Laurence Abrams

Born in Banks, Lancashire, Abrams attended Churchtown School, helping the school football team win the Unwin Challenge Shield, a schools tournament in Southport.[1] He began his professional career with Southport Central as an outside forward. Breaking into the first team at the age of sixteen during the 1905–06 season,[4] he made his senior debut on 11 November 1905 in a 7–0 defeat to Manchester United Reserves.[1] He scored his first senior goal in his second appearance, during a 3–0 victory over Oldham Athletic.[1]

Soon after, Oldham approached Southport over signing Abrams but were rebuffed as Southport claimed they had not been informed within the required time. In order to ward off interest, Southport offered Abrams a professional contract, making him the youngest ever professional player in the history of the club.[4] Southport also attempted to claim £18 compensation from Oldham over the approach. Although the club's claim was unsuccessful, Oldham were later fined £5 by the Lancashire Combination.[4] In his first season, he made 23 appearances in all competitions, scoring six times. He left the club in May 1906 to sign for rival Lancashire Combination side Colne Town.[1]

In April 1907,[1] Abrams joined Football League Second Division side Stockport County, making his debut in a 1–1 draw with Gainsborough on 7 September 1907.[5] He remained with the club for three years, making over 70 appearances.[6]

On 30 December 1910,[1] Abrams joined Scottish side Hearts for a fee of £650.[7] He made his debut for the club the following day, during a 1–0 defeat to Third Lanark, and scored his first goal in his sixth appearance, during a 1–1 draw with Clyde in the Scottish Cup.[8] On 11 April 1911, Abrams helped Hearts win the East of Scotland Shield after defeating Broxburn in the final. With the match held at 1–1 after 84 minutes, Abrams scored his second goal for the club to give his side a 2–1 lead. Two further late goals for Hearts saw the match finish 4–1.[9] In September 1911, he won the Dunedin Cup with Hearts after defeating Ross County 1–0 in a second replay of the final, followed two 1–1 draws in the previous matches.[8]

At Hearts, a reshuffle in the playing squad led Abrams to convert from an outside forward to a wing half.[10] Described as "a player of the Scottish school",[10] he formed an effective partnership on the left side with Bobby Walker.[11] Abrams' performances for Hearts in his new position attracted considerable attention from English clubs, being scouted by Liverpool who sent John McKenna to see him play.[12]

Keen to move to England,[13] Abrams eventually transferred to Chelsea from Hearts in 1914 for £1000.[3] Chelsea struggled to pay the transfer fee and Hearts later obtained a court order in August 1916 to enforce repayment of an outstanding sum of £750 but withdrew the action after Chelsea claimed the club would fold if the repayment was made. Hearts later dropped their claim against the club and the money was never paid.[14]

He was a member of the Chelsea side that reached the FA Cup final in 1915 and he travelled to the final but did not play having suffered a twisted knee in the club's semi-final victory over Everton.[1] During the First World War, he guested for three of his former clubs, Southport Central, Stockport County and Hearts,[2] and also appeared for Liverpool for one match against Bolton Wanderers due to an injury crisis.[15] He returned to Chelsea following the return of The Football League at the end of the hostilities, remaining at Stamford Bridge until 1920 having made a total of 49 appearances and scoring 7 goals in total.[16] He joined newly elected Second Division side Cardiff City on a free transfer, reuniting with his former Stockport manager Fred Stewart. However, he made just one league appearance for the club on 30 August 1920 in a 0–0 draw with Clapton Orient, in the first league match played at Ninian Park.[2]

He instead returned to his first club Southport, now members of the Football League Third Division, where he made over 50 appearances and was later appointed captain before finishing his professional career when his contract was cancelled in February 1923.[1]