Bert Scriven
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Herbert Richard Scriven (2 February 1908 – 2001)[1] was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Southampton in the 1930s.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Herbert Richard Scriven | ||
| Date of birth | 2 February 1908 | ||
| Place of birth | Winsor, Hampshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 2001 (aged 92–93) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Andover | |||
| Totton | |||
| 1929–1937 | Southampton | 225 | (0) |
| 1938–1939 | Salisbury City | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Football career
Scriven was born in Winsor on the edge of the New Forest and started his football career with local non-league sides Andover and Totton before he joined Southampton in December 1929.[2]
He made his first-team debut when he took over from the veteran Willie White for the fourth match of the 1930–31 Second Division season on 8 September 1930, a 2–1 defeat at Oldham Athletic.[3] Scriven soon became established as first-choice goalkeeper although he lost his place to White for the last eight matches of the season. White retained the No. 1 shirt for the first seven matches of the following season, before Scriven claimed it back in September 1931.[4] From then on, Scriven rarely missed a match over the next two and a half years until February 1934 when manager George Kay replaced him with the 20-year-old Billy Light.[5] Scriven was recalled when Light displaced his left knee cap in a collision after only four matches, and retained the goalkeeper's shirt until March 1935 when, after a run of eight matches without a victory, Kay once again replaced him with Light.[6]
In March 1936, Light was sold to West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £2,000 to help reduce the club's debts,[7] and Scriven was once again recalled to the side. He retained his place as first-choice custodian until he retired in the summer of 1937.[2] In his seven seasons with the Saints, Scriven made a total of 233 first-team appearances.[2]
Later life
Following his retirement, Scriven became the licensee at the Bear and Ragged Staff pub at Michelmersh, near Romsey. During this time, he made a few appearances for Salisbury City.[2]
After World War II, he moved to a farm near Marlow where he was still living in 1992.[2]