Martin Lane
Encyclopedia
Martin Lane is an English former footballer who played mainly as a full-back. Born in Altrincham
, he made appearances in The Football League
for four clubs, with most of his career being spent with Chester City
.
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. 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. 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. During the same season, Lane was part of a defence that helped Chester go 423 minutes without conceding a goal.
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. After making just three league appearances in two years at Highfield Road
and spending time on loan with Wrexham
, Lane returned to Chester for the same amount he had been sold for in January 1989. His arrival was quickly followed by a run of four successive wins without conceding a goal, 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.
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.
Altrincham
Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington...
, he made appearances in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for four clubs, with most of his career being spent with Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
.
Playing career
Lane joined Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
as a youngster in 1977 and spent five years at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
without making a competitive first-team appearance. He joined Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in August 1982, making his debut in a Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
tie away at Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
during the same month. 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
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
in December 1982, scoring twice. Despite remaining a regular player, Lane had to wait until April 1986 for his next Chester goal, scoring direct from a corner kick
Corner kick
A corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It was first devised in Sheffield under the Sheffield Rules 1867...
in a 2–1 win over Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
to help the club move to the brink of promotion. During the same season, Lane was part of a defence that helped Chester go 423 minutes without conceding a goal.
After helping Chester to a 2–1 win over Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
third round in January 1987, Lane moved to Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
side Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
for £25,000. After making just three league appearances in two years at Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
and spending time on loan with Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
, Lane returned to Chester for the same amount he had been sold for in January 1989. His arrival was quickly followed by a run of four successive wins without conceding a goal, as Chester came close to qualifying for the Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
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
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
on 11 May 1991.
Lane made just 10 appearances in a season with Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
and then dropped into non-league football, having spells with clubs including Shepshed Albion
Shepshed Dynamo F.C.
Shepshed Dynamo F.C. is a football team based in the small town of Shepshed in the North West of Leicestershire, England.Their home ground is called The Dovecote, which is situated on Butthole Lane. Football has been played on this ground for over 100 years...
, Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
and Hinckley Town
Hinckley United F.C.
Hinckley United Football Club are an English football club, from Hinckley, Leicestershire currently playing in the Conference North. Formed only in 1997, the club has risen from the Southern League Midland/West Division to the Conference North in those 14 years...
, while working for a security company.