Herbert Richard Scriven (2 February 1908 – 2001)[1] was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Southampton in the 1930s.

Bert Scriven
Personal information
Full name Herbert Richard Scriven
Date of birth (1908-02-02)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(s) 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

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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

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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]

References

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  1. ^ Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 233. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  2. ^ a b c d e Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 298. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
  3. ^ Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. p. 85. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.
  4. ^ Saints – A complete record. p. 87.
  5. ^ Saints – A complete record. p. 91.
  6. ^ Saints – A complete record. p. 93.
  7. ^ The Alphabet of the Saints. p. 210.
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