Arthur Lightening

Position
Goalkeeper
Nationality
Place Of Birth
Durban
Date Of Birth
August 1, 1936
Date Of Death
September 11, 2001 (65)
Games Played
165
-
Per Game
Games Started
165
1.0
Per Game
Minutes
14850
90.0
Per Game
Goals Conceded
229
1.4
Per Game
Clean Sheets
44
0.3
Per Game
Notes
Stats
Matches
Transfers
Gallery
Internationals

Arthur Lightening was the fans’ hero, a brash, arrogant South African who could lighten up a dull Saturday afternoon with his spectacular goalkeeping. Flash, his nickname amongst City fans was perfect, flash by name and flash by nature.

In 1956 he got the chance to come to England and play for Nottingham Forest but in two years at the City Ground he played only six first team games. In 1958 City’s manager Billy Frith spotted Arthur and his Forest team mate, Ron Farmer, playing for Forest’s reserves at St Andrews. Frith signed them both to bolster City’s Fourth division promotion challenge and they would play a major part in the club’s progress over the next few years.

City lost only five of the 25 games after Lightening made his debut and deservedly won promotion to Division Three. The following season he was an ever-present in the side as City finished a creditable 5th in the higher league. He proved to be one of the most popular players at Highfield Road and such was his brilliance that comparisons were even made with the great Reg Matthews.

Between December 1958 and August 1962 he was a virtual ever-present, making 160 first team appearances. In August 1962 new manager Jimmy Hill decided he did not want Arthur and accepted a bid of £11,000 from Second Division Middlesbrough.
In May 1963, Middlesbrough gave him permission to attend a family wedding in South Africa, he sailed off and never returned. "I though it strange that he only booked a single ticket," the travel agent later told an investigating reporter. He played only 15 games for Boro.
Back in South Africa he did play for Durban United until about 1969 and lived in the Glenwood area of Durban. He was closely involved with Stella F.C., and did some coaching for them.

Later in life Arthur was not a well man and suffered from diabetes for a number of years and also had several toes amputated after a boating accident. He died in 2001, aged 64.

Penalties faced (20 - 1 saved)
1958-59
24 January 1959 v Watford A, missed
7 March 1959 v Northampton Town A, scored
4 April 1959 v Port Vale A, scored
20 April 1959 v Millwall A, scored
1959-60
5 September 1959 v Swindon Town H, scored
24 October 1959 v Southampton A, scored x2
26 October 1959 v Southend United H, missed, hit post
18 November 1959 v Southampton A, scored
18 January 1960 v Fulham H, scored
20 February 1960 v Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A, scored
4 April 1960 v Mansfield Town A, scored
1960-61
3 September 1960 v Colchester United A, scored
12 September 1960 v Queens Park Rangers A, scored
2 November 1960 v Portsmouth A, missed
5 November 1960 v Worcester City A, scored
27 December 1960 v Notts County A, scored
1961-62
17 November 1961 v Crystal Palace H, scored
23 December 1961 v Newport County A, missed - hit post
10 April 1962 v Grimsby Town A, saved

Own goals (2)
1959-60
30 April 1960 v Reading H
1961-62
14 October 1961 v Lincoln City A

Football League Fourth Division (England)
1958-1959
Coventry City
25
25
2250′
27
9
25
25
0
2250′
0
0
0
27
9
Football League Third Division (England)
1962-1963
Coventry City
4
4
360′
4
3
1961-1962
Coventry City
42
42
3780′
63
11
1960-1961
Coventry City
33
33
2970′
52
7
1959-1960
Coventry City
46
46
4140′
60
11
125
125
0
11250′
0
0
0
179
32
FA Cup (England)
1961-1962
Coventry City
2
2
180′
2
1
1960-1961
Coventry City
3
3
270′
5
1959-1960
Coventry City
2
2
180′
6
7
7
0
630′
0
0
0
13
1
League Cup (England)
1961-1962
Coventry City
1
1
90′
3
1960-1961
Coventry City
2
2
180′
4
3
3
0
270′
0
0
0
7
0
Southern Professional Floodlit Cup (England)
1959-1960
Coventry City
5
5
450′
3
2
5
5
0
450′
0
0
0
3
2
Totals:
165
165
0
14850′
0
0
0
229
44
Date
For
Against
H/A
Result
Football League Fourth Division 1958-1959
Football League Fourth Division 1958-1959
Coventry City
Walsall
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Hartlepools United
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Watford
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Millwall
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Chester
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Southport
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Port Vale
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Walsall
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Bradford Park Avenue
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
York City
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Port Vale
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Workington
H
W 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Northampton Town
A
L 4:0
90`
4
Coventry City
Crewe Alexandra
H
W 3:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Barrow
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Carlisle United
A
W 1:6
90`
1
Coventry City
Gillingham
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Exeter City
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Watford
A
W 1:4
90`
1
Coventry City
Shrewsbury Town
H
W 3:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Torquay United
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Torquay United
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Darlington
A
W 1:4
90`
1
Coventry City
Hartlepools United
H
W 4:1
90`
1
Football League Third Division 1962-1963
Football League Third Division 1962-1963
Coventry City
Swindon Town
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Colchester United
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Swindon Town
A
L 4:1
90`
4
Coventry City
Notts County
H
W 2:0
90`
Football League Third Division 1961-1962
Football League Third Division 1961-1962
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
L 3:2
90`
3
Coventry City
Bristol City
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Northampton Town
A
L 4:1
90`
4
Coventry City
Port Vale
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Portsmouth
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Grimsby Town
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
D 2:2
90`
Coventry City
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Watford
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
H
L 2:3
90`
3
Coventry City
Watford
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Barnsley
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Lincoln City
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Torquay United
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Peterborough United
A
W 2:3
90`
2
Coventry City
Shrewsbury Town
H
W 4:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Portsmouth
A
L 3:2
90`
3
Coventry City
Notts County
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Grimsby Town
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Newport County
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Reading
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Hull City
A
L 3:1
90`
3
Coventry City
Northampton Town
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
L 0:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
L 4:1
90`
4
Coventry City
Barnsley
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Bradford Park Avenue
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Lincoln City
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Bradford Park Avenue
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Torquay United
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Port Vale
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Brentford
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Peterborough United
H
L 1:3
90`
3
Coventry City
Brentford
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Shrewsbury Town
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Notts County
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Halifax Town
H
W 3:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Southend United
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Swindon Town
A
D 3:3
90`
3
Coventry City
Newport County
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Swindon Town
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Reading
A
L 4:0
90`
4
FA Cup 1961-1962
FA Cup 1961-1962
Coventry City
King's Lynn
H
L 1:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Gillingham
H
W 2:0
90`
League Cup 1961-1962
League Cup 1961-1962
Coventry City
Workington
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Football League Third Division 1960-1961
Football League Third Division 1960-1961
Coventry City
Walsall
H
L 1:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Bury
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Chesterfield
H
W 3:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Brentford
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Torquay United
H
W 5:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Reading
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Hull City
H
W 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Shrewsbury Town
H
W 3:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Colchester United
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Notts County
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Notts County
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Barnsley
H
W 5:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Swindon Town
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Brentford
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Tranmere Rovers
H
W 4:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Halifax Town
A
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Walsall
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Bury
H
L 1:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Chesterfield
A
L 4:1
90`
4
Coventry City
Southend United
H
W 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Torquay United
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Reading
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Hull City
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Grimsby Town
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Colchester United
A
L 4:3
90`
4
Coventry City
Bradford City
A
L 4:1
90`
4
Coventry City
Newport County
H
W 4:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Bradford City
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Barnsley
A
L 4:1
90`
4
FA Cup 1960-1961
FA Cup 1960-1961
Coventry City
Liverpool
A
L 3:2
90`
3
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
W 1:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Worcester City
A
W 1:4
90`
1
League Cup 1960-1961
League Cup 1960-1961
Coventry City
Portsmouth
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Barrow
H
W 4:2
90`
2
Football League Third Division 1959-1960
Football League Third Division 1959-1960
Coventry City
Swindon Town
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Reading
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Colchester United
H
W 3:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Grimsby Town
H
L 0:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Southend United
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Grimsby Town
A
L 3:0
90`
3
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Mansfield Town
A
W 2:4
90`
2
Coventry City
Port Vale
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Shrewsbury Town
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Brentford
A
L 3:1
90`
3
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 4:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Port Vale
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Barnsley
A
L 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Bury
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
A
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Newport County
A
L 2:0
90`
2
Coventry City
Accrington Stanley
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Colchester United
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Chesterfield
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
York City
H
W 5:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Wrexham
A
W 1:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Wrexham
H
W 5:3
90`
Coventry City
Reading
A
L 4:2
90`
4
Coventry City
Brentford
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
W 1:4
90`
1
Coventry City
Shrewsbury Town
A
L 3:2
90`
3
Coventry City
Southend United
H
W 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 5:1
90`
5
Coventry City
Barnsley
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Tranmere Rovers
A
L 3:1
90`
3
Coventry City
Bury
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Tranmere Rovers
H
W 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
H
W 4:0
90`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
L 2:1
90`
2
Coventry City
Accrington Stanley
A
W 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Newport County
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Bradford City
A
W 1:3
90`
1
Coventry City
Chesterfield
A
W 0:3
90`
Coventry City
Bradford City
H
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
Swindon Town
H
W 3:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Halifax Town
A
D 2:2
90`
2
Coventry City
York City
A
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Halifax Town
H
L 0:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Mansfield Town
H
W 2:0
90`
Southern Professional Floodlit Cup 1959-1960
Southern Professional Floodlit Cup 1959-1960
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Fulham
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Fulham
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Southend United
H
W 4:0
90`
FA Cup 1959-1960
FA Cup 1959-1960
Coventry City
Southampton
A
L 5:1
90`
5
Coventry City
Southampton
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Club Out
Club In
Transfer Date
Fee
Club Out / Club In
Transfer Date / Fee
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
Wed, 01 Aug, 1962
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
Wed, 01 Aug, 1962
Nottingham Forest
Coventry City
Sat, 01 Nov, 1958
Nottingham Forest
Coventry City
Sat, 01 Nov, 1958