Jim Arnold

Early career

After leaving Rising Brook, Arnold played for non-League Stafford Rangers and also appeared on loan for the Sandbach Ramblers. During his time at Stafford Rangers, he appeared in two separate FA Trophy finals at Wembley. In 1976, Stafford lost to Scarborough 3–2 after extra time; Arnold saved a John Woodhall penalty in this match. In the 1979 final, Arnold played as Stafford beat Kettering Town 2–0. He was signed by Blackburn Rovers manager Howard Kendall in 1979 to provide competition for John Butcher and went on to make his Football League debut at the age of 29. Arnold kept a club record 19 clean sheets in 1979–80, as Rovers won promotion out of the Third Division as runners-up, with only the top two clubs in the English Football League, Liverpool and Manchester United, conceding fewer than 36 league goals. Despite Arnold missing three months with a groin injury, just 29 league goals were conceded in 1980–81, a record only beaten by Lincoln City, as Rovers missed out on promotion from the Second Division by just three points.

Everton

Howard Kendall was appointed manager at First Division club Everton in August 1981. He quickly signed Arnold for a £200,000 fee. However, Neville Southall soon proved to be a superior goalkeeper as the "Toffees" finished eighth in 1981–82, and seventh in 1982–83 and 1983–84. Arnold spent some of the 1983–84 campaign on loan at Alan Kelly's Preston North End and played six games for the Third Division club. He…

Arnold settled in Staffordshire and joined Staffordshire Police as a recreation officer.

Individual

Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year: 1985–86 Stafford Rangers

FA Trophy: 1979; runner-up: 1976 Blackburn Rovers

Football League Third Division second-place promotion: 1979–80 Everton

FA Charity Shield: 1984 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1985 Port Vale

Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion: 1985–86 Kidderminster Harriers

FA Trophy: 1987