| Harry Lane | |
| Fullname: | Henry William Lane |
| Birth Date: | 21 March 1909 |
| Birth Place: | Hednesford, England |
| Death Date: | March 1977 (aged about 68) |
| Death Place: | Cannock, England |
| Position: | Forward |
| Clubs2: | Rugeley Villa |
| Years3: | – |
| Clubs3: | Bloxwich Strollers |
| Years4: | 1930–1933 |
| Caps4: | 2 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 1933–1938 |
| Caps5: | 155 |
| Goals5: | 50 |
| Years6: | 1938–1946 |
| Clubs6: | Plymouth Argyle |
| Caps6: | 50 |
| Goals6: | 9 |
| Years7: | 1946–1949 |
| Caps7: | 65 |
| Goals7: | 14 |
| Years8: | 1949–1950 |
Henry William Lane (21 March 1909 – March 1977) was an English professional footballer who scored 74 goals in 271 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham, Southend United and Plymouth Argyle.[1]
Lane was born in Hednesford, Staffordshire. A forward, he joined Birmingham from Staffordshire local football.[2] He made his debut in the First Division on 29 November 1930, deputising for Johnny Crosbie at inside right in a game at Bolton Wanderers which Birmingham lost 2–0. Lane played once more that season,[3] but could not establish himself as a first-team player. He was released in May 1933 and joined Southend United of the Third Division South.[2]
Lane played 177 games in all competitions for Southend in nearly five seasons with the club, scoring 58 goals at a rate of one every three games.[4] He was their leading scorer in the 1935–36 season with 17 goals,[5] and followed up with another 17 the next season, including two hat-tricks.[6] In March 1938, he moved up to the Second Division with Plymouth Argyle.[2] [7]
He was a regular in Plymouth's first-team until the Second World War put an end to competitive football, though without scoring as freely as he had for Southend.[8] He remained with Plymouth for a couple of months playing in the wartime regional league,[8] [9] and later made guest appearances for Nottingham Forest, Northampton Town, West Bromwich Albion and Port Vale in wartime competition.[2] [10] In May 1946, Lane rejoined Southend. He contributed 21 goals in 75 games over the next three seasons, finally retiring from professional in May 1949 at 40.[8] [4] In 1949, Lane signed for Chelmsford City. On 24 August 1949, Lane became the oldest-ever debutant for the club in a 2–1 win against Barry Town.[11]
Lane died in Cannock, Staffordshire, in 1977 aged about 68.[2]
Source:
| Club | Season | Division | League | Cups | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| Birmingham | 1930–31 | First Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Southend United | 1933–34 | Third Division South | 39 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 9 | |
| 1934–35 | Third Division South | 25 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 29 | 10 | ||
| 1935–36 | Third Division South | 40 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 46 | 17 | ||
| 1936–37 | Third Division South | 36 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 17 | ||
| 1937–38 | Third Division South | 15 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 5 | ||
| Total | 155 | 50 | 22 | 8 | 177 | 58 | |||
| Plymouth Argyle | 1937–38 | Second Division | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| 1938–39 | Second Division | 36 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 6 | ||
| 1939–40 | Second Division | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||
| Total | 50 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 9 | |||
| Southend United | 1946–47 | Third Division South | 38 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 41 | 16 | |
| 1947–48 | Third Division South | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| 1948–49 | Third Division South | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 65 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 68 | 17 | |||
| Career total | 272 | 73 | 26 | 11 | 298 | 84 | |||