Arthur Rowley (footballer, born 1870)

Arthur Rowley (born 1870; date of death unknown) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Burslem Port Vale and Stoke, and in the Southern League with Bristol Rovers.[1] He was the first player to score a goal straight from a direct free kick in the Football League.

Arthur Rowley
Personal information
Full name Arthur Rowley[1]
Date of birth 1870[1]
Place of birth Leek, Staffordshire, England[1]
Position(s) Right-half
Youth career
Leek
Distillery
North Staffordshire Regiment
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1896–1899 Stoke 57 (0)
1900–1902 Bristol Rovers
1902–1903 Burslem Port Vale 57 (4)
Total 114+ (4+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Rowley played for Leek, Distillery, and the North Staffordshire Regiment, before joining Stoke in 1896.[1] He became a useful addition to the Stoke squad, taking over the right half position from the ageing Davy Brodie.[1] He played four First Division games in the 1896–97 season, before becoming a first team regular in the 1897–98 and 1898–99 campaigns. He spent three seasons at the Victoria Ground, making 62 appearances.[1]

He played for Bristol Rovers in the Southern League before joining Burslem Port Vale in September 1902.[2] He played 27 league games in the 1902–03 season, as Vale posted a ninth-place finish in the Second Division.[2] He became the first player to score a goal straight from a direct free kick in the Football League on 7 September 1903, in a 3–2 defeat to Bolton Wanderers at the Athletic Ground.[2] He claimed two goals in 38 games in the 1903–04 campaign, but left the club before the start of the 1904–05 season.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[3]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Test Match Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke 1896–97 First Division 25020270
1897–98 First Division 1801020210
1898–99 First Division 14000140
Total 5703020620
Burslem Port Vale 1902–03 Second Division 27220292
1903–04 Second Division 30270372
Total 5749000664
Career total 1144120201284

References

  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 255. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0. ASIN 0952915200.
  3. Arthur Rowley at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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