Career
Due to the demise of the National Soccer League after the 2003/2004 season, in July of that year he signed with Finnish club, Football Club Hämeenlinna. He returned to Australia to form part of Melbourne Victory"s A-League 2005-2006 squad, but found his chances limited by the emergence of younger defenders Adrian Leijer and Daniel Piorkowski. He was part of Melbourne"s A-League championship winning side in 2006-2007.
However at the end of the season, on 1 March 2007, he was released by the club
In 2007, he was announced as a short term signing for Victorian Premier League side Richmond Eagles for three matches. In 2008, Byrnes went on trial with English lower league football clubs Portuguese Vale and Luton Town.
He impressed during an overseas pre-season tour to the extent that he would have been offered a contract had he not suffered a minor injury during the last tour match. On 23 September 2009 he was signed by Gold Coast United as a four-week injury replacement for Daniel Piorkowski.
He was captain of the Australian Under-17 team which reached the final of the 1999 Fédération internationale de football association U-17 World Championship.
