League of Ireland goals record to elude Jason Byrne as the striker joins amateur Bluebell United
The League of Ireland's highest-scoring active player Jason Byrne has made the decision to drop down to amateur football with Leinster Senior League side Bluebell United.
The 39-year-old had been chasing Brendan Bradley's 31-year-old record of 231 goals but bows out – for now at least – 13 short with 218.
Byrne spent the 2017 season with First Division side Cabinteely but saw his gametime limited by injury and the form of Marty Waters, taking to the field just 11 times.
He has been part of the coaching team at Bluebell for the past few months – taking a step back when they drew Cabo in the FAI Cup and won – and will now boost their playing ranks.
“Jason's registration went through yesterday and with his experience is a great addition to our attacking options,” said Bell boss Andy Noonan.
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— Bluebell United FC (@BluebellUnited) December 8, 2017
In a 20-year career in the League of Ireland the Tallaght native has achieved no less than five Premier Division titles and won two FAI Cups medals.
Byrne – who is cousins with another evergreen striker in Robbie Keane – entered the league as a 19-year-old with Bray Wanderers in 1998.
He was headhunted playing for St Colmcille's in Tallaght by then-Bray boss Pat Devlin and fittingly finished his League of Ireland career working under Devlin at Cabo.
After winning an FAI Cup title with the Seagulls in 1999, Byrne moved on to Shelbourne in 2003, where he won three Premier Division titles under Pat Fenlon.
While at Tolka Park, Byrne made two appearances for the Republic of Ireland national team, both as a substitute, against Poland and Chile.
With Shels' financial troubles, he made the move to the English league with Cardiff City, where he vied with the likes of Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for a starting spot.
The following year he returned to Ireland to link up again with Fenlon at Bohemians, and he'd win two more league titles with the Gypsies and a second cup triumph.
After he was let leave Bohemians in 2010 due to their financial struggles, he joined Dundalk and had second stints with Bray and Bohs before joining UCD in 2016.
