Arthur Blackburn (footballer) Arthur Blackburn (footballer) Arthur Blackburn (1877 – after 1901) was an English footballer who played as a full-back with Blackburn Rovers and Southampton around the turn of the 20th century. He was the elder brother of England international footballer, Fred Blackburn. Blackburn was born in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire and first joined his home-town club, Blackburn Rovers, in March 1895. After three years of reserve-team football, he spent the 1898–99 season with Northamptonshire club Wellingborough playing in the Midland League. He returned to Blackburn in the summer of 1899; by now his brother Fred had become established at outside-left.
Duncan Shearer scoring on his debut, he only played six games for Rovers under his boyhood hero, manager Kenny Dalglish, helping the club reach the playoffs where they were ultimately promoted, before he returned to Scotland at the end of the season, to be replaced at Rovers by his namesake Alan. Although officially signed due to an injury to Mike Newell (who coincidentally also later played for Aberdeen), it has been suggested that Rovers only purchased Shearer to weaken Swindon's team in their league battle. The powerfully-built forward signed for Aberdeen in 1992 for £500,000, aged 29. After scoring twice on his