He never stayed at the same club for more than two consecutive seasons; during his career he played for Overseal Town, Gresley Rovers, Leicester Fosse, Nelson, Watford, Reading, West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Swindon Town, Carlisle United, Blackpool, Walsall[5] and Tredegar.
Lyon joined Leicester Fosse from Gresley Rovers in January 1899.
He was once selected to play a Football League First Division match as a goalkeeper, against Bolton Wanderers in March 1900, and kept a clean sheet in a goalless draw.
[6][7] After a season at Nelson, of the Lancashire League, Lyon moved south to Hertfordshire, to play for Southern League First Division side Watford.
Indeed, between 1901 and 1909, he spent precisely one season at a club before moving on; namely Watford (1901–02), Reading (1902–03), West Ham (1903–04), Brighton & Hove Albion (1904–05), Swindon Town (1905–06 and 1907–08), Carlisle United (1906–07) and Blackpool (1908–1909).