LYON IN WAIT
LYON’S VERDICT I loved my time at Accies, I’d been there for years. People will look at my decision and raise their eyebrows ... but the time is right to open a new chapter. Be bold and believe Accies regular Darren’s gambled by ripping up contract to see
There is no elevator to success – you have to take the stairs.
It’s a motto that Darren Lyon lives by and is written in bold letters inside his father James’ gym. Only a few days have passed since the 23-year-old walked into the office of Hamilton boss Martin Canning and asked for his contract to be ripped up. Lyon, the Accies regular who started against Hearts in last week’s league opener and had a secure deal at the club until summer 2021. He could have stayed put and played his way but by asking for his contract to be terminated he’s throwing caution to the wind. He wants to move his own way forward in his own style. As the midfielder trained at Barmulloch’s Rob Roy Boxing Club, he revealed the inspiration behind his decision lies in watching asylum seekers and those less fortunate proving that fortune favours the brave. With 73 Accies appearances behind him, Lyon wants to open up a new chapter. It’s a story that last season included scoring the winning goal against Rangers to give the Lanarkshire club their first league success at Ibrox since 1926. It’s also about climbing the hard way. He said: “I know people will look at my decision and raise their eyebrows – and I understand why. “Most players who ask for their contract to be ripped up are usually frozen out at their clubs and that hasn’t been the case with me. “I loved my time at Hamilton. I’ve been there for years but I just feel the time is right to try something different and open up a new chapter in my career. “Nothing in life comes easy and if you want better you need to be bold and believe in yourself. “I appreciate that and it’s reinforced with each visit to my dad’s gym. “It’s a place where you get a real sense of what some people fight through to try to improve their situation and their lives. “The gym has a community purpose and all kinds of different people are regulars. “It’s a base for asylum seekers and others from different parts of the world to meet. Our gym is a happy environment but place a tough to train. It’s boxing after and a demanding all sport. “It brings you back to earth. Watching someone trying change to their circumstances drives me on and only makes me to hungrier try to do well for myself. “It’s a place that tries to you teach how to stay out of trouble. “It’s a grounding sport that take people can offthe streets and also give them something to focus on. “Boxing gives them an opportunity to try to better themselves. I’ve watched coming people in and turning their lives around – so it’s humbling around to be that environment. “I listen to their stories, their about backgrounds and their personal tales of hardship they when were growing up. It’s a reality
The gym gives a real sense of what some people fight through to improve their lives
check for someone like me. Some of the people have nothing but are focused on bettering themselves and giving themselves the best chance of making a good life for themselves.” Lyon is no stranger to adversity of his own. He was told as a young player at Rangers that he would be too small to make it as a footballer – then immediately set about proving them wrong. Having established himself at Hamilton, the Glasgow kid – who now stands 6ft tall – is adamant his sights are set on a bigger challenge, wherever that may be. He said: “Tough decisions are nothing new to me.
“When I was a kid at Rangers, the biggest team in Scotland at the time, I opted to leave to get first-team football at Hamilton. “Whether that would happen further down the line at Rangers was a different story. “I had to cut that cord and tried to make a career for myself at Hamilton and I believe I made the right call. It has been brilliant from start to finish so I didn’t take the decision to leave lightly. “I spoke with my family and I’ve had their full backing. “I’d been playing at right-back and wing-back at Accies. “I want to make my position in central midfield and aim to prove I can do that elsewhere.” Therecent rise of Greg Docherty and Lewis Ferguson through the Accies ranks to bigger things is also a source of inspiration for Lyon who admits he’s determined to follow suit. He said: “Without sounding cocky, every footballer needs to have a faith in their ability and be prepared to take a leap of faith and try something new. “I knew I needed a change and a challenge to see if I could step out of my comfort zone. “It’s a bold decision and I need to back myself and stand by it. “I’ve watched the likes of Greg sign at Rangers and Ferguson move to Aberdeen and it does whet your appetite. If they can go and do it then why can’t everyone else? They’ve done brilliantly so why shouldn’t someone like me try to follow in their footsteps? “Who knows what the future holds? I’m just excited to see where it takes me.” There’s a scrapbook of highlights from Lyon’s four years at Hamilton and plenty of good moments in his memory bank. He said: “I leave with nothing but good memories of my time at Hamilton. Alex Neil was manager when he threw me on as a sub when we beat Celtic at Celtic Park. “For a young kid that is something I’ll never forget.
“Then there was the goal I scored at Ibrox when we beat Rangers and that will live with me forever. “I’m lucky to walk away with those memories and I have never taken anything for granted. “I owe the club so much. They took a chance on me and Martin Canning played me in so many games which launched my career. “However, now it’s time for something fresh.”