Arthur Rutter from South Shields signed for Exeter City from Barnsley in 1911. Staying for two Southern League seasons, and finishing as top scorer in 1911/12, he later played for Plymouth Argyle. 

Arthur started by playing for South Shields Parkside before joining Bradford City in 1909 where he played three league games before returning to the North East to play for South Shields. Signing for Barnsley in 1910, he made sixteen league appearances (five goals) before dropping into the Southern League with Exeter City.  .

Arriving at St James’ Park ahead of the 1911/12 season, Arthur made his debut against Watford on 2 September and made 28 league appearances during his first campaign when he scored 10 times to finish as City’s top scorer. 

Adding another 36 league appearances in 1912/13, he scored on nine occasions to become joint second-highest scorer behind Ellis Crompton. 

Leaving St James’ Park in the summer of 1913, Arthur joined Plymouth Argyle for a fee of £150 and over the next two years featured regularly for the reserves. With war bringing his football career to an end, he joined the army for the duration of the conflict. 

He died in South Shields in 1954.