Kit Lawlor

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Kit Lawlor

| fullname = John Lawlor

| birth_date = {{birth date|1922|12|3|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland

| death_date = {{death date and age|2004|6|8|1922|12|3|df=y}}

| position = Forward

| years1 = 1945–1946

| years2 = 1946–1950

| years3 = 1950–1954

| years4 = 1954–1955

| years5 = 1955–1959

| years6 = 1959–1960

| years7 = 1960–1961

| clubs1 = Shamrock Rovers

| clubs2 = Drumcondra

| clubs3 = Doncaster Rovers

| clubs4 = Ballymena United

| clubs5 = Drumcondra

| clubs6 = Dundalk

| clubs7 = Worcester City

| caps1 = ?

| caps2 = 61

| caps3 = 128

| caps4 = ?

| caps5 = 47

| caps6 = 19

| caps7 = 3

| goals1 = 0

| goals2 = 31

| goals3 = 46

| goals4 = ?

| goals5 = 20

| goals6 = 5

| goals7 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 1949–1951

| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland{{NFT player|pid=35448}}

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

John Christopher Lawlor (3 December 1922 – 8 June 2004) was an Irish professional footballer.{{Cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2004/0609/1086274477283.html|title = Ranieri returns as coach to Valencia| newspaper=The Irish Times }}

Career

His League of Ireland playing career began with Shamrock Rovers. After spending just one season at Glenmalure Park, Lawlor moved to Drumcondra and in only his second campaign with the club, he helped them to the league championship. He was then signed by Peter Doherty for Doncaster Rovers in June 1950, playing five full seasons for them in the old Second Division, scoring 46 goals in 128 appearances.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

After almost five years in England he returned home to sign for Ballymena United in December 1954.{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1954/1211/Pg003.html#Ar00320:36A1A23B31BC36D1E33A81F833F24736B25C33F1A135B1BB34E1E23631F7 |title= The Irish Times - Saturday, December 11, 1954 - Page 003|date=1954-12-11 |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-ie |url-access=subscription}} Dublin to resume his career with Drumcondra. In 1957, Lawlor was part of the Drumcondra side that caused a major shock by defeating Shamrock Rovers in the Cup final and the following year, the club won the league title. He finished his career with Dundalk moving there in 1959 at the age of 37.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

He won three full Irish caps. His son Mick Lawlor also played for his country in the 1970s and is now kit manager for Ireland. Both Mick and another son Robbie also played for Rovers.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}