Arthur Lightening was the fans’ hero, a brash, arrogant South African who could lighten up a dull Saturday afternoon with his spectacular goalkeeping. Flash, his nickname amongst City fans was perfect, flash by name and flash by nature.
In 1956 he got the chance to come to England and play for Nottingham Forest but in two years at the City Ground he played only six first team games. In 1958 City’s manager Billy Frith spotted Arthur and his Forest team mate, Ron Farmer, playing for Forest’s reserves at St Andrews. Frith signed them both to bolster City’s Fourth division promotion challenge and they would play a major part in the club’s progress over the next few years.
City lost only five of the 25 games after Lightening made his debut and deservedly won promotion to Division Three. The following season he was an ever-present in the side as City finished a creditable 5th in the higher league. He proved to be one of the most popular players at Highfield Road and such was his brilliance that comparisons were even made with the great Reg Matthews.
Between December 1958 and August 1962 he was a virtual ever-present, making 160 first team appearances. In August 1962 new manager Jimmy Hill decided he did not want Arthur and accepted a bid of £11,000 from Second Division Middlesbrough.Â
In May 1963, Middlesbrough gave him permission to attend a family wedding in South Africa, he sailed off and never returned. "I though it strange that he only booked a single ticket," the travel agent later told an investigating reporter. He played only 15 games for Boro.
Back in South Africa he did play for Durban United until about 1969 and lived in the Glenwood area of Durban. He was closely involved with Stella FC, and did some coaching for them.
Later in life Arthur was not a well man and suffered from diabetes for a number of years and also had several toes amputated after a boating accident. He died in 2001, aged 64.
Penalties faced (19 - 2 saved)
1958-59
7 March 1959 v Northampton Town A, Division Four, scored - Tommy Fowler
4 April 1959 v Port Vale A, Division Four, scored - Brian Jackson
20 April 1959 v Millwall A, Division Four, scored - Alf Ackerman
1959-60
5 September 1959 v Swindon Town A, Division Three, scored - David Layne
24 October 1959 v Southampton A, Division Three, scored - John Page
24 October 1959 v Southampton A, Division Three, scored - John Page
26 October 1959 v Southend United H, Southern Floodlit Cup 2nd Round Replay, missed, hit the post - Alex Stenhouse
18 November 1959 v Southampton A, FA Cup 1st Round Replay, scored - John Page
18 January 1960 v Fulham H, Southern Floodlit Cup 3rd Round, scored - Jimmy Langley
20 February 1960 v Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A, Division Three, scored - Billy Coxon
19 March 1960 v Brentford A, Division Three, saved - George McLeod
4 April 1960 v Mansfield Town A, Division Three, scored - Lindy Delapenha
1960-61
3 September 1960 v Colchester United A, Division Three, scored - Cyril Hammond
12 September 1960 v Queens Park Rangers A, Division Three, scored - Pat Woods
5 November 1960 v Worcester City A, FA Cup 1st Round, scored - Johnny Phillips
27 December 1960 v Notts County A, Division Three, scored - Don Roby
1961-62
17 November 1961 v Crystal Palace H, Division Three, scored - Ronnie Allen
23 December 1961 v Newport County A, Division Three, missed, hit the post - Andy Bowman
10 April 1962 v Grimsby Town A, Division Three, saved - Ron Cockerill
Own goals (2)
1959-60
30 April 1960 v Reading H, Division Three
1961-62
14 October 1961 v Lincoln City A, Division Three
