13th May 1908

Barry Dock, Glamorgan

Forward

Appearing in the outside-left position through the club’s 1931 FA Cup run, and part of a memorable left-wing partnership with Harold Houghton, Arthur Doncaster played for Exeter City between 1928 and 1932. He joined the club from Bolton Wanderers and later played for Crystal Palace. He also appeared for Reading, Gillingham and Yeovil before returning to live in Exeter.

A Welsh schools international, Arthur spent two seasons with Barry Town before moving to Bolton Wanderers as an 18-year-old in 1926 where he stayed for two seasons without making a league appearance. 

Moving to Exeter City in the summer of 1928, Arthur made a goalscoring debut in the 4-2 defeat at Brentford on the opening day of the season as he went on to make 24 league starts (7 goals) in his first season. Making 29 league appearances (6 goals) in 1929/30, Arthur had 32 outings in the league (10 goals) in 1930/31 and played all eight cup games (with a goal against Coventry) as City reached the 6th round of the FA Cup.

Remaining on the left-wing for a final season with the club, Arthur only missed one league game in 1931/32 as he added a further eight league goals to his Exeter City tally. 

Arthur subsequently left St James' Park in the summer of 1932 to sign for Crystal Palace where he only stayed one season scoring four goals in 15 league starts. Moving on to Reading he played just two games in a single-season stay before switching to Gillingham where he spent two seasons ahead of signing for Yeovil and Petters United.

Settling in Exeter, and having played in Army football during the war, Arthur was turning out at the age of 38 in November 1946 for Buddle Estate of the Exeter and East Devon League when he was landlord of the Ropemakers close to St James' Park. 

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