Jim Arnold (footballer)
James Alexander Arnold (born 6 August 1950) is an English former football goalkeeper, noted for his highly intelligent positional ability. He made 165 league appearances in a seven-year career in the English Football League.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Alexander Arnold | ||
| Date of birth | 6 August 1950 | ||
| Place of birth | Stafford, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rising Brook | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Stafford Rangers | |||
| → Sandbach Ramblers (loan) | |||
| 1979–1981 | Blackburn Rovers | 58 | (0) |
| 1981–1985 | Everton | 48 | (0) |
| 1982–1983 | → Preston North End (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 1985–1986 | Port Vale | 53 | (0) |
| Kidderminster Harriers | |||
| Rocester | 1 | (0) | |
| Workington | |||
| Total | 166 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1979 | England C | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He arrived in the professional game in 1979, at the late age of 29, when he signed with Blackburn Rovers from Stafford Rangers. Two years, one promotion out of the Third Division, and 58 league appearances later, he moved on to Everton. He spent four years as Everton's back-up keeper, as the club won the First Division title and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. He was loaned out to Preston North End during the 1982–83 campaign, and signed with Port Vale in August 1985. Voted the club's Player of the Year in 1985–86, he announced his retirement from full-time football in November 1986. He did though later turn out for non-League sides Kidderminster Harriers, Rocester and Workington. He won the FA Trophy with Stafford Rangers and Workington.