Harold was playing schools football in 1932/33. On the 6th of September 1933, he played against Torquay reserves for the Grecians at outside-left.

The Express and Echo wrote, 
"A SECOND BASTIN."
Exeter City Sign Local Schoolboy.

Exeter City have secured the signature to Southern and Western League forms of Harold May, a 15-year-old local schoolboy who is considered to be a 64 second Bastin." He will play for Exeter Reserves against Torquay Reserves at St. James's Park this evening. It is understood that the Arsenal club were anxious to secure the lad.
And followed this up a few days later with:- 

INTEREST AROUSED BY YOUTHFUL RECRUIT By EXONIAN,

Exeter City supporters were keenly interested in the first appearance in the City colours of Harold May, the 15-years- old local schoolboy, who has been who hailed as a "second Bastin." Short for his age, but sturdily built, May team against figured in the Reserve team Torquay United Reserves, and after a trial at inside-left moved to the outside position. What most impressed, perhaps, was May's complete confidence; he showed no trace of nervousness, in spite of the fact that he was many years junior to the youngest of the other players and was making his début in senior football. Supporters who expected too much of so young a boy may have been dis- appointed. He was, naturally, often beaten, and there were occasions when he failed to do what any other player with more weight and inches would have found easy. But it may safely be said that May is a "born footballer. 59 He has the football instinct. The best feature of his play, in fact, was his clever positioning and his attempts to do the right thing at the right time. It would be taking a big risk to prophesy that May has before him the prospect of such a career as Bastin, but he has certainly shown promise of going far. Bastin got his first chance with the City Reserves at the age of 15, and he had not reached his 16th birthday before he appeared in the Third League team. Two years later he was playing regularly for the Arsenal. One of the most popular players on the City books," Nobby "Clark, gets a well-deserved benefit on Wednesday.. of next week, when Leicester City visit St. James's Park. Now in his sixth season with the club, Clarke has no superior in consistently good performances, and no player has worked harder.