Henry Long

Background

Long was born in Southampton and attended Northam School.

Career

After playing for the Harland and Wolff shipbuilders works team and Ryde Sports on the Isle of Wight, Long joined Southampton of the Football League Second Division as an amateur in September 1933, becoming a professional in October 1934, aged 20. He made only one further appearance in 1936-1937 and three the following season, once at left-half and twice at outside-left over the Christmas period (both draws against Swansea Town) in place of Harry Osman, who had switched to the inside-left in the absence of Arthur Holt. In the second match against Swansea, Ted Bates made his debut at inside-right.

He was to go on to be involved with Southampton, as player, manager and chairman until his death 66 years later.

In the 1938 close season, Long left the club and joined Newport on the Isle of Wight.

Achievements

• He played regularly in the reserve team during his five years with the Saints, but his first-team debut came on 7 September 1936 when he replaced Billy Kingdon for a 1–0 win over Doncaster Rovers.

Membership

He was a member of the Southampton Schools team which reached the finals of the English Schools Shield in 1929.