Harry Lovatt

Harold Albert Lovatt (18 August 1905 – 1984) was an English footballer. A much-travelled forward, he played for Port Vale, Preston North End, Crewe Alexandra, Bradford City, Wrexham, Scarborough, Leicester City, Notts County, Northampton Town, Macclesfield Town, Stafford Rangers, and Winsford United.

Harry Lovatt

Personal information
Full name	Harold Albert Lovatt[1]
Date of birth	18 August 1905[1]
Place of birth	Audley, Staffordshire, England[1]
Date of death	1984 (aged 78–79)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Wood Lane United
	Red Street St Chad's
	Audley
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1923–1924	Port Vale	0	(0)
1924–1925	Preston North End	0	(0)
1925–1926	Crewe Alexandra	27	(14)
1926	Bradford City	13	(3)
1926–1927	Wrexham	11	(5)
1927–1928	Scarborough
1928–1930	Leicester City	9	(9)
1930–1931	Notts County	9	(3)
1931–1932	Northampton Town	14	(7)
1932	Macclesfield Town	4	(4)
	Stafford Rangers
	Winsford United
Total		88+	(45+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

In his youth, Lovatt played for local non-league clubs Wood Lane United, Red Street St Chad's and Audley. In 1923 he joined Port Vale, the next year moving on to Preston North End, but failed to make a league appearances for either club.

In 1925 he joined Crewe Alexandra, scoring 14 goals in 27 Third Division North games. He spent part of 1926 with Bradford City, scoring three goals in 13 Second Division games before joining Welsh club Wrexham, scoring five goals in 11 Third Division North games. He spent the 1927–28 season with Midland League side Scarborough, and became the club's top-scorer with 40 league and cup goals. This record won him a contract with Leicester City,[2] and he scored five goals in four First Division games in the 1928–29 season, including a hat-trick in a 6–1 win over Bolton Wanderers at Filbert Street on 4 May.[1] He scored four goals in five league games in 1929–30, but played just one game in 1930–31 before moving to Notts County in December 1930.[1]

Three goals in nine games at County followed, as he helped the "Magpies" to win the Third Division South title. He moved on once again in 1931, joining Northampton Town. He struck seven times in 14 Third Division South games before he left the Football League to join up with Macclesfield Town, Stafford Rangers and then Winsford United.[3]

Statistics

Source:[4]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	1923–24	Second Division	0	0	0	0	0	0
Preston North End	1924–25	First Division	0	0	0	0	0	0
Crewe Alexandra	1925–26	Third Division North	27	14	4	1	31	15
Bradford City	1923–24	Second Division	9	3	0	0	9	3
	1924–25	Second Division	4	0	0	0	4	0
	Total		13	3	0	0	13	3
Wrexham	1926–27	Third Division North	11	5	1	0	12	5
Leicester City	1928–29	First Division	4	5	0	0	4	5
	1929–30	First Division	5	4	0	0	5	4
	1930–31	First Division	1	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		10	9	0	0	10	9
Notts County	1930–31	Third Division South	7	1	2	0	9	1
	1931–32	Second Division	2	2	0	0	2	2
	Total		9	3	2	0	11	3
Northampton Town	1931–32	Third Division South	14	7	4	4	18	11
Macclesfield Town	1932–33[5]	Cheshire County League	4	4	2	0	6	4

Honours

Leicester City

• Football League First Division runner-up: 1928–29

Notts County

• Football League Third Division South champion: 1930–31

References

1. "Harold Albert Lovatt". foxestalk.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
2. Dave Smith and Paul Taylor, Of Fossils and Foxes: The Official Definitive History of Leicester City Football Club (2001) (ISBN 1-899538-21-6)
3. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 – 1939. Tony Brown. p. 161. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
4. Harry Lovatt at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
5. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.