Chris Lane started his career at Everton as a YTS player and spent three years at Goodison Park, making 17 appearances for the reserve team.

He left Everton and joined Hereford United for the start of the 1998/1999 season where he established himself as a fan favourite at Edgar Street. Lane notched up over 50 appearances for The Bulls and scored five goals during his time there.

His impressive form for Hereford persuaded Southport to pay £12,000 for the right back and Lane made the switch to Haig Avenue where he played under Mark Wright and Phil Wilson in his two and a half seasons on Merseyside. Lane's reputation was enhanced further at Southport by scoring on his debut against Rushden & Diamonds and being part of the Southport team that knocked second division Notts County out of the FA Cup. Lane managed to get on the scoresheet that day with a long range screamer that was the icing on the cake of Southport's impressive 4-2 victory.

Upon Southport's relegation to the Unibond Premier League at the end of the 2002/2003 season Jim Harvey moved quickly to ensure that Lane became his first summer signing and fought off competition from other clubs for his services. Lane's signing was a popular one with the Morecambe fans who had been impressed with his performances against Morecambe for Southport and Hereford in the Conference.

He instantly became Morecambe's first choice right back and scored a vital goal against Dagenham & Redbridge in August to give Morecambe a 3-2 victory with Lane's goal being scored in the 94th minute. However, with the emergence of youngster Keiran Walmsley, Chris found himself forced out of the first team and he struggled to regain his place. He was released shortly after the turn of the year before moving to Leigh RMI where he had a short spell before joining Chester City who went on to win the Nationwide Conference.