Arthur Betts (b.1917)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Betts was a professional Association Footballer who played for Nottingham Forest F.C.
. Betts played in reserve team matches and one first team match, against Chesterfield F.C.
in the 1944 war time Football League-North First Championship, over 5 years after his last first class match for Forest. Nevertheless, hopes of a long term comeback for Betts were dashed as league rules, which prevented a player from returning after receiving compensation, were imposed. Irrespective of his offer to repay his £350 compensation payment, the league's rules were upheld and Betts's professional career came to a premature end.
whilst with Hucknall Colts F.C. his first youth team. Betts was employed, after leaving school at 14, at New Hucknall Colliery in the lamp cabin. During the season 1934/35 Betts signed for Birmingham City F.C.
as an amateur, and played "A" team matches for the club. Another club interested in Betts as an amateur was Sheffield United F.C.
and he played an "A" team match against Bradford City F.C. "A" in 1935 whilst having changed employment, working for Co-operative Whole Sale (CWS) at Huthwaite in the hosiery industry. Betts also played for the CWS works team at this time. Like another exceptional local player of the time, Horace Burrows
, Betts also turned out in junior football for Sutton Junction F.C. In 1936 Betts was offered a professional contract with Mansfield Town F.C. managed by Harold Wightman
. Betts refused initially due to concern over leaving secure full time employment. However, he committed to Wightman in September later that year when Wightman became the manager of Nottingham Forest. Betts signed professional terms in September 1936, making his debut against Bradford City on 28/12/36.
. He played against Harold Larwood
and Bill Voce
in a benefit match for Larwood, the Notts and England Ashes winning bowler. Betts founded New Hucknall Colliery Boys' Club (Football, Cricket, Youth Club) with whom he served as treasurer, secretary, coach and trainer over a 23 year period. He was also Assistant Manager with Sutton Town F.C.
. Betts also managed the Notts F.A. youth team and worked on the Mansfield Youth Football League committee for many seasons. During the war years Betts was a proud member of the Home Guard
. When his work as a knitter in hosiery with CWS ended, Betts earned a living as a payroll officer and part time groundsman, for New Hucknall Colliery, supporting his wife and family until his death in 1978.
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
Professional career
Betts was a winger (nos. 7 & 11) whose Football League career lasted from 1936 - 1939. His promising playing career was cut short due to injury (rupture to the internal lateral ligament of the right knee) in a match versus Coventry City. Betts was paid compensation by the league's insurers in 1941 having been told by doctors he would never play again, following major surgery to his injured knee. After convalescing, Betts regained fitness through a determined personal effort and expensive remedial physiotherapy. After an extraordinary recovery, regardless of medical opinion, Betts was asked to play again for Forest, having been spotted by an official excelling in the field at CricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. Betts played in reserve team matches and one first team match, against Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
in the 1944 war time Football League-North First Championship, over 5 years after his last first class match for Forest. Nevertheless, hopes of a long term comeback for Betts were dashed as league rules, which prevented a player from returning after receiving compensation, were imposed. Irrespective of his offer to repay his £350 compensation payment, the league's rules were upheld and Betts's professional career came to a premature end.
Early career
Arthur Betts was born in Huthwaite, Sutton-in-Ashfield into a mining family. He excelled at sport at school and district level and at 14 was a member of the 1931 Sutton and District team that won the Cobbin Cup, beating Nottingham at Sutton Junction's ground. At 15 Betts had trials with Mansfield Town F.C.Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
whilst with Hucknall Colts F.C. his first youth team. Betts was employed, after leaving school at 14, at New Hucknall Colliery in the lamp cabin. During the season 1934/35 Betts signed for Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
as an amateur, and played "A" team matches for the club. Another club interested in Betts as an amateur was Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and he played an "A" team match against Bradford City F.C. "A" in 1935 whilst having changed employment, working for Co-operative Whole Sale (CWS) at Huthwaite in the hosiery industry. Betts also played for the CWS works team at this time. Like another exceptional local player of the time, Horace Burrows
Horace Burrows
Horace Burrows was a professional footballer who played for Mansfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday. Burrows was a left half whose league career lasted from 1932 to 1939, his career was curtailed by the outbreak of World War II...
, Betts also turned out in junior football for Sutton Junction F.C. In 1936 Betts was offered a professional contract with Mansfield Town F.C. managed by Harold Wightman
Harold Wightman
Harold Wightman was an English football manager, who managed Luton Town, Mansfield Town and Nottingham Forest.-External links:...
. Betts refused initially due to concern over leaving secure full time employment. However, he committed to Wightman in September later that year when Wightman became the manager of Nottingham Forest. Betts signed professional terms in September 1936, making his debut against Bradford City on 28/12/36.
Post injury career
Arthur Betts played cricket to a high level as an all-rounder for Huthwaite CWS, New Hucknall Colliery and Notts Club and Ground which was the nursery team of Nottinghamshire County Cricket ClubNottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
. He played against Harold Larwood
Harold Larwood
Harold Larwood was an English cricket player, an extremely accurate fast bowler best known for his key role as the implementer of fast leg theory in the infamous "bodyline" Ashes Test series of 1932–33....
and Bill Voce
Bill Voce
Bill Voce was an English cricketer. He played for the Nottinghamshire and England, and was an instrumental part of England's infamous Bodyline tour of Australia in 1932–1933.-Life and career:...
in a benefit match for Larwood, the Notts and England Ashes winning bowler. Betts founded New Hucknall Colliery Boys' Club (Football, Cricket, Youth Club) with whom he served as treasurer, secretary, coach and trainer over a 23 year period. He was also Assistant Manager with Sutton Town F.C.
Sutton Town F.C.
Sutton Town A.F.C. is a football club based in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The current incarnation of the club was formed in August 2007, to replace an older club, previously known as North Notts F.C., who disbanded...
. Betts also managed the Notts F.A. youth team and worked on the Mansfield Youth Football League committee for many seasons. During the war years Betts was a proud member of the Home Guard
Home Guard
-Military:*British Home Guard*Combat Groups of the Working Class *Confederate Home Guard, during the American Civil War*Croatian Home Guard and Imperial Croatian Home Guard*Danish Home Guard...
. When his work as a knitter in hosiery with CWS ended, Betts earned a living as a payroll officer and part time groundsman, for New Hucknall Colliery, supporting his wife and family until his death in 1978.