A talented schoolboy footballer, Arthur Wilson signed for Newcastle United at 16 and had a few games for their third team. He was allowed to leave for local football with Scotswood, however, Second Division Southampton swooped to sign him. Arthur was still only 18 and it would take him a couple of years to break into the Saints’ first team, whereupon he played out the 1929-30 season, with an unbroken run of 25 matches, mainly at right-half. Over the next two seasons, though, his appearances, mostly at inside-left, would be more spasmodic.

And then the cash-strapped club cashed in on him. Arthur repaid West Ham’s £500 fee for him by playing fairly regularly, alongside Vic Watson, and bagging his share of the goals.

The Hammers struggled in the Second Division, but took two First Division scalps in an FA Cup-run to the semi-final, with Arthur scoring on each occasion. Towards the end of his second season at Upton Park, he left for Third North Chester. Ambitiously, he joined Wolves, but failed to get a game for them, as they were narrowly pipped for the First Division title in 1938. He soon joined Third South Torquay, where the outbreak of war effectively ended his career. Having guested for South Shields during the War, Arthur remained on Tyneside, working in the brewery trade.