Lawrence spent his junior career playing for Manners Rangers, before joining Ilkeston United in September 1909.
[2] In May 1910, Lawrence would sign for Derby County, where he would make his senior football debut against Blackpool on 17 September 1910 in the Second Division.
[8] World War I would then postpone league football for four seasons, and Lawrence would serve the country during the conflict.
[9] When league football resumed would retain his role as first choice Derby goalkeeper for another three seasons, playing 32 times in 1919–20.
[12] In this season, Derby would play Coventry City at Highfield Road in November 1921, the first league meeting between the two sides, which was forced to be abandoned after half an hour with no score due to heavy fog.