Val Lawrence spent most of his low key career in reserve and non-league football and this remained his lot for much of his brief stay at Elland Road, though he did feature a number of times in Herbert Chapman's 1914/15 City side.

The Scotsman began his playing days in his homeland with the junior side Dundee Violet. He did enough to earn a trial with English First Division giants Newcastle United, but the opportunity came to nothing and he returned home to sign for Scottish non-league outfit Forfar Athletic in 1910.

After a year north of the border, Lawrence joined Manchester City in July 1911, making nineteen First Division appearances and two in the Cup in the season that followed. He played one further game in 1912/13 before signing for Oldham in a £50 deal.

He was restricted to just one league appearance for the Latics before he moved to Leeds City in May 1914.

After the Peacocks' opening day defeat at home to Fulham, centre-half Harry Peart was relegated to the reserves and Lawrence was called up from the stiffs. When Jack Hampson was available to return in the role of pivot, Lawrence was swiftly switched to wing-half and featured in six of City's first seven games. Unfortunately, there was only one victory in that time as City's promotion hopes ran into the sand.

The dismal run ended with Lawrence returning to the reserves with George Law, Hampson and Mick Foley established as City's regular half-back line.

Lawrence was released at the end of the season and joined Darlington, before moving on to Shildon Athletic and following the end of the war he signed for Hartlepools.

His first appearance for Hartlepools came on 19 March 1921 against Newcastle's A side, but he played only eight further games for Pools before switching to Southend United in August 1921. Lawrence saw out his career with Abertillery and Tunbridge Wells Rangers.