Arthur Dominy
Encyclopedia
Arthur Albert Dominy was an English professional footballer, who played as an inside-forward
, and football manager, spending most of his career with Southampton
.
Guild for whom he scored over 50 goals during the 1911-12 season. This form soon attracted the attention of Southern League
Southampton who signed him in March 1913, and he made his first appearance away to Stoke City
on 5 April 1913. He made two further appearances that month, including scoring two goals in the final match, a 3-3 draw at home to Gillingham
on 26 April, thus giving Saints fans some indication of what was to come.
He made an immediate impact in the following season
by becoming Saints' top scorer (with 13 goals) playing alongside Len Andrews
, Percy Prince
and Sid Kimpton
. He followed this up with a spectacular 30 goals the following season, including a hat-trick
in a 3-4 defeat at Gillingham
on 3 April 1915, making him the leading scorer in the Southern League.
According to Holley & Chalk's The Alphabet of the Saints, Dominy's
His career was then interrupted by World War I
. Before becoming a professional footballer he had trained as a boiler-maker; during the war he was employed at the local Harland & Wolff shipyard, where he played football for the works team as well as making guest appearances for Southampton, Arsenal
and Rangers
.
After the end of hostilities, Dominy returned to a full time football career in 1919, and soon formed a formidable striking partnership with Bill Rawlings
, as manager Jimmy McIntyre
set about building a team for the future. In Saints' final season
in the Southern League, Dominy scored 20 goals (to Rawlings' 19), including a hat-trick in a 5-1 victory at home to Crystal Palace
on 13 March 1919. Dominy was selected to play for the Southern League
against the Irish League and was attracting the attention of First Division clubs, attracting bids from Manchester United
and Everton
. Although Dominy took part in many England
trial matches, he was never capped. To many people this was a surprise as he was "not only a player of outstanding ability, but an inspirational captain."
Saints were admitted into Division 3 of the Football League in 1920, and just missed out on promotion in their first season
, with Dominy contributing 12 goals (to Rawlings' 18). A year later
, McIntyre had successfully guided Southampton into Division Two, finishing equal on points with Plymouth Argyle
and taking the title on goal average, helped in no small manner by 5-0 victories over Southend United
and Newport County, a 6-0 defeat of Charlton Athletic
and an 8-0 hammering of Northampton Town
on 24 December 1921 (which is still Saints' biggest win in the Football League). In each of these matches Dominy scored twice, with a total of 13 goals at the end of the season, when he was rewarded with a benefit match against Preston North End
, won 3-1 by Saints.
Over the next four seasons, Saints consolidated their place in Division 2, generally finishing in the upper half of the table with Dominy again top scorer in 1922-23 (with 13 goals). Saints also had a run in the FA Cup
, where they got through each of the first three rounds after replays (over First Division Newcastle United
, Chelsea
and Second division Bury
), before going out to West Ham United
after a second replay.
Dominy's long playing career with the Saints eventually ended in 1926, when he was given a free transfer to Everton
. His Saints' career spanned thirteen years, during which he made 369 appearances (excluding war-time matches) scoring 146 goals.
in May 1926 and soon formed a useful partnership (and friendship) with Dixie Dean
and in his first season
he scored 12 goals in 28 league appearances (to Dean's 21) as Everton narrowly avoided relegation from the First Division. In the following season, he only made one appearance as Everton claimed the League championship with Dean contributing 60 of the team's 102 league goals.
Age was now against Dominy and in March 1928 (now aged 35) he moved on to Third Division (South) side Gillingham
. He made 14 appearances (with 3 goals) in the 1927-28 season, followed up with 14 goals in 1928-29 (making him the club's top scorer for the season), as Gillingham finished at the bottom of the table and were forced to seek re-election to the league. He then completed his league playing career with a season at fellow Third Division (South) side Clapton Orient.
After retiring from league football, he returned to Southampton
and became a licensee at the Mason's Arms in St. Mary's Street, whilst playing occasionally for Newport (Isle of Wight)
, often playing alongside his former Saints' partner, Bill Rawlings.
. In 1934 he was offered the position as manager at Le Havre AC
in France but turned this down, choosing to stay in Southampton.
In 1943, following the sudden resignation of Tom Parker
as manager at Southampton, Dominy was approached by the board and asked to take on the position for the duration of the war
. The position was only part-time, but Dominy gave valuable assistance until the appointment of Bill Dodgin
in January 1946 in time for the resumption of league football later that year
. With no training facilities at The Dell
during the war, the only time Dominy saw the side was on match days.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, and football manager, spending most of his career with 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...
.
Southampton
He played his early football for Peartree Green, then for BitterneBitterne
Bitterne is an eastern suburb and Electoral Ward of Southampton, England.Bitterne derives its name not from the similarly named bird, the Bittern but from the bend in the River Itchen; the Old English words byht and ærn together mean "house near a bend", most likely a reference to Bitterne Manor...
Guild for whom he scored over 50 goals during the 1911-12 season. This form soon attracted the attention of 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...
Southampton who signed him in March 1913, and he made his first appearance away to Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on 5 April 1913. He made two further appearances that month, including scoring two goals in the final match, a 3-3 draw at home to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
on 26 April, thus giving Saints fans some indication of what was to come.
He made an immediate impact in the following season
1913-14 in English football
The 1913–14 season was the 43rd season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition-First Division:-Second Division:...
by becoming Saints' top scorer (with 13 goals) playing alongside Len Andrews
Len Andrews
Leonard Thomas Alford "Len" Andrews was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward. During his career he had two spells with both Southampton and Reading, as well as playing for Watford....
, Percy Prince
Percy Prince
Percy Prince was an English amateur footballer who played as a centre-forward for Southampton and Boscombe in the early 20th century.-Football career:...
and Sid Kimpton
Sid Kimpton
Gabriel Sibley "Sid" Kimpton, also known as George Kimpton, was an English football player, who spent his entire playing career with Southampton and subsequently became a manager in Europe....
. He followed this up with a spectacular 30 goals the following season, including a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a 3-4 defeat at Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
on 3 April 1915, making him the leading scorer in the Southern League.
According to Holley & Chalk's The Alphabet of the Saints, Dominy's
"ball control was second to none; he always managed to keep the ball near his feet, rarely allowing it to break away, and he always had the priceless ability, for a forward, of being able to beat an opponent at close quarters."
His career was then interrupted by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Before becoming a professional footballer he had trained as a boiler-maker; during the war he was employed at the local Harland & Wolff shipyard, where he played football for the works team as well as making guest appearances for Southampton, Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.
After the end of hostilities, Dominy returned to a full time football career in 1919, and soon formed a formidable striking partnership with Bill Rawlings
Bill Rawlings
William Ernest "Bill" Rawlings was an English footballer.-Playing career:Rawlings' career started in 1918 with Southampton, he stayed ten years with the club, from 1918 to 1928. His 193 goals places him third on the club's list of all-time goalscorers, behind Mick Channon and Matthew Le Tissier...
, as manager Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
set about building a team for the future. In Saints' final season
1919-20 in English football
The 1919–1920 season was the 45th season of competitive football in England, and the first following the end of World War I.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition...
in the Southern League, Dominy scored 20 goals (to Rawlings' 19), including a hat-trick in a 5-1 victory at home to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
on 13 March 1919. Dominy was selected to play for 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...
against the Irish League and was attracting the attention of First Division clubs, attracting bids from Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. Although Dominy took part in many 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...
trial matches, he was never capped. To many people this was a surprise as he was "not only a player of outstanding ability, but an inspirational captain."
Saints were admitted into Division 3 of the Football League in 1920, and just missed out on promotion in their first season
1920-21 in English football
The 1920–21 season was the 46th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League Third Division is introduced, expanding the League's operational radius south of Birmingham...
, with Dominy contributing 12 goals (to Rawlings' 18). A year later
1921-22 in English football
The 1921–22 season was the 47th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The league underwent a major expansion for the second consecutive season, adding 20 teams from the Midlands and Northern England. They were placed in the new Third Division North, and the existing southern-based...
, McIntyre had successfully guided Southampton into Division Two, finishing equal on points with Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and taking the title on goal average, helped in no small manner by 5-0 victories over Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
and Newport County, a 6-0 defeat of Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
and an 8-0 hammering of Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
on 24 December 1921 (which is still Saints' biggest win in the Football League). In each of these matches Dominy scored twice, with a total of 13 goals at the end of the season, when he was rewarded with a benefit match against Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, won 3-1 by Saints.
Over the next four seasons, Saints consolidated their place in Division 2, generally finishing in the upper half of the table with Dominy again top scorer in 1922-23 (with 13 goals). Saints also had a run in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, where they got through each of the first three rounds after replays (over First Division Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Second division Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
), before going out to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
after a second replay.
Dominy's long playing career with the Saints eventually ended in 1926, when he was given a free transfer to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. His Saints' career spanned thirteen years, during which he made 369 appearances (excluding war-time matches) scoring 146 goals.
After Southampton
He joined EvertonEverton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in May 1926 and soon formed a useful partnership (and friendship) with Dixie Dean
Dixie Dean
William Ralph Dean , better known as Dixie Dean, was an English football player. Dean originally started his career with Birkenhead based Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton, the club he had supported as a child, where he became one of the most prolific goal-scorers in English football...
and in his first season
1926-27 in English football
The 1926–27 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which George Camsell scored an astounding 59 goals in 37 league appearances for Middlesbrough-Honours:...
he scored 12 goals in 28 league appearances (to Dean's 21) as Everton narrowly avoided relegation from the First Division. In the following season, he only made one appearance as Everton claimed the League championship with Dean contributing 60 of the team's 102 league goals.
Age was now against Dominy and in March 1928 (now aged 35) he moved on to Third Division (South) side Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
. He made 14 appearances (with 3 goals) in the 1927-28 season, followed up with 14 goals in 1928-29 (making him the club's top scorer for the season), as Gillingham finished at the bottom of the table and were forced to seek re-election to the league. He then completed his league playing career with a season at fellow Third Division (South) side Clapton Orient.
After retiring from league football, he returned to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and became a licensee at the Mason's Arms in St. Mary's Street, whilst playing occasionally for Newport (Isle of Wight)
Newport (IW) F.C.
Newport F.C. are a football club based in Newport on the Isle of Wight, England, They were founding members of the Wessex League in 1986.-History:...
, often playing alongside his former Saints' partner, Bill Rawlings.
Coaching and management career
During the 1930s he also was a scout for Southampton and helped out at the local Itchen Sports team and running a sports stadium in BournemouthBournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
. In 1934 he was offered the position as manager at Le Havre AC
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
in France but turned this down, choosing to stay in Southampton.
In 1943, following the sudden resignation of Tom Parker
Tom Parker (footballer)
Thomas Robert "Tom" Parker was an English football player and manager.-Southampton:Born in Woolston, Southampton, Parker began playing with local sides, such as Sholing Rangers and Sholing Athletic, before joining Southern League side Southampton as an amateur in 1918, just before the end of the...
as manager at Southampton, Dominy was approached by the board and asked to take on the position for the duration of the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The position was only part-time, but Dominy gave valuable assistance until the appointment of Bill Dodgin
Bill Dodgin, Sr.
William "Bill" Dodgin was an English football player.Born in Gateshead, Dodgin played for Huddersfield Town, Lincoln City, Charlton Athletic, Bristol Rovers, Clapton Orient and Southampton, although his career was curtailed by the Second World War.After retiring as a player, he became coach and...
in January 1946 in time for the resumption of league football later that year
1946-47 in English football
The 1946–47 season was the 67th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The 1946–47 season was the first to feature a full football programme since the 1938–39 campaign. Eighty-eight teams competed over four divisions. Liverpool went top of the First Division with a 2–1 away win over...
. With no training facilities at The Dell
The Dell (Southampton F.C.)
The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club, between 1898 and 2001.-New stadium:Since 1896, Southampton had been tenants of Hampshire County Cricket Club at the County Ground, having vacated the Antelope Ground in the summer of 1896...
during the war, the only time Dominy saw the side was on match days.
After retirement
After handing over the role of manager to Bill Dodgin, Dominy remained at The Dell, as chief steward at the Saints supporters club, thus maintaining strong links with Southampton until his death in 1974, aged 81.As a player
SouthamptonSouthampton 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...
- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
- Championship 1921-22