Arthur Haddleton
Encyclopedia
Arthur Haddleton was an English footballer who played as a centre forward for various clubs in the 1930s. Despite showing promise in the early part of his career, he eventually achieved very little, although he did score in eight consecutive matches in 1931.
in County Durham
and worked in the coal-mines, playing football for various colliery sides in the north east
including Easington Colliery Welfare and Horden Colliery Welfare
. He was spotted by scouts from Southampton
and moved to the south coast in October 1930.
on 18 April 1931. The following season, he replaced the injured Willie Haines
after the first match of the season. He scored in a 3–2 victory over Manchester United
on 2 September and then scored at least once in each of the next seven games. This run of nine goals in eight consecutive matches remains a club record. After scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers
on 3 October, he then only scored once more in the next five games. He was initially replaced by Ted Drake
, who had also made a name for himself in the reserves, and only made a further three appearances for the "Saints" first-team, spending the rest of the season back in the reserves.
At the end of the season, he was one of three players (together with fellow forwards Bill Fraser
and Bert Jepson
) who were sold to Fulham
as the Saints were in serious financial difficulties and needed to raise funds.
In his brief career at Southampton, Haddleton made 17 first-team appearances, scoring ten goals.
In the summer of 1933, he move to Swindon Town
where he was moved to an inside forward
role, with either Tommy Armstrong or Fred Fisher in the centre, but failed to score in seven matches.
He moved again in July 1934, this time to the Midlands
to join Walsall
where he was played at outside right alongside prolific goal-scorer Gilbert Alsop
. After 15 appearances in the Third Division North, in which he scored four goals, Haddleton fractured his leg and was eventually forced to retire.
to live in Eastleigh
where he was employed at the Pirelli General
cable works, turning out for the works team. He died at Eastleigh in 1971, aged 60.
Early days
Haddleton was born in Chester-le-StreetChester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and worked in the coal-mines, playing football for various colliery sides in the north east
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
including Easington Colliery Welfare and Horden Colliery Welfare
Horden Colliery Welfare A.F.C.
Horden Colliery Welfare A.F.C. are a football club based in Horden, near Peterlee, County Durham, England. They were formed in 1908 and joined the North Eastern League in 1935. They reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup in the 1938–39 season.-History:...
. He was spotted by scouts from 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...
and moved to the south coast in October 1930.
Southampton
He made an immediate impression at The Dell, scoring eleven goals from seventeen games for the reserves. He made his first-team debut in a 1–0 defeat in the Second Division at BuryBury 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...
on 18 April 1931. The following season, he replaced the injured Willie Haines
Willie Haines
Wyndham William Pretoria "Willie" Haines was an English footballer who played at centre-forward for south coast rivals, Portsmouth and then Southampton in the 1920s and 1930s.-Football career:...
after the first match of the season. He scored in a 3–2 victory over 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...
on 2 September and then scored at least once in each of the next seven games. This run of nine goals in eight consecutive matches remains a club record. After scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
on 3 October, he then only scored once more in the next five games. He was initially replaced by Ted Drake
Ted Drake
Edward Joseph "Ted" Drake was an English football player and manager. As a player, he first played for Southampton but made his name playing for Arsenal in the 1930s, winning two league titles and an FA Cup, as well as five caps for England. He was also a cricketer, but only ever played sparingly...
, who had also made a name for himself in the reserves, and only made a further three appearances for the "Saints" first-team, spending the rest of the season back in the reserves.
At the end of the season, he was one of three players (together with fellow forwards Bill Fraser
Bill Fraser (footballer)
William Cuthbert Fraser was an English professional footballer who played at inside forward for Northampton Town and Southampton in the 1920s and 1930s.-Early career:...
and Bert Jepson
Bert Jepson
Albert Edward Jepson was an English footballer who played as an outside right for Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1920s and 1930s.-Huddersfield Town:...
) who were sold to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
as the Saints were in serious financial difficulties and needed to raise funds.
In his brief career at Southampton, Haddleton made 17 first-team appearances, scoring ten goals.
Later career
At Fulham, Haddleton scored twice on his debut and added two more goals from three matches, but was unable to displace Frank Newton as a regular in the side.In the summer of 1933, he move to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
where he was moved to an inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
role, with either Tommy Armstrong or Fred Fisher in the centre, but failed to score in seven matches.
He moved again in July 1934, this time to the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
to join Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
where he was played at outside right alongside prolific goal-scorer Gilbert Alsop
Gilbert Alsop
Gilbert Alsop was an English professional footballer.-Early career:Alsop was born in Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire. After leaving school, he signed for Latteridge F.C. for a time, before signing professionally for Bath City F.C. in August 1923...
. After 15 appearances in the Third Division North, in which he scored four goals, Haddleton fractured his leg and was eventually forced to retire.
After football
On abandoning his career as a professional footballer, Haddleton returned to HampshireHampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
to live in Eastleigh
Eastleigh
Eastleigh is a railway town in Hampshire, England, and the main town in the Eastleigh borough which is part of Southampton Urban Area. The town lies between Southampton and Winchester, and is part of the South Hampshire conurbation...
where he was employed at the Pirelli General
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
cable works, turning out for the works team. He died at Eastleigh in 1971, aged 60.