EMOTIONAL tributes have been paid to Cliftonville Football Club’s long-serving physio Brendan ‘Benny’ Lynch, who passed away on Saturday night.
The late Mr Lynch, aged 55 and who had been ill for some time, had provided physio services to the north Belfast club over a 20-year period and, during that time, worked alongside three Irish Premiership winning sides (1998, 2013, 2014).
A statement released by the club said: “Cliftonville Football Club is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Brendan Lynch... everyone at the club offers deepest sympathies to the Lynch family circle and Brendan’s friends at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.”
Cliftonville chairman Gerard Lawlor said the physio room at Solitude would be missing “its main character”.
“Benny was an absolute gentleman who was respected and liked by all. He always went about his role with a smile on his face and, no matter what, he always had time for everyone,” said Lawlor.
“Benny’s room as it’s known [the physio room at Solitude] will be missing its main character, a dedicated and excellent physio. He will be dearly missed by everyone at Solitude. He last visited the team before the League Cup final in January and to see a squad have so much respect for him was brilliant to see.”
Meanwhile, Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin described Mr Lynch as “a gentleman” and highlighted the contribution made by him to the recent back-to-back Irish Premiership successes enjoyed by the club under his stewardship.
“He was there through all our success and he was a major part of it. He will be sadly missed by all at the club,” said Breslin.
“He was very upbeat. People tend to underestimate when injured players are down and Benny always had a smile and always cracked a joke and had a story. He kept people’s spirits up.
“He was invaluable to the club, he was invaluable to myself and numerous players, both at our club and at other clubs, he would have treated over many years.
“And while the players won the trophies, he was an integral part of the backroom staff that got injured players back at key times and kept players fit. And for that, I just can’t thank him enough. He was so well-liked and respected by all.”
Mr Lynch was also a lifelong member of Hannahstown GAA club Lámh Dhearg and club public relations officer Paul Buchanan, who played alongside him, also paid a warm tribute, stressing the Lynch family are “very synonymous with the club”.
“It’s very, very sad news,” he said.
“Benny was a lifelong member of Lámh Dhearg and played for the club at all levels. And he was a very versatile player, he played in many positions. He was always a very fit athletic guy.
“He was a solid, solid guy and looked after himself. Even when he was with Cliftonville, he took every chance to look after the players at the club. That’s the type of guy he was.
“He was very caring and conscientious. He would always look after players if he could and he saw them at all hours. That was his way of keeping his link with the club.
“Benny’s nature was always that he would help you if he could and that stood throughout his whole career and indeed his life.”
