Harold Meredith Lemoine (1877 – 1961) was the Clapton goalkeeper from 1909. He also represented England at Amateur level on two occasions and also played as a wicket keeper for Hertfordshire in Minor Counties cricket. Looking at his stats, he was certainly a better goalkeeper than cricketer!
Although born in Cambridgeshire, Harold Lemoine earned himself a reputation ‘up north’ as a good goalkeeper when playing for a very good Hunslet FC team at the turn of the century. This team famously held Blackburn Olympic to a goalless draw in Yorkshire.
In 1905 Lemoine moved south, and played for Shepherds Bush FC at Loftus Road. In 1909 he moved across London to the Old Spotted Dog to play for the Tons.
Just before his arrival at the Dog he toured Canada and the USA with the representative team ‘Pilgrims FC’. Pilgrims were somewhat similar to Middlesex Wanderers FC or rugby club ‘Barbarians’. They would embark on tours using players from various clubs. Clapton’s J.J. Bayley also was a member of that North American touring party.
His two amateur international caps came in 1908 against Belgium and, in 1910 in Copenhagen against Denmark when he replaced Horace Bailey of Leicester Fosse who was injured the previous week playing for Derby County!
In 1910 Harold Lemoine signed amateur forms to play for Southend United.
England‘s Amateur National Team 1910 in Copenhagen
Back, (LtoR) – Eastwood, Charles S. Rance (both in civvies), Harold Boardman, Harold Lemoine, William Martin, Robert “Bobby” Hawkes, John Goodall (in civil), Frederick Leonard Fayers, Ivan Gordon Sharpe, John Hargreaves Pearson (referee); Front, (LtoR) – William Henry Steer, Lionel Louch, Frederick Williams Chapman, Thomas Carter Wilson, George Barlow. 5th May 1910
C.S. Rance and T.C. Wilson were also Clapton players.
H.M. Lemoine is mentioned on the Clapton FC Commemorative Scroll which was given to the club by the Football Association in 1954. The real Clapton FC are selling high quality reproductions of the scroll in aid of the Clapton Supporters Action Fund. email actionfund@claptonfootball.club.
