Doug Lishman

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Douglas John Lishman (September 14, 1923 – December 1994) was an English footballer.

Born in Birmingham, Lishman first played as a centre forward for non-league Paget Rangers, before signing as a professional for Third Division South Walsall in August 1946. In two seasons with the Saddlers, Lishman scored 26 goals in 59 league appearances.

He was signed by Arsenal in the summer of 1948 for £10,500, as backup for Reg Lewis, who was only 28 but frequently injured. Lishman made his debut against Sheffield United on September 4, 1948, but after a promising first season (scoring 13 goals in 25 appearances), Lishman's 1949-50 and 1950-51 seasons were marred by injury. Lishman was passed over for the 1950 FA Cup final (which Arsenal won), in favour of Lewis and Peter Goring, and then to make things worse he broke his leg playing against Stoke City in December 1950.

However, Lishman recovered to become Arsenal's top scorer in 1950-51, and the next season hit 30 goals, including three hat-tricks in three successive home matches. His form was good enough for him to be picked for an England 'B' match, although he was never capped for the full national side. Arsenal finished third that season, and reached the FA Cup final, only to lose to Newcastle United after a series of injuries meant only eight fit players finished the match (no substitutes were allowed in those days). Lishman came close for Arsenal with a header, which clipped the crossbar, but Arsenal lost 1-0.

Lishman's disappointment was soon forgotten, as Arsenal won the League Championship in 1952-53. Lishman was again top scorer, this time with 26, and with every goal proving vital – Arsenal won the title on goal average above Preston North End. Lishman was top scorer for another two seasons after that, making it five successive seasons in total. In all he scored 137 goals in 244 appearances, making him the club's seventh-highest goalscorer of all time (as of 2006).

With younger men like Derek Tapscott and David Herd taking over goalscoring duties for Arsenal, Lishman was dropped from the first team in 1955-56. In March 1956 he was sold to Second Division Nottingham Forest. He scored a hat-trick in the match that got Forest promoted (a 4-0 win over Sheffield United) to Division One in 1956-57, but decided to retire in the summer of 1957. He left the game entirely after retiring, and later worked for Boots. He died in 1994, aged 71.

[edit] References

  • Harris, Jeff & Hogg, Tony (ed.) (1995). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
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