Henry Long

Henry Robert Long (15 October 1914 – 11 May 1989)

Football career Long was born in Southampton and attended Northam School. he was a member of the Southampton Schools team which reached the finals of the English Schools Shield in 1929.

After playing for the Harland & 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. 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.