Arthur Lea
Encyclopedia
Arthur Lea was a Welsh footballer who played as an inside forward
for Wrexham in the 1880s and 1890s. Despite having only one arm, he also made four appearances for the Wales national side
.
and started his football career at the age of 15 when he helped launch the Wrexham Grosvenor club. He started out playing at full-back although he could play on the left wing when required. He possessed "a natural flair with the ball" and his "all-round skill on the field" compensated for his disability, being noted for his "tremendous and powerful kick".
By 1883, he had joined Wrexham, initially as a reserve player but was quickly promoted to the first team, signing as a professional for a weekly wage of 5 shillings, with bonuses enabling this to reach 10 shillings; this made him reputedly the highest paid player in Wales.
Lea made his international debut for Wales
on 23 February 1889, when he played at inside-left in the 4–1 defeat by England
.
In 1889–90, Lea was a member of the Wrexham team that reached the final of the Welsh Cup
, going down 1–0 to Chirk. Later that year, Wrexham joined The Combination
league. Their first game was played on 6 September 1890 against Gorton Villa, with Lea scoring Wrexham's only goal in a 5–1 defeat. Like Lea, his team-mated James Roberts also had only one arm. Although they only finished their inaugural league season in the penultimate position, Wrexham again reached the Welsh Cup Final, losing 5–2 to Shrewsbury Town
.
Lea received three further international caps, at left-half against Ireland on 7 February 1891 (lost 7–2), at right-half against Scotland
on 21 March 1891 (lost 4–3) and at right-half against Ireland on 8 April 1893 (lost 4–3), when he was team captain; thus, he was on the losing side in all four of his international appearances. In his FAW
assessment in 1891, he was described as "a good, hard-working player – called upon at the last moment and had to play in the wrong position, appeared nervous. Played a good game against Ireland at left-half."
Shortly before his final international appearance, Lea captained Wrexham to victory in the Welsh Cup Final, defeating Chirk 2–1 on 3 April.
Later that year, Lea became seriously ill and was at one point threatened with the loss of a leg. He eventually recovered and re-commenced his playing career in 1895, helping Wrexham reach the final of the Welsh Cup when they were defeated 3–2 by Newtown.
Shortly afterwards, he was involved in an ill-tempered match against Druids
in the Soames Charity Cup Final; Wrexham won the match with the only goal scored. At the end of the match, the Wrexham players were so roughly handled by some of the spectators that they had to flee from the pitch and make their way back to Wrexham as best they could. Lea later stated that "if that was what football was all about, it was the end for him". True to his word, that was his final appearance for the Wrexham first team, although he made a few appearances for the reserves.
In December 1895, he was the beneficiary of a testimonial match between a Wrexham & District XI and Liverpool
, won 5–0 by the visitors.
after the last train to Wrexham had departed, so had to walk home and be back on duty next morning. By 1900, he was reckoned to have walked over 80,000 miles in the service of the Post Office
.
After retiring from the Post Office, he became the landlord of the Wrest Hotel at Marchwiel
, where he died on 23 March 1945, aged 78.
Lea also played for Wrexham Cricket Club, principally as a bowler, but was also a useful batsman, making several half-centuries.
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...
for Wrexham in the 1880s and 1890s. Despite having only one arm, he also made four appearances for the Wales national side
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...
.
Football career
Lea was born in WrexhamWrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
and started his football career at the age of 15 when he helped launch the Wrexham Grosvenor club. He started out playing at full-back although he could play on the left wing when required. He possessed "a natural flair with the ball" and his "all-round skill on the field" compensated for his disability, being noted for his "tremendous and powerful kick".
By 1883, he had joined Wrexham, initially as a reserve player but was quickly promoted to the first team, signing as a professional for a weekly wage of 5 shillings, with bonuses enabling this to reach 10 shillings; this made him reputedly the highest paid player in Wales.
Lea made his international debut for 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...
on 23 February 1889, when he played at inside-left in the 4–1 defeat by 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...
.
In 1889–90, Lea was a member of the Wrexham team that reached the final of the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
, going down 1–0 to Chirk. Later that year, Wrexham joined The Combination
The Combination
The Combination was a minor league during the early days of English football. It had two incarnations; the first ran only for the 1888–89 season for teams across the Northern England and the Midlands, and was wound up before completion. The second was created for the 1890–91 season, but disbanded...
league. Their first game was played on 6 September 1890 against Gorton Villa, with Lea scoring Wrexham's only goal in a 5–1 defeat. Like Lea, his team-mated James Roberts also had only one arm. Although they only finished their inaugural league season in the penultimate position, Wrexham again reached the Welsh Cup Final, losing 5–2 to Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
.
Lea received three further international caps, at left-half against Ireland on 7 February 1891 (lost 7–2), at right-half against Scotland
Scotland 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...
on 21 March 1891 (lost 4–3) and at right-half against Ireland on 8 April 1893 (lost 4–3), when he was team captain; thus, he was on the losing side in all four of his international appearances. In his FAW
Football Association of Wales
The Football Association of Wales is the governing body of association football in Wales. It is a member of FIFA, UEFA and the IFAB.Established in 1876 , it is the third-oldest national association in the world, and is one of the four associations The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is the...
assessment in 1891, he was described as "a good, hard-working player – called upon at the last moment and had to play in the wrong position, appeared nervous. Played a good game against Ireland at left-half."
Shortly before his final international appearance, Lea captained Wrexham to victory in the Welsh Cup Final, defeating Chirk 2–1 on 3 April.
Later that year, Lea became seriously ill and was at one point threatened with the loss of a leg. He eventually recovered and re-commenced his playing career in 1895, helping Wrexham reach the final of the Welsh Cup when they were defeated 3–2 by Newtown.
Shortly afterwards, he was involved in an ill-tempered match against Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
in the Soames Charity Cup Final; Wrexham won the match with the only goal scored. At the end of the match, the Wrexham players were so roughly handled by some of the spectators that they had to flee from the pitch and make their way back to Wrexham as best they could. Lea later stated that "if that was what football was all about, it was the end for him". True to his word, that was his final appearance for the Wrexham first team, although he made a few appearances for the reserves.
In December 1895, he was the beneficiary of a testimonial match between a Wrexham & District XI and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, won 5–0 by the visitors.
Career outside football
Lea combined his football career with working as a postman – he sometimes started work at 5.30 a.m., did an 18 mile round on foot, and then caught the 9.20 train to an away match. After the match, he would return to ChesterChester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
after the last train to Wrexham had departed, so had to walk home and be back on duty next morning. By 1900, he was reckoned to have walked over 80,000 miles in the service of the Post Office
General Post Office
General Post Office is the name of the British postal system from 1660 until 1969.General Post Office may also refer to:* General Post Office, Perth* General Post Office, Sydney* General Post Office, Melbourne* General Post Office, Brisbane...
.
After retiring from the Post Office, he became the landlord of the Wrest Hotel at Marchwiel
Marchwiel
Marchwiel is a village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.It is about 2 miles south-east of Wrexham town on the A525 road towards Bangor-on-Dee...
, where he died on 23 March 1945, aged 78.
Lea also played for Wrexham Cricket Club, principally as a bowler, but was also a useful batsman, making several half-centuries.
Honours
Wrexham- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
winners: 1893 - Welsh Cup finalists: 1890, 1891 and 1895.