Arthur Rigby

Arthur Rigby (born 7 June 1900 in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, England; died March 1960 in Crewe, England) was an English professional footballer who played as inside left or outside left. He won an FA Cup winners medal with Blackburn Rovers and five caps for England.

This article is about the footballer. For the actor, see Arthur Rigby (actor).

Arthur Rigby
Personal information
Full name Arthur Rigby
Date of birth (1900-06-07)7 June 1900
Place of birth Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, England
Date of death March 1960 (aged 59)
Place of death Crewe, England
Height 5 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1.74 m)[1]
Position(s) Inside left or Outside left
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Crewe Alexandra
1921–1925 Bradford City 121 (21)
1925–1929 Blackburn Rovers 156 (42)
1929–1932 Everton
1932–1933 Middlesbrough
1933–1935 Clapton Orient
1935–1937 Crewe Alexandra
Total 467 (108)
International career
1927 England 5 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Domestic playing career

Arthur Rigby was an electrician by trade who initially started his football career as a goalkeeper until after a trial with Stockport County, signed as a winger for Crewe Alexandra after the First World War.[2] In March 1921 he signed for Bradford City for £1,200 when City director Allan Welch took time away from business in Crewe to take him from non-league football to Division One. He played 13 games, scoring one goal, in his first season at City, before the club was relegated in his first full season.

He scored five goals in the club's first season in Division Two during the 1922–23 season finishing as the club's joint top goal-scorer. He remained at City for another two seasons, finishing with 21 goals from 121 league appearances, before he returned to the top flight when Blackburn Rovers paid £2,500 for his services.[2]

His form at Ewood Park was rewarded with an international call-up for the England team and an FA Cup winners medal in 1928 when Rovers defeated Huddersfield Town 3–1. After 156 league appearances and 42 goals, he left Rovers to sign for Everton in November 1929.

He won a Second Division championship medal with Everton in 1930–31 season, before moving to Middlesbrough in May 1932. He later played for Clapton Orient and finished his career back at Crewe, where he died in March 1960, aged 59.

International playing career

Rigby won his first England international cap in a British Home Championship game with Scotland on 2 April 1927. England won 2–1. He scored two goals in his second game against Belgium a month later in a convincing 9–1 victory. In total he won five caps, scoring one more goal, all in 1927.

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.11 May 1927Oscar Bossaert Stadion, Brussels, Belgium Belgium9–1WinFriendly
2.11 May 1927Oscar Bossaert Stadion, Brussels, Belgium Belgium9–1WinFriendly
3.26 May 1927Colombes, Paris, France France6–0WinFriendly

Honours

Blackburn Rovers

Everton

References
  1. Stapler (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Bradford City". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  2. Frost, Terry (1988). Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988. Breedon Books Sport. p. 81. ISBN 0-907969-38-0.
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