Arthur Blackburn (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Blackburn was an English footballer who played as a full-back with Blackburn Rovers
and Southampton
around the turn of the 20th century. He was the elder brother of England
international footballer, Fred Blackburn
.
and first joined his home-town club, Blackburn Rovers
, in March 1895. After three years of reserve-team football, he spent the 1898–99 season with Northamptonshire
club Wellingborough playing in the Midland League
.
He returned to Blackburn in the summer of 1899; by now his brother Fred
had become established at outside-left. Arthur once again spent most of his time at Ewood Park
playing in Rovers' reserve team while keeping fit by voluntarily working on the renovation of a church, and only managed two first-team appearances in the 1899–1900 season.
In May 1900, Blackburn was persuaded to move to the south coast to join Southampton
in the Southern League
. Blackburn Rovers were reluctant to part company with him, but the financial inducements offered by Southampton persuaded him to try his luck in the south. Described as "strongly built", Blackburn "never gave less than 100%, but at time his play was too impetuous to be reliable". He made his "Saints" debut at right-back in the opening match of the 1900–01 season
, a 4–3 victory at Luton Town
and played in nine of the first ten games of the season until a serious ankle injury put him out of the side, with Bertram Sharp
taking over.
Blackburn was unable to regain his place and in the summer of 1901 he returned to his home-town club where he made two further appearances in the 1901–02 season.
in the Netherlands
.
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
around the turn of the 20th century. He was the elder brother of England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international footballer, Fred Blackburn
Fred Blackburn (footballer)
Frederick Blackburn was an English footballer.Fred Blackburn played for his home-town club of Blackburn Rovers, playing as an outside left, and featured for the team at the age of 17....
.
Football career
Blackburn was born in the town of Blackburn, LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and first joined his home-town club, Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, in March 1895. After three years of reserve-team football, he spent the 1898–99 season with Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
club Wellingborough playing in the Midland League
Midland Football League
There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties League....
.
He returned to Blackburn in the summer of 1899; by now his brother Fred
Fred Blackburn (footballer)
Frederick Blackburn was an English footballer.Fred Blackburn played for his home-town club of Blackburn Rovers, playing as an outside left, and featured for the team at the age of 17....
had become established at outside-left. Arthur once again spent most of his time at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
playing in Rovers' reserve team while keeping fit by voluntarily working on the renovation of a church, and only managed two first-team appearances in the 1899–1900 season.
In May 1900, Blackburn was persuaded to move to the south coast to join Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. Blackburn Rovers were reluctant to part company with him, but the financial inducements offered by Southampton persuaded him to try his luck in the south. Described as "strongly built", Blackburn "never gave less than 100%, but at time his play was too impetuous to be reliable". He made his "Saints" debut at right-back in the opening match of the 1900–01 season
Southern Football League 1900-01
The 1900-01 season was the seventh in the history of the Southern League. Southampton were Division One champions for the fourth time in five seasons, whilst Bristol City were elected to the Football League.-Division One:Division One featured three new clubs:...
, a 4–3 victory at Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
and played in nine of the first ten games of the season until a serious ankle injury put him out of the side, with Bertram Sharp
Bertram Sharp
Bertram Sharp was an English footballer who played as a full-back with Aston Villa, Everton and Southampton around the turn of the 20th century. He was the elder brother of England international footballer and test cricketer Jack Sharp...
taking over.
Blackburn was unable to regain his place and in the summer of 1901 he returned to his home-town club where he made two further appearances in the 1901–02 season.
Later career
Blackburn is known to have coached subsequently in RotterdamRotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.