finn Harps in Dalymount Park. Harps won three-one and that was another disappointment for me,” Tom went on.
Lally was to have a spell with Athlone Town and when Galway Rovers joined the League of Ireland he returned to his native county to play for the Tribesmen.
Jinx
As player/ manager in 1985 Tom was instrumental in guiding the now re-named Galway United to the F.A.I. Cup decider against Shamrock Rovers, but his ‘final jinx’ struck for a third time and a Noel Larkin goal gave the Hoops victory.
Lally had a disagreement over club policy and resigned the following season, going back to junior football with Galway Hibernians.
He was to return to the Showgrounds for the 1987/88 season and made a total of thirty-one appearances, bringing his overall tally to ninety-six for the ‘Bit O’Red.’
Tom now holds a UEFA ‘B’ coaching licence and for the past two years was involved with Mervue United. He also conducted fitness training for the Kilterran hurling club in the past, as they won two county titles and the All-Ireland in 1992.
Looking back on his own soccer career, he cites David Pugh as the best centre-half he ever played with and Tony Fagan as the best “pound for pound” player Sligo Rovers ever had.
He also includes Tony Stenson and Pat McCluskey as two other outstanding individual talents.
Former Waterford United goalkeeper, Peter Thomas, is another he admired and he can also claim to have played against George Best in a five-a-side at Wembley when at Celtic in 1971.
Commenting on the state of the game now, Lally is of the opinion that it can be a misconception to state that players in former years were better.
“I saw a lot of players in today’s game who would not live in teams of the past, but I also saw players back then who would not make it today either.
“Good managers and good coaches are about good players playing well. That’s what the game is all about,” he stated.
Playing Career
| League Appearances | League Goals | ||
| 1968/69 | Sligo Rovers | ||
| 1969/70 | Sligo Rovers | ||
| 1970/71 | Celtic | 0 | 0 |
| Morton (loan) | 0 | 0 | |
| 1971/72 | Celtic | 0 | 0 |
| St. Patrick’s Athletic | |||
| 1972/73 | St. Patrick’s Athletic | ||
| 1973/74 | St. Patrick’s Athletic | ||
| 1974/75 | St. Patrick’s Athletic | ||
| 1975/76 | St. Patrick’s Athletic | ||
| 1976/77 | Athlone Town | ||
| 1977/78 | Galway Rovers | ||
| 1978/79 | Galway Rovers | ||
| 1979/80 | Galway Rovers | ||
| 1980/81 | Galway Rovers | ||
| 1981/82 | Galway United | ||
| 1982/83 | Galway United | ||
| 1983/84 | Galway United | ||
| 1984/85 | Galway United | ||
| 1987/88 | Sligo Rovers |
NB. Galway United known as Galway Rovers prior to 1981
Honours
“It’s not quite the same thing, but my local side, Galway United, had a goalkeeper as top scorer in the National League once!” says Keith Kelly. “The club joined the league in the 1977/78 season, and was then known as Galway Rovers. “Being the new boys, they weren’t a massive success or anything, and at the end of that first season their top scorer was goalkeeper Tom Lally, who scored four penalties in the season.
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