Former Halifax Town player Roy Lorensen dies, aged 88

Former Halifax Town centre-half Roy Lorenson has died aged 88.
Roy Lorensen. Photo courtesy of Johnny MeynellRoy Lorensen. Photo courtesy of Johnny Meynell
Roy Lorensen. Photo courtesy of Johnny Meynell

Lorensen had been suffering with ill-health for some time.

He was something of a criowd favourite during his time at The Shay, and not for nothing was he nicknamed Lofty.

At six feet three inches tall, he cut an imposing figure in the heart of the half-back line for over eight seasons with Halifax Town, commanding in the air and a useful foil at set pieces.

Roy Lorenson, third from right on the back row, as a member of the Halifax Town squad which reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1952-53. Photo courtesy of Johnny MeynellRoy Lorenson, third from right on the back row, as a member of the Halifax Town squad which reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1952-53. Photo courtesy of Johnny Meynell
Roy Lorenson, third from right on the back row, as a member of the Halifax Town squad which reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1952-53. Photo courtesy of Johnny Meynell
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lorenson was born in Liverpool on 8 April 1932 and played amateur football on Merseyside with St Elizabeth’s, first chancing his luck in the 1951-52 pre-season trials with Halifax Town under Billy Wootton.

But it wasn’t until the arrival of Gerry Henry that Lorenson made his first team debut in a West Riding Senior Cup match with Huddersfield Town in April 1952, two months after turning a full-time professional.

It was injuries to both Andy Geddes and Jackie Moss that opened the door for Lorenson and he made his mark in League football during 1952-53, a season which was remembered mostly for Town’s giant-killing exploits in the FA Cup.

But after scoring with a shot which came down off the underside of the bar to set Town on the way to victory in the first round replay at Ashton United, Lorenson was later overlooked for the defeats of Cardiff and Stoke, and for the fifth round visit of Spurs in front of a record Shay gate.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lorenson was forced to take a break from full-time football when called up for two years’ National Service in 1953, serving in the Far East with the Royal Navy, and following his return in July 1955 bided his time in the reserves until called upon for first team duty at the end of March 1956.

Lorenson became an automatic choice in the side, forming a formidable half-back line with Brian Atkinson and Alex South during 1957-58 as Halifax Town qualified for the newly created Third Division.

Not one of the quickest players in the game, Lorenson made up for his lack of pace with solid wholehearted performances, the type of defender which manager Harry Hooper relied upon. And never was Lorenson’s resilience better exemplified than in a stormy encounter at Port Vale in September 1960, where he incurred the wrath of the home supporters following his challenge on Brian Jackson which saw the home player carried off on a stretcher.

Lorenson and his defensive partners stood firm to help pull off a remarkable 3-2 victory against a Port Vale side which threw everything at the Town goal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That game was one of Lorenson’s last for the club. A desire to play football closer to his native Liverpool saw him hand in a transfer request in March 1959, and whilst the board reluctantly agreed to his demands, Lorenson didn’t leave the club until October 1960, joining Tranmere Rovers in a deal which saw forward Willie Sinclair arrive at The Shay.

But Lorenson arrived at the Prenton Park club nursing an injured thigh, and injury continued to blight his time there. Lorenson managed just 14 League appearances before moving into coaching under manager Ron Yeats, where, under his charges were future England international Steve Coppell and future FC Halifax Town assistant manager Trevor Storton.

In September 1975 Lorenson took up his position as player manager of Kirkby Town. He later returned to Tranmere Rovers as reserve team coach and served under Frank Worthington until being let go by the club amid financial difficulties in February 1987.

Lorenson also coached in the Middle East and in South Africa, but sadly, in later life, suffered with Alzheimer’s Disease, to the extent that he remembered little, if anything, of his playing days.