Arthur Bottom
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Arthur Edwin Bottom | ||
| Date of birth | 28 February 1930 | ||
| Place of birth | Sheffield, England | ||
| Date of death | 18 April 2012 (aged 82) | ||
| Place of death | Sheffield, England | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1948-1954 | Sheffield United | 24 | (7) |
| 1954-1958 | York City | 137 | (92) |
| 1958-1959 | Newcastle United | 11 | (10) |
| 1959-1960 | Chesterfield | 33 | (6) |
| 1960-1961 | Boston United | ? | (?) |
| 1961-1965 | Alfreton Town | ? | (?) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Arthur Edwin Bottom (28 February 1930 – 18 April 2012) was an English footballer of the 1950s and 1960s. He played as a striker, and had a tremendously high goals to game ratio during his career, playing at several clubs; most notably York City and Newcastle United.[1]
Biography
Bottom's career in Football started with Sheffield YMCA before he was snapped up by local club; Sheffield United as a junior.[2]
York City years
In the 1954-55 season Bottom's football career fully took off as he was signed by York City, the club where he would play much of his football during his career. During his first season he notched up a total of 39 cup and league goals, an all-time club record for a single season.
He was a prominent figure in York City's historic FA Cup run during the 1954-55 season. City reached the FA Cup semi-finals against Newcastle United that year; during the match Bottom scored an equaliser for York after Vic Keeble had put the Magpies in front, the game ended 1-1, and a replay followed. City eventually lost the replay, 2-0. In all Bottom scored 8 goals during that FA Cup tournament.
The following season Bottom scored 33 goals in total for City. Bottom, along with Billy Fenton, holds the club record at York for most league goals scored in a season, notching up 31 goals in the league during the aforementioned season. Bottom is the 6th all-time top scorer at York City with a total of 105 goals from his 158 appearances for the club.
He is considered by York City fans as one of the club's all-time top (if not the, top) heroes, largely because of his contribution in the FA Cup during 1954-55, which remains the club's biggest accomplishment to date. As a mark of affection and esteem the daily electronic newsletter sent to York City supporters worldwide is titled 'There's Only One Arthur Bottom'.
Newcastle United saviour
In 1958, Newcastle United signed Bottom from York City for a fee of £4,500. He was brought in to help the club who were in a relegation battle at the time, he scored 7 goals in 8 appearances (including 2 on his debut) for the club that season, which indeed helped save them avoid the drop.
Despite his success at the club, the following season he only made 3 more appearances (and scored 3 more goals) before he was sold off to Chesterfield for £5,000.[3]
Remainder of his career
He moved to Boston United for the 1960-61 season, he finished the season as the club's top scorer, with 17 goals.[4] Bottom later played for Alfreton Town in the Midland League.
Notes
- ↑ "York City legend Arthur Bottom dies aged 82 (From York Press)". Yorkpress.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
- ↑ "Arthur Bottom". Minstermen. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
- ↑ Archived May 4, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Boston United Roll Call". Bufc.drfox.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
External links
- Arthur Bottom profile at Minstermen
- The Real Arthur Bottom - Article about his Career
- Rare Interview with Bottom - by Evening Press in 2005
- Arthur Bottom - An Appreciation