Career
He later went into coaching with Stoke City, and served as caretaker-manager for eight games in 1985. He began coaching at the Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy in 1996. Lacey played for Leek C.S.O.B. and Saint Luke"s College (in Exeter), before joining Tony Waddington"s Stoke City.
He made one substitute appearances in the First Division in the 1967-1968 season, and made four league and cup appearances in the 1968-1969 campaign.
He then fell out of the first team picture at the Victoria Ground, and never played for the "Potters" again. He was an ever-present for the rest of the season and was signed permanently in April 1970 for a fee of £2,500.
He scored two goals in 46 games in the 1970-1971 season, missing just two Third Division matches. He scored once in 33 games in the 1971-1972 campaign, before playing 29 games in the 1972-1973 season, as Gordon Lee took the club to within four points of promotion.
Lacey remained a key first team member under new boss Roy Sproson, and scored three goals in 49 appearances in the 1973-1974 season.
He scored twice in 40 games in the 1974-1975 season, but was handed a free transfer to Rochdale in May 1975. Walter Joyce"s "Dale" posted a 15th-place finish in the Fourth Division in the 1975-1976 campaign. Brian Green then took charge at Spotland, and led the club to an 18h place finish in 1976-1977.
Lacey played 83 league games for the club, before moving on to Northern Premier League outfit Stafford Rangers.
After retiring from the field he became the youth coach at Stoke City in 1980, rising through the ranks of Reserve team coach, caretaker manager and finally youth development officer He was appointed as the club"s caretaker-manager in April 1985, following the departure of Bill Asprey.
Stoke lost all eight of their matches under his management, and were relegated out of the First Division. He returned to the backroom staff at the Victoria Ground after Mick Mills was appointed as the "Potters" new permanent manager.
Lacey left the club in 1996, and later worked at the Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy.
