Arthur Bateman (footballer, born 1908) explained

Arthur Bateman
Fullname:Arthur Bateman[1]
Birth Date:1 April 1908
Birth Place:Grimsby, England
Death Place:Grimsby, England
Height:5 ft 11 in[2]
Position:Full back
Youthclubs1:Cleethorpes Town
Years1:1927–1933
Clubs1:Grimsby Town
Caps1:18
Goals1:0
Years2:1933–1934
Clubs2:Southend United
Caps2:19
Goals2:0
Years3:1934–1939
Clubs3:Brentford
Caps3:146
Goals3:1

Arthur Bateman (15 March 1908 – September 1979) was an English professional footballer who played as a full back. He is best remembered for his five-year spell in the Football League with Brentford, where he was captain and made over 150 appearances. In 2013, Bateman was named in a Football League 125th anniversary poll as Brentford's fourth-best captain and he was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2015.[3] [4]

Playing career

Early years

Bateman began his career at Cleethorpes Town, before joining hometown club Grimsby Town in 1927.[5] He was with the club through its heyday in the First Division, but made only 18 appearances across six seasons. Bateman moved to Third Division South club Southend United during the 1933 off-season.[6] He departed the Shrimpers in January 1934, after making 22 appearances.

Brentford

Bateman joined Second Division club Brentford in January 1934 and made his debut towards the end of the month in a 3–0 victory over Plymouth Argyle at Griffin Park. Nicknamed "Iron Man",[7] Bateman vice-captained the Brentford team which was crowned Second Division champions in the 1934–35 season and secured promoted to the First Division for the only time in the club's history. Bateman's only goal for the club came against Bradford Park Avenue on 22 April 1935, a 40-yard free kick in a 3–2 win which clinched promotion. After the departure of Bert Watson, Bateman was promoted to captain for the 1935–36 season and led the Bees to fifth place in the First Division, the club's highest ever finish in the league pyramid. An injury suffered in a 1–0 victory over Arsenal at Griffin Park in September 1938 brought Bateman's career to a premature end. He made 154 appearances for Brentford and scored one goal during just shy of five years with the club.

International career

Bateman's form for Brentford saw him called up to the England squad for a three-match friendly tour of Europe in May 1938, but he failed to make an appearance.[8]

Personal life

Following his early retirement from football, Bateman returned to Grimsby and became a policeman, retiring in 1969 with the rank of Detective Inspector.

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Southend United1933–34Third Division South19030220
Brentford1933–34[9] Second Division180180
1934–3541110421
1935–36First Division23000230
1936–3726020280
1937–38310401[10] 0360
1938–39700070
Total146170101541
Career total1651100101761

Honours

Brentford

1934–35

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . Tony Brown . 2012 . 978-1905891610 . Nottingham . 20.
  2. News: Brentford. Only one change in 'Bees' team . Sunday Dispatch Football Guide . London . 23 August 1936 . iv . Newspapers.com.
  3. Web site: Brentford . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160310181300/http://fl125.co.uk/brentford . 10 March 2016 . 2 August 2014 . Football League 125.
  4. Web site: Wickham . Chris . Kevin O'Connor and Marcus Gayle join others in being added to Brentford FC Hall of Fame . 18 October 2015 . brentfordfc.com.
  5. Book: Haynes, Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 0955294916 . Harefield . 17.
  6. Web site: Player Profile . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924111513/http://www.sufcdb.co.uk/profile.php?p=204 . 24 September 2015 . 2 August 2014 . SUFCdb.
  7. Book: Haynes, Graham . A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia . 1998 . Yore Publications . 1-874427-57-7 . 18.
  8. Web site: England Uncapped Players – Arthur Bateman . 10 October 2017 . www.englandfootballonline.com.
  9. Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 372–375.
  10. Appearance in Empire Exhibition Trophy