Arthur Tilford joined Southampton on compassionate leave. He was Fulham’s established left-back when his daughter died towards the end of 1932. He suffered a loss of form and when his manager, the former Saints-boss, Jimmy McIntyre, signed Mike Keeping from Southampton in February 1933, he suggested that Tilford take a break at his former club.

This was not an exchange deal – it was not a permanent arrangement; Arthur was expected to return to Craven Cottage at the season’s end – and yet nor was it a “loan”: these were not a recognised form of transaction, within the Football League, in the 1930s.

It was further agreed that Arthur would continue to train with Fulham and join his new team-mates on match-days.

At the time of his signing the Echo described him as “clean-limbed and fresh complexioned”. 

On his way to Fulham from local football in his native Derbyshire, Arthur had made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, the first few of them with Nottingham Forest, including one in the First Division before they were relegated, followed by 50-odd each with Second Division Blackpool and Third South Coventry. He joined Fulham for the final third of their Division III(S) championship of 1932. On arrival at The Dell, he took Keeping’s place at left-back for most of the remaining games and then returned to Fulham for the 1933-34 season. Keeping was now established, however, and Arthur would get only a handful of games before he completed his tour of the divisions with a season at Third North Walsall.Back in Ilkeston, in 1935, he played non-league for his home-town club, at 25 shillings [£1.25] a match. After which, he ran a fish-and-chip shop in the town for a while, later working in a bakery and as an omnibus-cleaner.

Arthur was credited with having “the longest kick in football” when, in attempting to clear the ball at Craven Cottage, he kicked it over the stand. It landed in the Thames and floated down river for seven miles before it was fished out.