Sussex footballer who weighed in for the Reds

Players can only be fairly judged in their own time. For instance, Tommy Cook, who was born in Cuckfield, and achieved the rare distinction of winning a full England cap while at Third Division Albion in the 1920s, occupies a special niche in the Brighton pantheon.

In the immediate post-war era several Sussex born players made a mark as professionals, notably Worthing's Eric Parsons who won an England B cap and Stan Willemse, Albion's combative fullback who advanced his career at Chelsea where Parsons also made his name.

The late 1950s witnessed the mercurial rise of Albion's Adrian Thorne whose reputation rests chiefly on scoring five goals when the club clinched promotion for the first time with a 6-0 hammering of Watford.

When Thorne attracted the spotlight that unforgettable night at the Goldstone, Arnell was shortly to leave Liverpool after making a successful move from Worthing.

Apparently he had escaped Albion's net although it was Don Welsh, a former Brighton manager, who signed Arnell as an amateur the night Sussex beat Liverpool to lift the FA County Youth Championship.

Anfield was the first of three League addresses graced by Arnell. It was a time when not too many southern players made the grade before highly critical crowds more used to northern and Scottish talent.

Today, at 68, Arnell lives in Fishbourne on the outskirts of his native Chichester and keeps busy working in the weighing rooms at Lingfield Park, Fontwell, Goodwood and Plumpton.

It is his responsibility to deal with declarations and making sure the jockeys are where they are supposed to be at given times.

Those with long memories will recall Arnell as a nerve-tingling prospect at Chichester City and then Worthing.

The lanky, raw-boned Chichester High school forward had it all: pace, skill, bravery, stamina and dedication. Add to those qualities more than the average ration of grey matter and he was a professional waiting to be discovered.

He did not think that way. At school he had the outline of a career in a local government office more in mind.

As is often the case a combination of circumstances changed his life. James, his father, who had had pro trials himself, exerted a powerful influence on Alan, one of four children.

Brian, Alan's brother might have made it, but a broken ankle put paid to that.

Alan stood out at school during which time he played for Portfield and Chichester City. In those days he was on the left wing and started to spearhead for Sussex Schools when attention began to focus on the lad with a tremendous shot and wicked header. At 16 he signed amateur forms for Pompey.

"I thought I was going to finish up in county football and had no real ambition to be a pro but I went along to Fratton and played in the Midweek League and learned a thing or two.

"I was more tied-up with Chichester and the idea of a pro career didn't really register in those days," said Alan.

Then Pompey were a powerful First Division outfit and Alan was greatly impressed with the dynamic shooting power of Duggie Reid not to mention the marvellous halfback line of Jimmy Scoular, Jack Froggatt and Jimmy Dickinson.

Sussex's victory in the FA County Youth Cup final over Liverpool naturally attracted attention from the pro clubs. After winning 2-1 in the first leg at Everton, followed by a 1-0 clincher at the Goldstone, Alan was approached by Don Welsh at the Adelphi reception.

As Alan was doing his National Service in the Royal Sussex Regiment he could not sign as a pro. It was as an amateur that he made his First Division debut in the 5-2 defeat of Blackpool at Anfield.

"I had had two seasons at Chichester and another two with Worthing and when I became a pro with Liverpool Rosemary and I married in June, 1954 and we moved into the club house that Bob Paisley had lived in. Funny thing, after that win over Blackpool we lost the next game 5-1 at Portsmouth and Duggie Reid never gave me a kick. I don't think I've ever seen a ball hit so hard."

Before settling down to married life Alan shared digs in Liverpool with Alex South who had moved from Albion. Alan, not long out of the army, realised how lucky he had been.

"I did all my training for Korea but finished up in the quartermaster's stores at Chichester. I played some representative football while in the army so it did help."

Alan had seven seasons at Anfield and says his career was overshadowed by Billy Liddell, the Scottish international winger who, with Louis Bimpson, were chief rivals for the No. 9 shirt. "Billy was an idol at Anfield. The local Press was biased towards him but I'm not complaining. With him around you had to be 110 per cent.

"When I went there a lot of the players were starting to get old. There was a chance for me and I took it. I began with £12 a week in the season, £10 during the summer rising to £28, which was good money although I missed the benefits of the abolition of the maximum wage.

"In 1961 I arranged to buy a sub-post office and newsagent's shop less than a quarter of a mile from the training ground.

"It was towards the end of the season and Bill Shankly, who had taken over as manager in 1959, said Swindon were interested in me and a £7,000 fee, which was quite a high fee then, was mentioned.

"I said I had just offered to buy a business and Shanks immediately replied - in that case, you can have a free transfer. In about one hour I was a Tranmere player. I think Shanks was a little bit naughty about that. But it turned out a good move for me and I had two good years there and afterwards went to Halifax to earn a bit more money than the shop was bringing in.

"After that I had two seasons with Runcorn and later became a director of the club."

At Tranmere, Arnell found himself £25 a week better off than at Anfield. In his first season he scored 41 goals and still occupies a place in the hall of fame at Prenton Park. He and Ralph Gubbins, his inside partner, broke Tranmere's scoring record.

His first team tally at Anfield from 1953-1960 was 39 goals in 75 appearances and 34 in 68 Tranmere outings.

In terms of League goals at his three clubs, Arnell hit 73 in 151 matches although the figure does not include cup and other competitions or his record in amateur football.

"We had a wonderful life on Merseyside. There is no better place in this country for being appreciated. The people are so warm and friendly and we still keep in touch with friends up there.

Life under Shankly was interesting although Don Welsh was also a flamboyant manager. Shanks was simply obsessed with football. When you talked with him, YOU were the best player, the opposition rubbish, not worth mentioning. He was a great motivator."

When Alan and Rosemary returned to West Sussex it was to enter the licensed trade, taking the Wilkes Head at Eastergate and then the Bell and Anchor and Barleycorn at Nutbourne. Just over 20 years ago Alan had a stroke but made a good recovery. He and Rosemary retired from the Barleycorn in 1993 but still like to pop in now and again for a drink with old friends.

The family is close-knit and Gordon Randall, Chichester's redoubtable centre half from way back when Alan played for City, is married to his sister-in-law. There are two grandsons on whom Alan and Rosemary dote; one supports Pompey and the other ... Liverpool.

Sometimes Alan has watched Liverpool at Southampton, but it has to be a special occasion for him to leave the comfort of home to see a match.

He has no doubt that the finest player in his book is John Charles and that Bolton's Malcolm Barrass the toughest defender he encountered.

"John Charles? For me, the best all-rounder, the best player of all time. He was equally as good up front as at the back. The perfect athlete and what a credit to the game."