Arthur Bridgett

Sunderland

Bridgett played local football with Burslem Park and Trentham before joining Stoke in October 1902. After only seven games for Stoke in the 1902–03 season, he moved to First Division rivals Sunderland in December 1902. He went on to captain the "Black Cats" for ten years and gain his eleven caps, making him Sunderland's second most-capped England International behind Dave Watson. He made his Sunderland debut in a 0–0 draw with Sheffield United but was quickly on the score sheet, scoring at Grimsby Town in the next match. Bridgett was a winger with an excellent goal scoring pedigree. His superb finishing meant that he could also operate as a striker. He was twice on the score sheet against Newcastle United in a 9–1 victory at St James' Park on 5 December 1908. He was also a good crosser of the ball, making numerous chances for his fellow strikers, including fellow England international George Holley. In his first three seasons at Roker Park, Sunderland finished third, sixth and fifth in the First Division table. Bridgett was Sunderland's top scorer in 1905–06 with 17 goals as they finished in 14th place. The following season, Bridgett was again Sunderland's top scorer with 25 league goals. Still, Sunderland were only able to improve their league position to tenth. In 1907–08, Bridgett scored 15 goals with Holley as the top scorer on 24, and Sunderland again finished in the lower half of the table. For the next few seasons, Holley took over the goal-scoring…

Bridgett's England call-up came on 1 April 1905 against Scotland, when England won 1–0 with a goal from Joe Bache. His second cap came three years later on 4 April 1908, again against Scotland at Hampden Park. This match was played in front of a new world record crowd of 121,452 and ended in a 1–1 draw. Bridgett was then part of the squad chosen for England's first overseas tour in 1908, playing in all four matches against Austria, Hungary and Bohemia; he scored in both of the matches against Austria which England won 6–1 and 11–1. The following year, he played in the British Home Championship matches against Ireland (4–0) and Wales (2–0); England won the tournament. He was again selected for the summer tour of Europe, playing in all three matches, scoring in the 4–2 victory over Hungary. The last match of the tour, against Austria on 1 June 1909, brought his international career to a close.

Bridgett was a deeply religious man and refused to play on Good Friday or Christmas Day throughout his career. He was renowned for his accurate crossing ability.

George Arthur Bridgett was born on 11 October 1882 in Forsbrook, Staffordshire. He was the third of five children to Edwin and Hannah (née Bailey); his father worked as a stonemason and his mother was a furniture dealer. He married Gertrude May Forrester in Stoke-on-Trent in March 1918. After retiring from football, he worked in Ashley, Newcastle-under-Lyme as a fish salesman and a car/lorry contract driver.