Place of birth Grimsby, England 1927–1933 Grimsby Town Years Team Died Grimsby, United Kingdom | Place of death Grimsby, England Role Footballer Name Arthur Bateman | |
Date of birth (1908-04-01)1 April 1908 | ||
Date of death August 1988 (aged 80) | ||
Arthur Bateman (15 March 1908 – August 1988) was an English footballer, who played as a full back. He is best remembered for his five-year spell in the Football League with Brentford, where he was captain and made over 150 appearances. In 2013, Bateman was named in a Football League 125th anniversary poll as Brentford's fourth-best captain and he was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2015.
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Early years
Bateman began his career at Cleethorpes Town, before joining hometown club Grimsby Town in 1927. He was with the club through their heyday in Division One, but made only 18 appearances across six seasons. Bateman moved to Division Three South side Southend United in the summer of 1933. He departed the Shrimpers in January 1934, after making 22 appearances.
Brentford
Bateman joined Division Two side Brentford in January 1934, making his debut towards the end of the month in a 3–0 victory over Plymouth Argyle at Griffin Park. Nicknamed "Iron Man", Bateman vice-captained the Brentford side which was crowned Division Two champions in the 1934–35 season and secured promoted to Division One for the only time in the club's history. Bateman's only goal for the club came against Bradford Park Avenue on 22 April 1935, a 40-yard free kick in a 3–2 win which clinched promotion. After the departure of Bert Watson, Bateman was promoted to captain for the 1935–36 season and led the Bees to fifth place in Division One, the club's highest ever finish in the league pyramid. An injury suffered in a 1–0 victory over Arsenal at Griffin Park in September 1938 brought Bateman's career to a premature end. He made 154 appearances for Brentford and scored one goal during just shy of five years with the club.
International career
Bateman's form for Brentford saw him called up to the England squad for a friendly versus Germany in Berlin on 14 May 1938. He travelled with the squad as a reserve, but did not play in the 6–3 victory.
Personal life
Following his early retirement from football, Bateman returned to Grimsby and became a policeman, retiring in 1969 with the rank of Detective Inspector.