Arthur Rigby (footballer)

Arthur Rigby (7 June 1900 – March 1960) was an English professional footballer who played as inside left or outside left. He won an FA Cup winner's medal with Blackburn Rovers and five caps for England.

Arthur Rigby
Personal information
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+12 in (1.74 m)[1]
Position(s) Inside left, outside left
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
????–1921 Crewe Alexandra[2]
1921–1925 Bradford City[2] 121 (21)
1925–1929 Blackburn Rovers[2] 156 (41)
1929–1932 Everton[2] 42 (11)
1932–1933 Middlesbrough[2] 10 (3)
1933–1935 Clapton Orient[2] 70 (18)
1935–1937 Crewe Alexandra[2] 69 (13)
Total 468+ (107+)
International career
1927 England 5 (3)
1928[3] Football League XI 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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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.[4] 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.[4]

His form at Ewood Park was rewarded with an international call-up for the England team and an FA Cup winner's medal in 1928 when Rovers defeated Huddersfield Town 3–1. After 156 league appearances and 41 goals, he left Rovers to sign for Everton in November 1929.

He won a Second Division championship medal with Everton in 1930–31[3] 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 career

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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.

Career statistics

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Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rigby goal.
List of international goals scored by Arthur Rigby
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 May 1927 Oscar Bossaert Stadion, Brussels, Belgium   Belgium 9–1 Friendly
2
3 26 May 1927 Colombes, Paris, France   France 6–0 Friendly

Honours

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Blackburn Rovers

Everton

References

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  1. ^ Stapler (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Bradford City". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 – 1939. Soccerdata. p. 221. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  3. ^ a b Arthur Rigby, 11v11.com
  4. ^ a b Frost, Terry (1988). Bradford City A Complete Record 1903–1988. Breedon Books Sport. p. 81. ISBN 0-907969-38-0.
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