144 Arthur Briggs

Biography

Goalkeeper Arthur Briggs was chosen for the Northumberland County FA XI shortly before he joined the Tigers in May 1921. He was signed to provide support for first choice netminder Billy Mercer, a Merseyside-born survivor of a WW1 injury who spent ten years with the Tigers. Mercer was ever-present in the Tigers’ first team in 1921/22 season, but in early September 1922 Briggs made his City debut on a Monday night in the Potteries. Arthur’s next chance came in two April 1923 fixtures against Wolves, but again Mercer was soon restored. After two starts against Stockport County in January 1924, both of which were lost, Briggs realised he was not going to shift Mercer from the first choice berth and left the Tigers in August 1924.

Arthur Lionel Briggs was born in the West Jesmond area of Newcastle Upon Tyne and joined the Artillery division of the Territorial Army in 1915. In 1918 he joined the Royal Air Force where he worked as a motor engineer and was demobbed a year later. He played for his local club Jesmond Villa before joining Tyneside League side Walker Celtic in the 1920 close season. Walker had strong links with Hull City and his fine form led to his transfer to Anlaby Road after one season.

Briggs joined Tranmere Rovers in August 1924 and finally established himself as a first team starter, making over 240 starts in all competitions for Tranmere in eight seasons. In the 1932 close season he joined Cheshire County League side Ashton National but by February 1933 he was back in the Football League when he signed for Swindon Town. He was a first team regular for the Robins in the 1933/34 season but was usurped by young Army recruit Fred Houldsworth in the 1934/35 season. Briggs had made 73 appearances for Swindon when he joined Newport County in October 1935. In the 1936 close season he left Newport and in October 1936 he signed for Colwyn Bay, a move that lasted only two months before Arthur hung up his boots. By 1939 Arthur was living in the Grangetown district of Cardiff and worked in the motor trade, using the skills he developed in World War One. He retired to the Cardiff suburb of Penarth where he died in March 1987.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 27 May 1900, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Hull City First Game: 4 September 1922, Port Vale A (Division Two), 22 years, 100 days old
Hull City Final Game: 26 January 1924, Stockport County A (Division Two), 23 years, 244 days old

Clubs

Jesmond Villa (1919-1920), Walker Celtic (1920-1921), Hull City (1921-1924), Tranmere Rovers (1924-1932), Ashton National (1932-1933), Swindon Town (1933-1935), Newport County (1935-1936), Colwyn Bay (1936)

Hull City Record

Career: 5 apps, 0 goals

Arthur Briggs
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
App
FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
Gls
EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
1921/22----------
1922/2330--------
1923/2420--------

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