Martin Lane

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Martin Lane
Personal information
Full name Martin John Lane
Date of birth April 12, 1961 (1961-04-12) (age 47)
Place of birth    Altrincham, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position Full-back
Club information
Current club Retired
Youth clubs
1977–1979 Manchester United
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
c.1979–1982
1982–1987
1987–1989
1988
1989–1991
1991–1992
1992–1993
1993
1993–199?		 Manchester United
Chester City
Coventry City
→ Wrexham (loan)
Chester City
Walsall
Shepshed Albion
Worcester City
Hinckley Town		 00 0 0(0)
175 0 (3)
03 00 (0)
06 00 (0)
99 00 (0)
10 00 (0)


   

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Martin Lane (born 12 April 1961, Altrincham) was an English professional footballer who played mainly as a full back. He made appearances in The Football League for four clubs, with most of his career being spent with Chester City.

[edit] Playing career

Lane joined Manchester United as a youngster in 1977 and spent five years at Old Trafford without making a competitive first-team appearance. He joined Chester City in August 1982, making his debut in a Football League Trophy tie away at Chesterfield during the same month [1]. He quickly became a regular in the side and even had a successful game as a makeshift centre-forward in Chester’s 4–2 win at Tranmere Rovers in December 1982, scoring twice [2]. Despite remaining a regular player, Lane had to wait until April 1986 for his next Chester goal, scoring direct from a corner kick in a 2–1 win over Exeter City to help the club move to the brink of promotion [3]. During the same season, Lane was part of a defence that helped Chester go 423 minutes without conceding a goal [4].

After helping Chester to a 2–1 win over Wrexham in the FA Cup third round in January 1987, Lane moved to Division One side Coventry City for £25,000 [5]. After making just three league appearances in two years at Highfield Road, Lane returned to Chester for the same amount in January 1989 [6]. His arrival was quickly followed by a run of four successive wins without conceding a goal [7], as Chester came close to qualifying for the Division Three play–offs. Lane remained a regular until the end of the 1990–91 season, playing his final game in a 1–0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers on 11 May 1991 [8].

Lane made just 10 appearances in a season with Walsall and then dropped into non-league football, having spells with clubs including Shepshed Albion, Worcester City and Hinckley Town, while working for a security company [9].

[edit] Honours

Chester City

[edit] References

  1. ^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997, stats section. ISBN 1-874427-52-6. 
  2. ^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997, p.98. ISBN 1-874427-52-6. 
  3. ^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997, stats section. ISBN 1-874427-52-6. 
  4. ^ Clean Sheet Records (see David Kaye/John Butcher). chester-city.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
  5. ^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997, p.104. ISBN 1-874427-52-6. 
  6. ^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997, p.106. ISBN 1-874427-52-6. 
  7. ^ Clean Sheet Records (see Billy Stewart). chester-city.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
  8. ^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997, stats section. ISBN 1-874427-52-6. 
  9. ^ ’Player Memories’, Chester City v. Hull City matchday programme; 4/12/1993; pg. 24