| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1929-12-16)16 December 1929 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Date of death | 9 May 2018(2018-05-09) (aged 88) | ||
| Position | Inside forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1946–1949 | Shelbourne | ||
| 1949–1959 | Middlesbrough | 223 | (49) |
| 1958–1959 | Lincoln City | 7 | (0) |
| 1959–1961 | Mansfield Town | 62 | (23) |
| 1961–1964 | Wisbech Town | ||
| 1967–1969 | Drogheda | 24 | (5) |
| International career | |||
| 1949–1959 | Republic of Ireland | 26 | (7) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1967–1969 | Drogheda | ||
| 1967 | League of Ireland XI | ||
| 1969 | Shamrock Rovers | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Arthur Fitzsimons (16 December 1929 – 9 May 2018) was an Irish professionalfootball player and manager. Aninside forward,[1] he notably made over 200 appearances forMiddlesbrough.
Originally from Penrose Street, in the shadow ofShelbourne Park, the stadium named afterShelbourne, their then home ground, Arthur signed with 'the Shels' from the famous schoolboy nursery club,Johnville.
Already well known for his talent at junior level, the scouts were anxious to see how he would perform at this higher level. So well did he perform with 'the Reds', that it is almost forgotten he played for them only one season, 1948–49, before beingtransferred overthe water. But it was no coincidence that that season was one of the best in the club's history, being in contention until the last match in all four available competitions, finally winning two of them, and finishing runner-up in the others. At the end of the season, he was part of a two-player deal when transferred (withPeter Desmond) toMiddlesbrough F.C. in the EnglishFirst Division. He went on to play in 223 games, scoring 49 goals.[2] His teammates includedBrian Clough andWilf Mannion.
In the 1960s, his coaching career took him toLibya, where he spent five and a half years inTripoli untilColonel Gaddafi came to power, when he was advised to leave.
In August 1967, he signed forDrogheda as player-coach, a position he shared with Theo Dunne.[3] In April 1969, his contract was terminated.[4]
In June 1969, he was appointed manager ofShamrock Rovers, taking over fromLiam Tuohy.[5] Despite beatingFC Schalke 04 in a1969-70 European Cup Winners' Cup first leg tie, he was fired two months later.
He also played 26 times for theRepublic of Ireland national team, scoring 7 goals.[6]
In 2009, Fitzsimons was inducted into theFootball Association of Ireland Hall of Fame.[7]
He died aged 88 on 9 May 2018.[1]