Players - Alan Arnell

Alan Arnell
Birthdate: 25 November 1933
Birthplace: Chichester, England
Date of death: 5 May 2013
Other clubs: Chichester City (1949-51), Worthing (1951-53), Tranmere Rovers (1961-63), Halifax Town (1963-64), Runcorn (1964-66)
Signed from: Worthing
Signed for LFC: 24.03.1953
Liverpool debut: 05.12.1953
Last appearance: 14.01.1961
Debut goal: 05.12.1953
Last goal: 22.04.1959
Contract expiry: 06.02.1961
Win ratio: 41.33% W:31 D:17 L:27
Games/goals ratio: 2.14
League games / goals: 69 / 33
Total games / goals: 75 / 35

Player Profile

Centre-forward Arnell moved from Sussex amateur side Worthing to Liverpool when he was 20 years old. As Arnell was doing his National Service in the Royal Sussex Regiment he could not sign as a pro so it was as an amateur he made a scoring debut on 5 December 1953 in a 5-2 win home victory over Blackpool. He only played another two times that season and just eight the following season, in which he scored three more goals.

Although he was in and out of the side during the next few years, Arnell boasts a decent scoring record averaging a goal every two games in the Second Division for Liverpool. Arnell’s chief rival for the number 9 shirt that he most preferred was none other than Billy Liddell. ‘Billy was an idol at Anfield. The local Press was biased towards him but I’m not complaining. With him around, you had to be 110 per cent."Arnell was transferred to Third Division Tranmere Rovers in February 1961 as Arnell explained: "In 1961 I arranged to buy a sub-post office and newsagent’s shop less than a quarter of a mile from the training ground. It was towards the end of the season and Bill Shankly said Swindon were interested in me and a £7,000 fee, which was quite a high fee then, was mentioned. I said I had just offered to buy a business and Shanks immediately replied – in that case, you can have a free transfer. In about one hour I was a Tranmere player. I think Shanks was a little bit naughty about that." Arnell scored 34 goals in 68 League games for Rovers but suffered relegation into Fourth Division. 

After leaving Tranmere, Arnell played for Halifax and Runcorn, combining this with running the newsagent. He later returned to his native Chichester, where he went into the licensed trade and also worked as a declaration officer at racecourses. Arnell died on 5 May 2013.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 69 6 0 0 0 75
1953-1954 3 0 0 0 0 3
1954-1955 7 1 0 0 0 8
1955-1956 23 4 0 0 0 27
1956-1957 14 1 0 0 0 15
1957-1958 8 0 0 0 0 8
1958-1959 12 0 0 0 0 12
1959-1960 1 0 0 0 0 1
1960-1961 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
5 450 Swansea City
5 450 West Ham United
4 360 Leyton Orient
4 360 Stoke City
3 300 Scunthorpe United
3 270 Middlesbrough
3 270 Leeds United
3 270 Huddersfield Town
3 270 Lincoln City
2 180 Doncaster Rovers
2 180 Barnsley
2 180 Grimsby Town
2 180 Notts County
2 180 Nottingham Forest
2 180 Manchester City
2 180 Leicester City
2 180 Fulham
2 180 Sheffield Wednesday
2 180 Bristol Rovers
2 180 Charlton Athletic
2 180 Rotherham United
2 180 Bury
2 180 Plymouth Argyle
2 180 Brighton & Hove Albion
2 180 Bristol City
2 180 Sheffield United
1 90 Cardiff City
1 90 Hull City
1 90 Blackpool
1 90 Portsmouth
1 90 Port Vale
1 90 Blackburn Rovers
1 90 Bolton Wanderers
1 90 Southend
Total Venue
40 Away
35 Home
Total Competition
69 League
6 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
38 14 9 15 36.8% Don Welsh
36 17 8 11 47.2% Phil Taylor
1 0 0 1 0% Bill Shankly
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 33 2 0 0 0 35
1953-1954 1 0 0 0 0 1
1954-1955 3 0 0 0 0 3
1955-1956 13 2 0 0 0 15
1956-1957 10 0 0 0 0 10
1957-1958 1 0 0 0 0 1
1958-1959 5 0 0 0 0 5
1959-1960 0 0 0 0 0 0
1960-1961 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 05.12.1953 Blackpool Anfield League
50 12.01.1957 Doncaster Rovers Anfield League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 79 05.12.1953 Blackpool Anfield League
Scrapbook
Arnell an inadequate replacement for Liddell - March 1959
Arnell an inadequate replacement for Liddell - March 1959
Arnell moves on - 6 February 1961
Arnell moves on - 6 February 1961
Arnell scores - 7 February 1959
Arnell scores - 7 February 1959
Melia in place of Arnell - 14 December 1955
Melia in place of Arnell - 14 December 1955
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Chichester City 1949-1951 Sussex County League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Worthing 1951-1953 Corinthian League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Tranmere Rovers 1960-1961 England Third Division 15 5 15 5
Tranmere Rovers 1961-1962 England Fourth Division 8 1 9 1
Tranmere Rovers 1962-1963 England Fourth Division 15 6 16 6
Halifax Town 1963-1964 England Fourth Division 14 6 18 6
Runcorn 1964-1966 England Cheshire League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total 52 18 58 18