Arthur Bridgett
Encyclopedia
George Arthur Bridgett was an English
footballer who played most of his career, playing at outside left, for Sunderland
and also made eleven appearances for England
.
Bridgett was a deeply religious man, and refused to play on Good Friday
or Christmas
Day throughout his career.
, Staffordshire
and played local football with Burslem Park and Trentham, before joining Stoke
in October 1902. After only seven games for Stoke, he moved to Sunderland
in December 1902, where he captained the side for ten years and gain his eleven caps, making him Sunderland’s second most-capped England International behind Dave Watson.
He made his Sunderland debut in a 0–0 draw with Sheffield United
, but was quickly on the score-sheet scoring at Grimsby Town
in the next match. Bridgett was a winger with an excellent goal scoring pedigree. His superb finishing meant that he could also operate as a striker, and he was twice on the score sheet against Newcastle United
in a 9–1 victory at St James' Park
on 5 December 1908. He was also a good crosser of the ball, making numerous chances for his fellow strikers, including fellow England international George Holley
.
In his first three seasons at Roker Park
, Sunderland finished third, sixth and fifth in the First Division
table. Bridgett was Sunderland’s top scorer in 1905–06 with 17 goals as they finished in 14th place. The following season, Bridgett was again Sunderland’s top scorer with 25 league goals, but Sunderland were only able to improve their league position to tenth.
In 1907–08, Bridgett scored 15 goals with Holley top scorer on 24 as Sunderland again finished in the lower half of the table. For the next few seasons, Holley took over the goal-scoring duties with Sunderland taking third place finishes in 1908–09 and 1910–11.
He wound up his Sunderland career at the end of the 1911–12 season to become player manager at South Shields
. In all competitions, he made 347 appearances for Sunderland, scoring 116 goals, ranking him eighth in Sunderland's all time top scorer's list.
and North Shields
.
During the war
he guested for Port Vale
, scoring twice in a 5-2 home win over Manchester United
in a war league match on 28 April 1917.
he returned as a player for Port Vale for the 1923–24 season
at the age of 41. Ninety seconds into his first Vale game for over six years he had scored; this was the only goal in a home win over Clapton Orient
on 10 November 1923. However he lost his place in February 1924 and departed three months later for Sandbach Ramblers. He had scored seven goals from fourteen Second Division
appearances.
, when England won 1–0 with a goal from Joseph Bache
. His second cap came three years later on 4 April 1908, again against Scotland at Hampden Park
. This match was played in front of a new world record crowd of 121,452 and ended in a 1–1 draw.
Bridgett was then part of the squad chosen for England’s first overseas tour, playing in all four matches against Austria
, Hungary
and Bohemia
scoring in both of the matches against Austria which England won 6–1 and 11–1.
The following year, he played in the British Home Championship
matches against Ireland (4–0) and Wales
(2–0). He was again selected for the summer tour of Europe, playing in all three matches, scoring in the 4–2 victory over Hungary. The last match of the tour, against Austria on 1 June 1909, brought his international career to a close.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played most of his career, playing at outside left, for Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and also made eleven appearances for 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...
.
Bridgett was a deeply religious man, and refused to play on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
or Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
Day throughout his career.
Sunderland
Bridgett was born in ForsbrookForsbrook
Forsbrook is a village in Staffordshire, around three miles southwest of Cheadle and situated on the edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands.It is an old village and is mentioned in the Domesday Book, with the rather unflattering description as waste ground....
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and played local football with Burslem Park and Trentham, before joining Stoke
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...
in October 1902. After only seven games for Stoke, he moved to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in December 1902, where he captained the side for ten years and gain his eleven caps, making him Sunderland’s second most-capped England International behind Dave Watson.
He made his Sunderland debut in a 0–0 draw with Sheffield United
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...
, but was quickly on the score-sheet scoring at Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in the next match. Bridgett was a winger with an excellent goal scoring pedigree. His superb finishing meant that he could also operate as a striker, and he was twice on the score sheet against 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...
in a 9–1 victory at St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
on 5 December 1908. He was also a good crosser of the ball, making numerous chances for his fellow strikers, including fellow England international George Holley
George Holley
George Holley was an English professional footballer who spent most of his career as an inside forward with Sunderland, helping them claim the Football League title in 1913...
.
In his first three seasons at Roker Park
Roker Park
Roker Park was an English football stadium situated in Roker, Sunderland. The stadium was the home of the English football club Sunderland A.F.C. from 1897 to 1997 before the club moved to the Stadium of Light. Near the end of the stadium's history, its capacity was around 22,500 with only a small...
, Sunderland finished third, sixth and fifth in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
table. Bridgett was Sunderland’s top scorer in 1905–06 with 17 goals as they finished in 14th place. The following season, Bridgett was again Sunderland’s top scorer with 25 league goals, but Sunderland were only able to improve their league position to tenth.
In 1907–08, Bridgett scored 15 goals with Holley top scorer on 24 as Sunderland again finished in the lower half of the table. For the next few seasons, Holley took over the goal-scoring duties with Sunderland taking third place finishes in 1908–09 and 1910–11.
He wound up his Sunderland career at the end of the 1911–12 season to become player manager at South Shields
South Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
. In all competitions, he made 347 appearances for Sunderland, scoring 116 goals, ranking him eighth in Sunderland's all time top scorer's list.
Management spell
After leaving Sunderland in 1912 he turned his hand to management with both South ShieldsSouth Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
and North Shields
North Shields F.C.
North Shields F.C. are a football club based in North Shields, England. They reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup twice in their history – in 1933–34 and 1982–83. Currently they are members of the Northern League Division Two...
.
During the war
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...
he guested for Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, scoring twice in a 5-2 home win 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...
in a war league match on 28 April 1917.
Port Vale
After an eleven-year gap away from the Football LeagueThe Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
he returned as a player for Port Vale for the 1923–24 season
1923–24 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1923–24 season was Port Vale's fifth consecutive season of football in the Football League. Another season of slow and steady progress saw the club finish one point, and one place higher than the previous campaign. The club still lacked a regular goalscorer since selling Bobby Blood, however...
at the age of 41. Ninety seconds into his first Vale game for over six years he had scored; this was the only goal in a home win over Clapton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
on 10 November 1923. However he lost his place in February 1924 and departed three months later for Sandbach Ramblers. He had scored seven goals from fourteen Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
appearances.
International career
Bridgett’s England call-up came on 1 April 1905 against ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, when England won 1–0 with a goal from Joseph Bache
Joseph Bache
Joseph William Bache , born in Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, was a footballer who played for Aston Villa.Joe Bache was a prolific centre forward for Aston Villa between 1900 and 1919...
. His second cap came three years later on 4 April 1908, again against Scotland at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
. This match was played in front of a new world record crowd of 121,452 and ended in a 1–1 draw.
Bridgett was then part of the squad chosen for England’s first overseas tour, playing in all four matches against Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
, Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
and Bohemia
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
scoring in both of the matches against Austria which England won 6–1 and 11–1.
The following year, he played in the British Home Championship
1909 British Home Championship
The 1909 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. England dominated the competition with three wins over their opponents. When placed in the context of their overseas tours to Europe in 1908 and 1909, this made a run of ten victories for...
matches against Ireland (4–0) and Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
(2–0). He was again selected for the summer tour of Europe, playing in all three matches, scoring in the 4–2 victory over Hungary. The last match of the tour, against Austria on 1 June 1909, brought his international career to a close.