RIP Bill Lyons (@Bill, previously @de niro) update re funeral pg 51/JustGiving link p52

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Ric said:
A random but endearing memory I have of Bill, but one typical of the man, is from one of the early European away days. Can’t remember where or when exactly, but it was somewhere cold.

Anyway, they had a big outdoor ice rink at a Christmas market that we’d been drinking at. After a few beers, Bill winked at me and donned a pair of ice skates. He clumsily entered the rink and proceeded to deck it a couple of times. I’ll be honest, I feared the worst for him and thought he’d lost his senses.

He started to draw a bit of a crowd, and a few local girls on the ice helped him to his feet and held his arms to prevent him from falling again.

He continued with them for about 30 seconds, before gesturing that he should be ok. As soon as they let go, he suddenly skated off quickly, pirouetting and twirling like Christopher fucking Dean, much to the amusement of everyone watching. Probably the most accomplished skater on the ice.

That was Bill. A truly loveable clown, who loved making people laugh. The world is a poorer place without him.
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Beautiful post that, mate.

You’re so right about his ability to make people laugh.
 
Ric said:
A random but undearing memory I have of Bill, but one typical of the man, is from one of the early European away days. Can’t remember where or when exactly, but it was somewhere cold.

Anyway, they had a big outdoor ice rink at a Christmas market that we’d been drinking at. After a few beers, Bill winked at me and donned a pair of ice skates. He clumsily entered the rink and proceeded to deck it a couple of times. I’ll be honest, I feared the worst for him and thought he’d lost his senses.

He started to draw a bit of a crowd, and a few local girls on the ice helped him to his feet and held his arms to prevent him from falling again.

He continued with them for about 30 seconds, before gesturing that he should be ok. As soon as they let go, he suddenly skated off quickly, pirouetting and twirling like Christopher fucking Dean, much to the amusement of everyone watching. Probably the most accomplished skater on the ice.

That was Bill. A truly loveable clown, who loved making people laugh. The world is a poorer place without him.
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Gelsenkirchen, the Shalke trip
Surprised you remember that Ric. You were proper shitfaced at game time

I was with him on the tram that was attacked after the match
 
Danjo said:
I got to know Bill when I was a rep calling on him at Firwood Carpets. He was not only a lovely guy but an absolute wind up merchant too.

He used to employ a young lad called Cameron and used to send him on all sorts of mad errands. One day I was visiting Bill and he told Cameron that he owned the hairdressers over the road from the shop and that they wouldn’t pay their rent til their windows were cleaned inside. He sent Cameron over with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge. The hairdressers was full of customers and in walked a 16 year old lad who said nothing and just started to clean the windows, soap and water going everywhere. Me and Bill sat over the road in the carpet shop in hysterics.

It was always a highlight when a visit to his shop was in the diary, it was less work and more pleasure to be honest. We’d just have a cuppa, a good chat about City and at the end do a bit of business. One thing was for sure, I always left with a grin on my face.

We did a few City games together, Barnsley away in pre season and a great trip to Barcelona to watch us in another pre season friendly at the Nou Camp.

I’ve not seen him for a good few years due to a change in job role but knew he’d been taken poorly. I’m just glad he got to see us win the lot.

RIP Bill, a true blue.
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Loved that about Cameron and that was Bill at his best, bloody wumming bugger ... but what a top bloke. ;)
 
Ric said:
A random but endearing memory I have of Bill, but one typical of the man, is from one of the early European away days. Can’t remember where or when exactly, but it was somewhere cold.

Anyway, they had a big outdoor ice rink at a Christmas market that we’d been drinking at. After a few beers, Bill winked at me and donned a pair of ice skates. He clumsily entered the rink and proceeded to deck it a couple of times. I’ll be honest, I feared the worst for him and thought he’d lost his senses.

He started to draw a bit of a crowd, and a few local girls on the ice helped him to his feet and held his arms to prevent him from falling again.

He continued with them for about 30 seconds, before gesturing that he should be ok. As soon as they let go, he suddenly skated off quickly, pirouetting and twirling like Christopher fucking Dean, much to the amusement of everyone watching. Probably the most accomplished skater on the ice.

That was Bill. A truly loveable clown, who loved making people laugh. The world is a poorer place without him.
Click to expand...
Gelsenkirchen that, had to be
 
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didsburyblu said:
Awful news to hear he fought so valiantly even keeping his carpet shop going when most would of packed it in. Had some great European away trips with Bill before he was struck down by this debilitating illness.

Hopefully he is at peace now. It was a pleasure to know you Bill you were a gent.

View attachment 106548View attachment 106549
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No one drinking #BottomPic ? :)
 
Rascal said:
Can we do some sort of fundraiser pal, MND is horrible i would quite happily contribute to a fund in Bills memory.
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Yes, that’s definitely something to consider. We had wanted to do a fundraiser for him after his diagnosis, but he was a proud man and quickly dismissed the idea. Something to help the battle against MND might be more appropriate though. Leave it with me, but if anyone wants to contribute or has any other ideas please PM me.
 
Ric said:
Yes, that’s definitely something to consider. We had wanted to do a fundraiser for him after his diagnosis, but he was a proud man and quickly dismissed the idea. Something to help the battle against MND might be more appropriate though. Leave it with me, but if anyone wants to contribute or has any other ideas please PM me.
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I get that pal. he was proud.

Can you keep us abreast of funeral arrangements please pal.
 
denirojr said:
We as a family would like to say a MASSIVE THANKS to everyone at city, all the fans and the club :)

We are so thankful he got to see the trophies at home, and see the treble.

My dad is at peace now having fought MND all the way! He still had the cheeky smile on his face right to the very end :)

Once again a MASSIVE THANKS to each and everyone of you all, it’s been a huge pleasure to read all of you kind comments.

The Lyons Family x
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He enriched all our lives...THANK YOU xx
 
Oh no such sad news, loved Bill. First met fifteen years ago when my lad did work experience at his shop. As soon as Bill knew my lad was a Blue he took him to Carrington for the day, didn’t really do any work that week it was just all things City. Such a great sense of humour, he really did cheer me up whenever I saw him. Took the p**s out of the rags good style, Blue through and through. I once needed an extra ticket for Blackburn Cup tie away which he ran around and sorted for me last minute (thanks Tim of the Oak- I was that mate). He even gave me a lift, drove in his usual bat out of hell manner, I’ve never got back from an away game so quick lol. Gave us a lift to West Brom once - and sorted a few other away lifts too for us - he was such a lovely funny man who would do anything to help a fellow Blue. He loved the bones of Jeanie and Jess and my thoughts are with them and the rest of his family at this very sad time. I’m sure like a lot of Blues on here, I will remember you with a smile Bill. Sleep tight Blue.
 
Ric said:
Here’s a photo from the first ever BM get together mate. Me, Jess and Bill sat in the middle, @malkie and @Stuart on the left, @barryo far right and others whose usernames I’ve forgotten. Good times.

bm-piss-up-2004.jpg
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What year was that 2003 ?
 
Blue2112 said:
I first met Bill about 20 years ago, both of us used to go to reserve team games, me with my daughters Naomi and Charlotte (Charleygirl on BM) and him with Jessica, hot chocolates, good chat and a friendship formed. I used to sort tickets out for people back then as did Bill and he was the first person I can remember saying to me for a change 'Josh i'm going down to the ground do you want any tickets for whatever game'. I knew instantly we would become friends. At those reserve team games I was unsure of whether to go self-employed or not and Bill would give me advice, solid support and encouragement in believing in myself. So I did and it paid off.


It didn't take us long to start going on away trips together, two wives and three daughters in two cars soon increased with a couple more friends of the daughters and on any given weekend we would be outnumbered at least 7-2 in favour of the girls. We decided to start hiring a mini bus and making the away trip a whole family away day and the numbers grew to 15 on regular away trips as others joined the fun. Always a pub stop off on the way and a pub or restaurant on the way back. Remember these were the days when City weren't so good but the day was always filled with non stop love and laughter with memorable trips to Newcastle Sunderland, Hull and that infamous defeat at Middlesbrough 8-1.
Great moments to remember like chasing the City team bus down the motorway and slowing alongside it with everyone in the back piling over to one side whilst trying to keep the mini bus in lane. Fantastic weekends in London for Semi Finals and Finals and a moment I'll never forget watching Bill in full flow at Upton Park with a pub full of West Ham ready to flinch him alive until they realised it was just some daft fella called Bill just being Bill.
Some of the best away days I've had and isn't that what it's all about City and friendships.

He used to mither me non-stop to go on a European away trip with him but my small business was just getting off the ground and at the time I became pig headed with UEFA competitions in general and told him it wasn't for me. How much do I now regret never going with him. On one particular morning around 7am he phoned me from the Faroes and all he said was 'Whatever you read in the newspapers today it's all lies it was beef we ate but they paid us for a story' and he put the phone down laughing. I'll leave it to your imagination to determine what the papers said the Trawler boys had for dinner.

It's already been said what a character Bill was, larger than life and generous to the core, possibly as generous a man as I've yet to meet. He was a kind man, a family man who would do anything for anyone. He was also a very determined man with an incredibly positive outlook and attitude to life and set himself goals once his diagnosis had been confirmed. He ticked them off one by one and then set himself some more. He was an inspiration and along with the loving care from his family and in particular Jeanie his wife who devoted herself to caring for him they had so much more time together than expected. Bill's generosity to me and my family carried on until the very end with a day he gave us that we will all never forget and will cherish and treasure for the rest of our lives.

All my memories of Bill are happy and positive ones even towards the end because that's how Bill was. I've missed him over the past few years and I will miss him for many many more to come. Bill Lyons a true friend.

All of our love and condolences to Jeanie, Jessica, Jenna, Martin, Grandson Leeland and all the family.

Josh, Clare, Charlotte and Naomi xxxx
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Wow...incredible mate, thank you
 
Bill was a top top guy! First met him on a euro trip, maybe schalke. Absolutely gutted. Thoughts are with his family.
 
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I remember my then next door neighbour knocking on my door one day and saying to me. ‘I’ve got a true City hero coming in a few minutes. Do you want to meet him?’
He wouldn’t tell me who and while we were talking this (to me) posh car pulled up across the road and out stepped De Niro! I didn’t recognise him for a few seconds because the other times I’d met him, which weren’t many then, he’d had City gear on. This time he looked the proper business man.
When I realised I just had this huge grin on my face and he gave me a hug. All I could say was. ‘Oh my goodness you’re all business like and I’m in my housekeeping clothes and a flaming pinafore.’
I’ll never forget the huge laugh and the three of us just stood there for minute or two laughing.
Sleep well De Niro Bill. RIP and have a great time with all the City folk who will be waiting at the pearly gates for you.
:-( :-)
Sad face followed by a bit of a smile because you were always smiling.
 
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