Salford City captain Chris Lynch has decided to make the move to Australia after two successful years at Moor Lane writes Salford club secretary Andy Giblin.
Chris Lynch signed for Salford City during the summer of 2014 having been club captain at Ashton United.
He had started his career with Wigan Athletic before moving into non-league football with Altrincham and Hyde United, followed by a spell in Australia with Sorrento.
Upon his return to the UK Chris signed on at Hurst Cross and was a key member of the side who made it to the Evo-Stik Premier League’s end-of-season play-offs.
Phil Power brought ‘Lynchy’ to Moor Lane in June 2014 and immediately installed him as captain of a side put together to launch an assault on the Evo-Stik League First Division North title.
Chris made his debut on the opening day of the 2014-2015 season when a Gareth Seddon hat-trick helped Salford on their way to a thumping 4-1 win.
Leading by example right from the start of his time with the Ammies, the skipper went on to make a total of 46 league and cup appearances during that season.
In total Chris would make 84 league appearances, scoring nine goals, along with 13 run-outs in Salford’s incredible FA Cup campaigns.
The skipper put in a man-of-the-match performance as Notts County were beaten in front of the BBC’s cameras and he never put a foot wrong in three games against full-time professionals from the Football League.
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As ever, Chris Lynch’s commitment to the cause was never less than absolute and he made 54 appearances during the 2015-2016 season, scoring seven goals – including a hat-trick as Workington were beaten 5-3 in March.
A massive favourite with the club’s fans, Chris reaped deserved reward for his efforts, featuring in the Premier Division’s team of the season as well as picking up the supporters’ and managers’ player-of-the season awards.
Salford City joint-manager Anthony Johnson commented: “Having Lynchy here as captain already made mine and Bernard’s job that much easier. We had a quick chat with him after taking over [in January 2015] and it was plain to see that his approach to captaining a side fitted in perfectly with our style of management”.
“Despite the bad luck of being injured for the play-offs Lynchy didn’t feel sorry for himself – he was great in the dressing room and around the lads – real quality.
“He’s the best captain I’ve ever worked with and his determination and attitude rubbed off on the other lads”.
Lynchy has now made the difficult decision to move on to pastures new so everybody at Moor Lane would like to extend their very best wishes to Chris and his family as they prepare to embark on their new venture.
The word “legend” is perhaps over-used in football but it is entirely appropriate when discussing Chris Lynch’s time with Salford City. Murray United, of the Australian National Premier League’s Victoria 2 division have made a very fine signing indeed.
Main image: Chris with the Evo-Stick First Division trophy – by Charlotte Tattersall/@SalfordFC Photos
