Southport offered him a professional contract, making him the youngest ever professional player in the history of the club. 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.
In April 1907, he joined Football League Second Division side Stockport County, making his debut in a 1–1 draw with Gainsborough on 7 September 1907. He remained with the club for three years, making over 70 appearances.
On 30 December 1910, he joined Scottish side Hearts for a fee of £650. 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.
At Hearts, a reshuffle in the playing squad led Abrams to convert from an outside forward to a wing half. Described as "a player of the Scottish school", his 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.
He transferred to Chelsea from Hearts in 1914 for £1000. When 'Lol' was transferred to Chelsea FC in 1914 the London newspapers started reporting him as Abrams and finally as Laurence Robert 'Lol' Abrams. 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.
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. During the First World War, he guested for three of his former clubs, Southport Central, Stockport County and Hearts and also appeared for Liverpool for one match against Bolton Wanderers due to an injury crisis.
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. 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.
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. Following his retirement from playing, he worked as a painter and decorator in Southport.
Southport offered him a professional contract, making him the youngest ever professional player in the history of the club. 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.
In April 1907, he joined Football League Second Division side Stockport County, making his debut in a 1–1 draw with Gainsborough on 7 September 1907. He remained with the club for three years, making over 70 appearances.
On 30 December 1910, he joined Scottish side Hearts for a fee of £650. 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.
At Hearts, a reshuffle in the playing squad led Abrams to convert from an outside forward to a wing half. Described as "a player of the Scottish school", his 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.
He transferred to Chelsea from Hearts in 1914 for £1000. When 'Lol' was transferred to Chelsea FC in 1914 the London newspapers started reporting him as Abrams and finally as Laurence Robert 'Lol' Abrams. 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.
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. During the First World War, he guested for three of his former clubs, Southport Central, Stockport County and Hearts and also appeared for Liverpool for one match against Bolton Wanderers due to an injury crisis.
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. 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.
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. Following his retirement from playing, he worked as a painter and decorator in Southport.
Gravesite Details
Commemorated in Book of Remembrance.
No known memorial.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
See more Abram memorials in:
Advertisement