Joining City from top flight Nottingham Forest, initially on one month's loan in September 1973, Lyons' class shone through as City won promotion that season. Believed to have signed on a higher wage than he was on at Forest, he was the highest paid player at City, something that caused some resentment between other players and the club.

He played in both City's Division 2 seasons before being released when City were relegated, having played 85 league games (11 goals) in his 3 City seasons.

A further 3 seasons at Darlington saw his playing career come to an end.

He returned to York in 1979 as youth team manager coach. In March 1980, he was promoted to caretaker manager, later promoted to permamant manager before being asked to step down in December 1980 and revert to his role as youth manager, something he accepted but was probably reluctant to do so.

As a manager, his biggest success was signing Keith Walwyn.