Kenny Arthur

Kenny Arthur

Arthur playing for Accrington Stanley in 2008
Personal information
Full name Kenneth James Arthur[1]
Date of birth (1978-12-07) 7 December 1978
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Partick Thistle
(Goalkeeping Coach)
Youth career
Partick Thistle
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2007 Partick Thistle 243 (0)
2007–2009 Accrington Stanley 66 (0)
2009–2010 Rochdale 15 (0)
2010–2012 Grimsby Town 28 (0)
2011–2012 → Gainsborough Trinity (loan) 9 (0)
2012–2013 Airdrie United 34 (0)
2013–2014 Annan Athletic 33 (0)
2014–2015 Queen of the South 0 (0)
Total 428 (0)
National team
2003 Scotland B[2] 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:40, 16 August 2014 (UTC).


Kenneth James "Kenny" Arthur (born 7 December 1978) is a Scottish former professional footballer and is currently goalkeeping coach of Partick Thistle.

He played from 1996 to 2015 and represented Partick Thistle, Accrington Stanley, Rochdale, Grimsby Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Airdrie United and Annan Athletic. He also runs and owns the sporting brand KA Goalkeeping which designs gloves for Goalkeepers.[3]

Career

Partick Thistle

Arthur came through the youth ranks with Partick Thistle in 1996. During Partick Thistle's spell in the Scottish Premier League between 2002 and 2004, Arthur was recognised by the Scottish national team manager of the time Berti Vogts.[4] He was in the squad for the home game against Iceland and for the away game in Lithuania.

In the 2003–04 season, Arthur found his first team place in danger, with the signing of Jákup Mikkelsen.[5] Eventually, Arthur would retain his first team place, leading to Mikkelsen's departure[6] In March 2004, Arthur was dropped from the Partick Thistle first team, when he was placed on the bench, against Aberdeen.[7]

2006–07 was Arthur's testimonial year at Partick Thistle and it was marked by a golf day and a match at Firhill Stadium versus Celtic in which Thistle hero Chic Charnley equalised from 25 yards in the last minute. Arthur played more than 275 games for Partick Thistle. However, during the season, Arthur was more often second choice, behind Northern Irish goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffey. At the end of the season, Arthur was released by the club, ending an eleven-year stay.[8]

Five years on, Arthur revealed he did not get to say goodbye to the club when he left.[9]

Accrington Stanley

Arthur joined Accrington Stanley in 2007, where he remained for two years.[10] On the opening game of the season, Arthur made his debut in a 1–0 win over Wycombe Wanderers. Having retained his first team place at Stanley, Arthur soon suffered a broken leg in a 3–0 win over Bradford City.[11] After four months out, Arthur made his return in a 1–0 win over Rotherham United.[12] After returning from injury, Arthur continued to keep his first team place and at the end of the season, signed a new one-year after the club exercised their option to extend his stay.[13]

The next season, Arthur continued to keep his first team place until injuring his kidney in a match against Lincoln City after clashing with a Lincoln player and was expected to be out for four-six weeks.[14] Arthur made his return in a 1–1 draw against Bradford on 17 January 2009.[15] At the end of the season Arthur left the club, although this was at a time of financial difficulties for Accrington who were nearly wound up by HMRC for failing to pay tax bills which were reported to total over £300,000.[16] At the time of his departure it was reported by local press that the financial problems the club were experiencing played a part in convincing Arthur that he had to leave.[17] Accrington supporters were sorry to see Kenny go and many still regard him as one of the best goalkeepers that the club has ever had.

Rochdale

In 2009, he joined Rochdale, playing 15 times in the club's campaign which eventually saw them promoted to Football League One.[18] In the first three-months of the season, Arthur was the first choice goalkeeper but soon lost his first team place to loan signing's Tom Heaton and Frank Fielding. At the end of the season, Arthur was placed on the transfer list.[19]

Grimsby Town

Arthur signed a two-year deal with Grimsby Town on 8 June 2010 taking the number one spot from Nick Colgan.[20] Grimsby who had suffered a goalkeeping crisis in both the past two seasons saw the new seasons preparations stall when Arthur injured his hamstring in the club's defeat against Rushden & Diamonds. Incidentally an injury to his understudy Colgan meant that goalkeeping coach Steve Croudson was called up to replace Arthur for at least one game before Sheffield Wednesday's Richard O'Donnell was signed. Arthur returned to action on 20 September, against Fleetwood Town only to injure his thumb in the warm up, meaning O'Donnell was forced to fill in once again.

Throughout his first year at the club, several injury problems meant he missed small chunks of the season. In the summer of 2011, Grimsby signed James McKeown as back-up keeper to Arthur but following the pre-season, McKeown became the favoured shot stopper at Blundell Park. On 3 November 2011, Arthur was loaned to Conference North side Gainsborough Trinity on an initial one-month loan, following injuries to Trinity's keepers Phil Barnes and Andrew Pettinger.[21] After one month, his loan spell was extended once again.[22] In January 2012, Arthur's loan spell at the club was ended and he returned to Grimsby Town.[23]

In January 2012, Arthur was told he could leave Blundell Park if a Scottish club wanted to sign him on a free transfer.[24] Arthur had his contract cancelled by mutual consent on 18 April 2012.[25][26]

Airdrie United

Kenny Arthur signed for Airdrie United on 20 June 2012 on an initial one-year deal.[27] On the opening game of the season, Arthur made his debut in a 4–1 win over Dumbarton and on 20 October 2012, Arthur conceded all of the goals in a 7–0 loss against his former club Partick Thistle.[28][29] He left Airdrie United in May 2013.

Annan Athletic

In July 2013, Arthur signed for Annan Athletic and made his debut in the club's pre-season victory over Carlisle United.[30] In July 2014, Arthur announced his retirement from football.[31]

Queen of the South

Arthur joined Dumfries club Queen of the South as goalkeeping coach in the 2014/15 season. He was named as a substitute for the game at Livingston on 25 October 2014 when the reserve goalkeeper was injured and the age group goalkeepers were unavailable.[32]

Personal life

In January 2008, Arthur launched KA Goalkeeping, a website which sells Arthur's own brand of goalkeeper gloves. Arthur's gloves are worn by fellow keepers such as James McKeown who replaced him at Grimsby, Jonny Tuffey who was his successor at Partick Thistle, Neil Alexander, Matthew Edwards, Joe Lewis, Richard O'Donnell and Sebastian Usai.[33]

Honours

Partick Thistle

Rochdale

Grimsby Town

References

  1. ↑ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ↑ http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandb/player.php?playerid=160
  3. ↑ KA Goalkeeping
  4. ↑ "Vogts names 'future' squad". Sky Sports. 29 November 2002. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "Jags make double signing". BBC Sport. 23 July 2003. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  6. ↑ "Mikkelsen exits Firhill". BBC Sport. 19 December 2003. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "Dropped Arthur 'has future'". BBC Sport. 11 March 2004. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "Jags list players leaving Firhill". BBC Sport. 30 May 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Ex-Partick Thistle keeper Kenny Arthur looking forward to Firhill return with Airdrie". Daily Record. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "Accrington sign ex-Partick keeper". BBC Sport. 30 May 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  11. ↑ "Stanley keeper suffers broken leg". BBC Sport. 3 October 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  12. ↑ "Rotherham 0–1 Accrington". BBC Sport. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Arthur gets Stanley deal". Sky Sports. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Stanley keeper has kidney injury". BBC Sport. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  15. ↑ "Bradford 1–1 Accrington". BBC Sport. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  16. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/29/accrington-stanley-court-winding-up-tax
  17. ↑ http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/why-i-had-to-leave-arthur-1270904
  18. ↑ "Arthur makes Dale switch". Sky Sports. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  19. ↑ "Rochdale show door to three". Sky Sports. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  20. ↑ "Grimsby sign Rochdale keeper Kenny Arthur". BBC Sport. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  21. ↑ "Goalkeeper Joins Blues". Latest Gainsborough Trinity News. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  22. ↑ "Arthur to stay on at Trinity". This is Grimsby. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  23. ↑ "Spencer exits after fruitless Town spell". This is Grimsby. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  24. ↑ "Arthur looking to return north". Scottish Football League. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  25. ↑ "Grimsby Town: Kenny Arthur leaves club by mutual consent". This is Grimsby. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  26. ↑ "Goalkeeper Kenny Arthur departs Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  27. ↑ "Kenny Arthur Agrees Terms". The Stomp. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  28. ↑ "Partick Thistle 7–0 Airdrie United". BBC Sport. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  29. ↑ "Airdrie United to sign Kenny Arthur". Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  30. ↑ http://www.dgstandard.co.uk/dumfries-sport/dumfries-football/dumfries-amateur-football/2013/07/24/annan-too-good-for-english-side-carlisle-united-51311-33644791/
  31. ↑ "Arthur hangs up his gloves". Scottish Professional Football League. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  32. ↑ http://qosfc.com/new_report.aspx?fixtureid=1049
  33. ↑ http://www.kagoalkeeping.co.uk/gks/
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