*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Arthur Blackley
Appearances: 112 Goals: 26
Date / Year of birth: 31st January 1939
Position: Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1964/65
Season of last appearance: 1965/66
Also played for: Carlisle United (41,7), Chelsea (0), Enfield and Ramsgate Athletic
Talented Carlisle-born player who captained Carlisle Schoolboys and played for Cumberland as a youth before joining his hometown club on leaving school aged 15.
In 1955 Arthur had trials with Manchester United and Chelsea and it was the London club that signed him. At the end of the 1955/56 season Chelsea loaned Arthur to Enfield where he made one appearance before returning to Stamford Bridge. He turned professional with Chelsea in October 1956 and at the time the club's manager was Ted Drake, the famous former Arsenal and England striker. He went on to spend five years at Stamford Bridge, playing alongside the likes of Jimmy Greaves and Terry Venables in Chelsea's youth and reserve sides. During his time at Stamford Bridge Arthur also had to do two years National Service and he was one of the last to undergo conscription. This naturally hampered his progress and other players moved above him in the Chelsea pecking order.
In November 1960 Arthur rejoined Carlisle for a fee in the region of £2,500 and after a season and a half with them he made a surprise move to Ramsgate in 1961, despite various Football League clubs being interested in him. A key factor in his decision was that the Rams were able to find him employment at Ramsgate harbour and as a result Arthur was just as well off as he would have been had he stayed in League football.
During the 1962/63 season he was sent off for the Rams in a game against Folkestone and during 1963/64 he asked for a transfer but his request was refused.
After failing to agree a new contract with Ramsgate Arthur moved across Thanet and joined Margate in June 1964. He made his debut in a Southern League game against Bath at Hartsdown Park on 22.8.64 and scored in a 2-0 win. It was the opening day of the 1964/65 season. Arthur went on to score 15 goals in 56 appearances and his speed combined with hard work led to the local press describing him as "an attacking dynamo". Arthur also proved himself to be a versatile performer, featuring both in attack and midfield during the campaign. On 5.9.64 he scored a stunning 25 yard goal in a 4-0 win over Romford at Hartsdown and he also scored with a low shot from 35 yards in a 4-2 win at Ashford on 21.12.64. The only low point of Arthur's otherwise excellent season came when he was harshly sent off in a 2-2 draw with Tonbridge at Hartsdown on 31.10.64.
In August 1965 Arthur opened a coffee bar in Ramsgate High Street - appropriately named 'The Chelsea Bar' - which he co-owned with Bryan Clifton and he enjoyed another good season during 1965/66 although Margate were relegated from the Southern League Premier Division. He made 56 appearances, split between midfield and attack, and scored 11 goals. Arthur turned in consistent, energetic performances and in a game against Ashford on 11.10.65 he was said to have "fought like a Bengal tiger". Notable moments of his season were a goal from 40 yards in a 4-1 defeat at Hereford on 25.9.65 and a brilliant hat-trick from midfield, including a 25 yard lob, as Margate beat Canterbury 4-2 at Hartsdown Park on 21.3.66. Arthur also suffered a dislocated shoulder early in the season and on 16.3.66 he was sent off for fighting during a 2-1 defeat at Dover. This led to a three week ban.
At the end of the 1965/66 season Arthur left the club, giving up football completely for a while due to his business commitments. However in December 1966 he rejoined Ramsgate, initially playing for their reserves. In fact it wasn't until 20.3.67 that Arthur appeared for the Rams' first team - in the Kent Senior Cup semi-final against Margate.
He also spent the 1967/68 season with the Rams, again mostly playing for their reserves. However two cartilage operations then brought a premature end to Arthur's career in senior football.
He later dropped into amateur football and during the 1973/74 season Arthur played for Thanet Premier Sunday League club Tartan Rangers alongside his old Margate colleague Laurie Thomson.
In later years he had a spell as Chairman of Ramsgate (during the 1983/84 season) and became a director of a shipping company. Arthur then formed his own company called "East Kent Shipping and Forwarding" which he ran until he was bought out. However he continued as the Managing Director until retiring in 1996.
In 2009 Arthur was still living in Ramsgate and in an interview with the Your Thanet newspaper he recalled his playing days at Chelsea. "I really was a bit of an also-ran" Arthur told the paper and regarding Jimmy Greaves he said "He was worlds away from me. When he went to Milan as the world's first £100,000 transfer, I left for Carlisle for £2,500."
On 12.4.14 Arthur was one of the many former Margate players who attended the club's 'Legends Day' at Hartsdown Park and he was still living in Ramsgate at the time.
Arthur completed a questionnaire for this site which you can see here.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KFL |
| |
|
1964/65 (MFC) |
56 (71) |
N/A |
15 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (6TH OF 22) |
4QR |
2R |
3R |
GR |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC |
KSS |
|
1965/66 (MFC) |
56 (67) |
N/A |
11 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (22ND OF 22) |
1QR |
2R |
SF |
RU |
SF |
| Margate relegated to Division One. | |||||||||