A gifted amateur with the Royal Engineers, based at the Ordnance Survey Office, Lance Corporal Archie Small signed as an amateur for Southampton in the summer of 1911 after moving from Gillingham. He went straight into the Southern League side at inside-right, but he was soon dropped. His consistent goal-scoring for the Reserves earned him a county cap and a recall to the first team for the last nine games – a run-in that saw the Saints narrowly avoid relegation. Handicapped by a knee problem, he made only five more appearances at that level over the next two seasons, up to the outbreak of war.

He then served as a sapper in the Royal Engineers, becoming a Warrant Officer by War’s conclusion. After which, he returned, for a while, to his old team at the Royal Ordnance. He then worked in the map-mounting section of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, where he became a superintendent. In 1949 he was awarded the MBE for his work.