LITTLE did the Rev Malcolm Lyon think that when he attended a football match to cheer on his parish team Bo’ness United in Musselburgh a year ago, he would return as the new minister of St Michael’s at Inveresk.

The clergyman, who was brought up in Haddington, was even captured on the touchline during the match at Olive Bank by the Courier photographer.

A season ticket holder for Bo’ness United, he had to watch while the team he supported was beaten by Musselburgh Athletic on Burgh’s home ground.

There were no thoughts of moving ministry at that time but at the start of the year, Mr Lyon applied for the vacant position at St Michael’s and its daughter church St John’s, Whitecraig.

He is now absolutely delighted to be “coming home” to East Lothian, after being invited to become the kirk’s new minister, succeeding the Rev Andrew Dick, who retired in 2015 after 16 years’ service.

Mr Lyon, who will turn 56 later this month, was born in Glasgow in 1961 but moved to Haddington in 1966, attending Haddington Infant School, King’s Meadow Primary School and Knox Academy in the town.

Before becoming a minister, he worked locally in the agricultural industry with Gillies & Henderson Ltd, E & H Machinery, Thomas Sherriff & Co, as well as the former Ian Glass garage in Haddington.

Mr Lyon served on Haddington and District Community Council as vice-chairman and then chairman.

It was during his training to become a reader in the Church of Scotland from 2000 to 2002 that he felt the call to apply for training to become a full-time ordained minister.

At that time, he worked with the Rev Laurence Twaddle at Belhaven Parish Church, Dunbar, linked with Spott.

He conducted services in other East Lothian and Midlothian parishes but could not carry out Communion, marriages or baptisms as a reader.

Mr Lyon went to Glasgow University for a year to gain access to New College at Edinburgh University, where he studied divinity from 2003, graduating in 2006.

His first charge was Bolton and Saltoun linked with Humbie and Yester from 2007 to 2014. He then moved to Carriden Parish Church at Bo’ness before feeling “a sense of call” to his new charge at Inveresk.

Mr Lyon preached at St Michael’s in May, had to undergo an interview and a team from the church also visited Carriden to hear him conduct a service.

He will be inducted as minister of St Michael’s at a service on August 9, conducted by the Rev Neil Dougall, Moderator of the Presbytery of Lothian, at 7pm.

Mr Lyon said he was “very excited” about the move, adding: “I feel a lot of good work can be done at St Michael’s.

“The church hall in Dalrymple Loan is in the heart of the town of Musselburgh and there is a lot going on there. including a cafe on a Friday.

“There are a lot of ideas floating around which could be put into action.”

He will set up home in the kirk’s newly acquired manse in a courtyard setting at Inveresk.