Arthur Patton

Arthur William Patton (1916–1990) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s, and later became a coach and administrator. His playing, coaching & administrative career was the Balmain club in Sydney.

Arthur Patton

Patton 1947
Personal information
Full name	Arthur William Patton
Born	(1916-10-20)20 October 1916 Figtree, New South Wales, Australia
Died	20 April 1990(1990-04-20) (aged 73) Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Position	Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1937–48 Balmain 117 95 9 0 303 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1939 NSW Country 1 0 0 0 0 1944 NSW City 1 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1952–53 Balmain 36 15 0 21 42
Source: [1]

Career

Originally from Figtree, New South Wales, Patton was a flying winger and prolific try scorer who played twelve seasons for the Balmain club between 1937 and 1948.

He was the first player in the club's history to score more than 100 tries (in all grades). He was also a top class sprinter during the late 1930s, and placed third in the Stawell Gift in 1937.^[2] He also competed in the race in 1938 and 1939.

Patton won three premierships with Balmain : 1944 (as captain), 1946 and 1947. He is regarded as one of the greatest ever Balmain players.

Post playing

Patton coached Balmain in 1952 and 1953, and later became the Balmain Club Secretary in 1973.^[3]

Death

Patton died of cancer on 20 April 1990 aged 73.^[4]

Accolades

In 2007, Patton was named in the Balmain team of the century.

References

1. "Arthur Patton - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
2. illawarra Mercury 18/3/1938 "R.L. Winger as Stawell Aspirant"
3. Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson: Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. 1995 (ISBN 1875169571)
4. Sydney Morning Herald: Death Notice 21/4/1990

Sporting positions
Preceded by Jim Duckworth 1951	Coach Balmain Tigers 1952–1953	Succeeded by Norm Robinson 1954–1956