As we understand it, Arthur Purdy was Evenwood’s first professional footballer. The peak of his career was the 1928 – 29 season when he made 21 appearances in goal for Blackpool in the Second Division and they finished a creditable 8th. He signed for Tottenham Hotspurs in 1923, playing for their reserves, before joining Luton Town and making his Football League debut in October 1925. Arthur also played for Southend United, Durham City, Blackpool and Norwich City making a total of 95 appearances between 1925 and 1930.
Football Career
Below:
1920-21 Cockfield St. Mary’s FC. Winners Auckland & District Church League. The goalkeeper is A. Purdy.
Arthur was the goalkeeper in the Evenwood Juniors team of 1921 – 22 season which won the Auckland Junior League and Cup, the Durham Junior Challenge Cup, the Eden Hospital Cup, S.W. Durham Divisional Cup and the County Medal Competition, playing 27 games, winning 25, losing 0 and drawing 2. Goals For 83, Against 17.
Below: EVENWOOD JUNIORS
Season 1921 – 22: Arthur Purdy is in the back row 6th from the left
In 1923, his professional career commenced with Tottenham Hotspurs when Arthur joined them from Coundon. He did not make a first team appearance but played in the Reserve and “A” teams. He played 31 matches in the London Combination, 8 in 1922-23, 15 in 1923-24 and 8 in 1924-25, for Spurs Reserves.
In June 1925, he joined Luton Town on a free transfer and made his Football League debut on 17 October 1925, in a 3-3 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in the old Third Division South. He made 24 appearances in 1925-26. That season, Luton Town finished 7th.
Below: LUTON TOWN AFC
Season 1925 – 26: Arthur Purdy is in the back row, third left.
1926 – 27: Arthur joined Southend United. He made 2 appearances and the team finished 19th in Division 3 South.
1927 – 28: He joined Durham City, playing 27 games. The team finished 21st in Division 3 North.
1927 – 28: He signed for Blackpool in Division 2. He made 10 appearances and they finished 19th. He played against Stoke City, Southampton, Notts. County; Manchester City; Hull City, Preston North End, Grimsby Town, South Shields, Barnsley and Fulham.
8 May 1928: Arthur Purdy’s contract with BLACKPOOL F.C.
The main terms of his contract for the 1928 – 29 season were:
- Between 8 May 1928 and 17 August 1928, his basic wage was £5 per week
- Between 18 August 1928 and 4 May 1929, it was £6 per week
- An extra £2 per week was paid when he played in the first team.
Arthur made 21 appearances for Blackpool and they finished 8th in Division 2. This season was to be the peak of his career. He played against Barnsley (twice), Hull City, Tottenham Hotspurs winning 2 – 1, Wolves, Grimsby Town (twice), Preston NE, Chelsea, Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, West Bromwich Albion, Clapton Orient, Stoke City, Middlesbrough, Oldham Athletic, Southampton, Reading, Bradford Park Avenue (twice) and Notts. County.
Below
Details from Arthur Purdy’s contract with Blackpool .
1929 – 30: No details.
1930 – 31: He signed for Norwich City, making 11 appearances. His last one versus Bristol Rovers was played 6 December 1930 and ended in a 3 – 1 defeat. Norwich finished 22nd in Division 3 South.
In total, Arthur Purdy made 95 appearances in the Football League.
Family Details
Arthur was born 23 July 1904 at Evenwood, the son of Robert and Mary Purdy. There were at least 2 brothers, Robert and William. The family lived at West View, Evenwood. Arthur’s father, Robert worked as Randolph Colliery as an engineman. Older brothers Robert and William both worked at Randolph as, “drivers”.
In 1927, Arthur Purdy married Eleanor Turvey at Rochford, Essex.
In 1939, Arthur lived with his “in-laws”, Albert and Sarah Turvey and their son Leonard. He worked as a bus driver.
Arthur Purdy died 25 October 1970, aged 66, at Thirsk, North Yorkshire.
Eleanor Purdy died in 1974, also at Thirsk.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Andy Porter, Tottenham Hotspurs Club Historian, Billericay, Essex
Rachel Atkinson, Startforth, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham.
EVENWOOD RAMSHAW & DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY 