5'9.5" 11st.8lb.
b. Blackburn 9 January 1882
d. Blackburn 22 April 1951
 

Debut  9 April 1904 (22y 91d) Final Game 29 December 1906 (24y 354d)
First Goal 27 January 1906 Final Goal 29 December 1906
CAREER: Clayton Rovers;Crosshills;Accrington Villa;Blackburn Rovers Jan'03-May'07;Nelson Aug'07;Burnley Jul'08-May'09[1];Accrington Stanley Aug'09.
 

FL     18 apps  4 gls

Arthur Dawson was one of the great sporting amateurs. The son of John William Dawson who had a painting and decorating business in town and was a Rovers' director, he worked in the family firm. He spent most of his career with Crosshills but was asked to try out with the Rovers but had a difficult time, many of the players admitting that they would not willingly pass the ball to a player who was not a professional. Naturally enough despite his great athleticism and ability his career never matched up to his cricketing achievements and he had to retire from the game with a knee injury. At cricket he was a legendary figure. After starting with the Railway Clerks, he started playing for Rishton in 1901 (his future wife came from that town). He moved to East Lancashire in 1913 and in his first season scored 842 goals at an average of 40. By virtue of playing for two clubs he had the record of scoring half centuries against every club in the Lancashire League. His 611 runs for Rishton in 1911 was a club record that lasted 38 years. With East Lancashire he had a seasonal best of 900 and an average of 39.95 and once shared a stand of 230 with the professional, Vic Norbury. He helped win the championship in 1912 with Rishton and 1919 with East Lancashire. Not only was he a great batsman but he was also a peerless slip fielder. On his wedding day he played for Rishton between leaving church and catching the train for his honeymoon, which he cut short after four days when his club informed him they required him for another game. He saw much action in Salonika during the war.