“Laurie” Scott; signed by Arsenal on 12 Feb 1937

Laurie Scott  was born on 23rd April 1917 in Sheffield, and was signed by George Allison for Arsenal from his first club, Bradford City, on 12th February 1937.  Arsenal quickly changed him from being a winger to being a right back, and played in the reserves for two years, until the outbreak of war.

He was a Physical Training instructor for the RAF during the war and guested as a player for Arsenal and England during the hostilities.

He emerged in the first team at the start of the 1946-7 season with Arsenal and played 28 games in this first post-war season during which Arsenal came 13th.  But in 1947/8 when Arsenal won the league he played 39 league games, fitting in at left back during the last two following an injury to Wally Barnes.

Unfortunately his own injury (playing for England) and appendicitis then struck and in 1948/9 he only played 12 league games, all at right back, and 15 the following season.  However he did manage to play through the Cup campaign, which Arsenal won, beating Liverpool in the final.

In 1950/51 he played 17 Arsenal league games under Tom Whittaker, with Wally Barnes taking over the role much of the time.  In total he played 127 official matches for Arsenal and 191 wartime matches), and gained 17 full times for England and 16 wartime caps.

After 17 games in 1950/1 he moved to Crystal Palace as player-manager but after Palace had to apply for re-election in 1954 he moved on to Hendon and later Hitchen Town.

Laurie Scott died on 7th July 1999 aged 82.

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One Reply to ““Laurie” Scott; signed by Arsenal on 12 Feb 1937”

  1. I remember Laurie mainly for his WW2 games for Arsenal and England. He was first partnered and groomed by Eddie Hapgood the legendary captain of our Club and country and later by Wally Barnes.
    Laurie actually played more games for Arsenal during the War than in the peace that followed.
    A pity that due to injury and illness his post-war first-class career wasn’t overlong.

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