 Albiston in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Arthur Richard Albiston[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1957-07-14)14 July 1957 (age 68)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Edinburgh,[1] Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Left-back[1] | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1972–1974 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1974–1988 | Manchester United | 379 | (6) |
| 1988–1989 | West Bromwich Albion | 43 | (2) |
| 1989–1990 | Dundee | 10 | (0) |
| 1990–1991 | Chesterfield | 3 | (1) |
| 1991–1993 | Chester City | 68 | (0) |
| 1992 | →Molde (loan) | 15 | (3) |
| 1993 | Molde | 9 | (0) |
| 1993–1994 | Ayr United | 1 | (0) |
| 1994 | Sittingbourne | 0 | (0) |
| 1994 | Witton Albion | ||
| 1994 | Droylsden | ||
| Total | 528 | (12) | |
| International career | |||
| 1976–1977 | Scotland U21[3] | 5 | (0) |
| 1982–1986 | Scotland | 14 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1996–1997 | Droylsden | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Arthur Richard Albiston (born 14 July 1957) is a Scottish formerfootballer. Albiston played forManchester United for most of his career, making almost 500 appearances for the club. He also made 14 international appearances forScotland and was selected for their1986 FIFA World Cup squad.
Albiston joinedManchester United as an apprentice in July 1972, turning professional in July 1974.[4] He made his debut in aLeague Cup Third Round match against local rivalsManchester City in 1974. He made 485 appearances in 14 years, playing atleft back, and scored six goals. He helped the club win theFA Cup in1977,1983 and1985.
Albiston left Manchester United in August 1988 forWest Bromwich Albion, managed by ex-Red Devils bossRon Atkinson, on a free transfer. By the time of his departure fromOld Trafford he was the longest-serving player at the squad and the only player remaining from theTommy Docherty era. Albiston was also the earliest-debuting player to appear for Manchester United underAlex Ferguson, beginning a 51-year period in which the club always had in its squad a player who would appear or had appeared under Ferguson, which only came to an end with the retirement ofJonny Evans in May 2025.[5]
Albiston made his Albion debut in a league match away at Leicester City early in the1988–89 season, and went on to make 47 appearances and score two goals that season, after which he returned to his homeland to sign forDundee, and went on to play forChesterfield,Chester City,Molde in Norway andAyr United. He retired from senior football in 1994.
In his professional career, he made 464 appearances and scored seven goals. He also later joined non-League sidesSittingbourne,Witton Albion andDroylsden.
Albiston also earned 14caps forScotland, making his debut on 28 April 1982 againstNorthern Ireland. His total includes one game at the1986 FIFA World Cup, a 0–0 draw againstUruguay on 13 June 1986.
Following his retirement from playing, Albiston managedDroylsden (1996–97), was a junior coach at Manchester United (2000–04) and has also worked as a radiosummariser for Manchester Independent.[4] He works forMUTV, Manchester United's official television channel, acting as match summariser during live coverage of the club's reserve and academy teams.
Manchester United
