Born in the Chesterfield area in 1903, Horace played as an amateur with sides in Sheepbridge, Clay Cross and Whittington Moor before graduating to the area's senior side. The brother of Edwin, also of Chesterfield, Horace came to the club in 1920 as an amateur right-winger but did not have the dash to stand out in that position; he oozed class, though, and read a game very well for a youngster, so was tried at right-half. In his first game in this position, the reserves lost 6-1 at home, and a career was launched!

As befits one of Chesterfield's most significant players, Horace was awarded two benefit matches by the club: the first, in 1929-30 against Sheffield Wednesday was rather poorly attended, but the second, against Hearts in `35-6, brought a more fitting reward. Horace was a professional cricketer, too. He played for the Golf Hill and West of Scotland clubs (both based in Glasgow) during the 1930s and was capped once by Scotland - at cricket - against the South Africans, in 1935. In 1929 Horace made one appearance for Derbyshire County Cricket Club, scoring nine runs against Glamorgan.

Horace left after fifteen years as the club's all-time record appearance-maker - a record that remained intact until Ron Powell and then Dave Blakey overtook him in the early '60s - and had one season at Southport. In the summer of 1938 he joined Southern League Chelmsford, managed at the time by his former team-mate Allan Sliman. During the war, Horace served as a PT Instructor in the Middle East, rising to the rank of Sergeant-major. After retiring from football, it is belived that Horace became a glue salesman.

For Chesterfield: 413 League appearances, 6 goals.

Despite his fine Chesterfield record, historians know nothing of Horace's life away from football. If you know what became of him in later years, please contact us here