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457

Legacy #

97

Youth Promotion #

97

Youth Debut #

55

Goalkeeper #

Arthur Sabin

Player #457
Aston Villa player image
Goalkeeper
GK Arthur Sabin | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #457 |
Aston Villa Crest 2025

Arthur Henry Sabin

25 January 1939

Kingstanding 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Transfer Notes

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Aston Villa Crest 2025
Aston Villa Crest 2025

Transfer In

Aston Villa Crest 2025
Transfer In:

1956-57

Aston Villa Youth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Youth

1 January 1957

17

Eric Houghton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Transfer Out

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Transfer Out:

1957-58

Died

n/a

March 1958

19

Eric Houghton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Previous Clubs

Arthur Sabin

Previous Clubs:

Aston Boys 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Birmingham County FA 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

1957-58 Aston Villa Youth & Reserves 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Football League First Division

Loans Out

Arthur Sabin

Loans Out:

None

Subsequent Clubs

Arthur Sabin

Subsequent Clubs:

Died

2

Appearances

0

Goals

0

Assists

0.00

Game Per

Career

Arthur Sabin

Villa Youth:

Aston Villa Youth

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Positions Played:

Goalkeeper

Played Under:

Eric Houghton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 1957 🕒 2 | ✅ 2 | 🔁 (-) | 🥅 0.50 | ⛔ 50% | 🟩 1 | 🟨 1 | 🟥 0 |

Villa Career:

GK Arthur Sabin | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |
Aston Villa 1957 | Youth |
🕒 2 | ✅ 2 🔁 (-) | 🇺 - | #457 |
GK #56 | 🥅 1 | 0.50 | ⛔ 1 | 50%
🟩 1 | 🟨 1 | 🟥 0 |
Cards 🟨 0 | 🟥 0 |

Villa Honours:

Played for the Villa

Debut Appearance

Arthur Sabin

Debut Squad:

1956-57

Aston Villa Crest 2025

🟩 13 Apr 1957, Villa 5-0 Wednesday, Villa Park

Eric Houghton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Debut:

1956-57

🟩 13 Apr 1957, Villa 5-0 Wednesday, Villa Park

Eric Houghton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

18

Final Appearance

Arthur Sabin

Final Appearance:

1957-58

Aston Villa Crest 2025

🟨 16 Nov 1957, Villa 1-1 Spurs, Villa Park

Eric Houghton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

18

Final Squad:

1957-58

🟨 16 Nov 1957, Villa 1-1 Spurs, Villa Park

Eric Houghton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Career Notes

Arthur Sabin

Aston Villa Crest 2025

Villa Career

Arthur Sabin

Games

🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
🇺 Unused:
2
2
0
0

Goals

⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

Results

🟩 Won:
🇺 Unbeaten:
🟥 Lost:
Points / Game:
50%
100%
0%
2.00

Cards

🟨 Bookings:
🟥 Sendings Off:
Games / Card:
0
0
0.50

Goals

0

Arthur Sabin

Aston Villa Crest 2025

Assists

0

Arthur Sabin

Aston Villa Crest 2025

Sendings Off

0

Arthur Sabin

Aston Villa Crest 2025

Competition Record

Arthur Sabin

League

Premier League.jpg
🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
2
2
🔁 Substitute:
0
⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games per Goal:
Games per Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

FA Cup

Premier League.jpg
Games:
Starter:
0
0
Substitute:
0
Goals:
Assists:
Games per Goal:
Games per Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

League Cup

EFL Cup.jpg
Games:
Starter:
0
0
Substitute:
0
Goals:
Assists:
Games per Goal:
Games per Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

Europe

UEFA.png
Games:
Starter:
0
0
Substitute:
0
Goals:
Assists:
Games per Goal:
Games per Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

Season Record

Arthur Sabin

1957-58

Aston Villa Crest 2025

Games

🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
🇺 Unused:
1
1
0
0

Goals

⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

Results

🟩 Won:
🇺 Unbeaten:
🟥 Lost:
Points / Game:
0%
100%
0%
1.00

Cards

🟨 Bookings:
🟥 Sendings Off:
Games / Card:
0
0
0.00

1956-57

Aston Villa Crest 2025

Games

🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
🇺 Unused:
1
1
0
0

Goals

⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

Results

🟩 Won:
🇺 Unbeaten:
🟥 Lost:
Points / Game:
100%
100%
0%
3.00

Cards

🟨 Bookings:
🟥 Sendings Off:
Games / Card:
0
0
0.00

League Record

Arthur Sabin

Premier League

Premier League.jpg
🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.00

First Division

FL.jpg
🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
2
2
0
0
0
0.00
Games / Involvement:
0.00

Championship

EFL.jpg
🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
Games / Involvement:
0.00

Second Division

FL.jpg
🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
Games / Involvement:
0.00

Third Division

FL.jpg
🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
Games / Involvement:
0.00

League Seasons

Arthur Sabin

1957-58

Aston Villa Crest 2025
First Division

Games

🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
🇺 Unused:
1
1
0
0

Goals

⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

1956-57

Aston Villa Crest 2025
First Division

Games

🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
🇺 Unused:
1
1
0
0

Goals

⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

League Matches

Arthur Sabin

1957-58
🟨 16 Nov 1957, Villa 1-1 Spurs, Villa Park
Division One
19th (-2)
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Aston Villa Crest 2025
1956-57
🟩 13 Apr 1957, Villa 5-0 Wednesday, Villa Park
Division One
10th
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Aston Villa Crest 2025

FA Cup Seasons

Arthur Sabin

1957-58

FA Cup.jpg
FA Cup

Games

🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
0
0
0

Goals

⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

1956-57

FA Cup.jpg
FA Cup

Games

🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
0
0
0

Goals

⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00
FA Cup.jpg

FA Cup Matches

Arthur Sabin

League Cup Seasons

Arthur Sabin

1957-58

EFL Cup.jpg
League Cup

Games

🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
0
0
0

Goals

⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

1956-57

EFL Cup.jpg
League Cup

Games

🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
0
0
0

Goals

⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00
EFL.jpg

League Cup Matches

Arthur Sabin

European Seasons

Arthur Sabin

1957-58

EFL Cup.jpg
n/a

Games

🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
0
0
0

Goals

⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00

1956-57

EFL Cup.jpg
n/a

Games

🕒 Games:
✅ Starter:
🔁 Substitute:
0
0
0

Goals

⚽ Goals:
🔥 Assists:
Games / Goal:
Games / Involvement:
0
0
0.00
0.00
Champions League.png

European Matches

Arthur Sabin

Unused Substitute Appearances

Arthur Sabin

Aston Villa Crest 2025

International Career

Arthur Sabin

Full International Record

Villa International Record

Biography

Arthur Sabin

Player #457 for Aston Villa, Arthur Henry Sabin, played as a goalkeeper for the club.

Arthur played for Villa in 1956-57 and 1957-58 making 2 appearances however his legend is so much more than that.

Arthur was born in Kingstanding, just 3 miles from Villa Park, on 25 January 1939 and made his debut appearance for Villa on Saturday, 13 April 1957 aged just 18.

Villa had taken Arthur from youth football in June 1955 and he signed professional forms on 2 January 1957. Arthur was the 55th custodian of the Villa goal in professional football.

Arthur was earmarked as Villa’s latest superstar goalkeeper but tragedy would prevent him realising his potential and leading a decorated career with Villa.

Arthur’s ascendancy to the Villa first team at such a young age was no surprise to the footballing community in the local area - a football reporter described him as a quiet boy with the agility of a cat whilst to his Peckham Road school mates and teachers in Kingstanding, he was simply the best goalkeeper they had ever seen.

Misfortune was to hit Arthur almost as soon as he signed professional forms with Villa. On his 18th birthday, 25 January 1957, Arthur was playing for Villa’s third team against Bedworth United when, minutes into the second half, he was injured diving at the feet of an opposing forward.

For 19 agonising minutes Arthur lay motionless on the ground before being taken to the nearby Manor Hospital with a suspected broken neck. X-rays later showed he had escaped with a chipped vertebra.

Arthur’s resilience however saw him return to training just two months later. Indeed despite the set back Arthur, on April 13 1957, made his first-team debut in front of a crowd of 28,000 at Villa Park - keeping a clean sheet in the 5-0 drubbing of Sheffield Wednesday.

The contemporary match report in the Sports Argus for that game, described how - despite the apparent ease of the scoreline - Arthur had pulled off a succession of brilliant saves as Villa won 5-0, with two goals from Peter McParland - a feat he repeated at Wembley a few weeks later as Villa won the FA Cup. Nigel Sims was Villa’s first-choice ‘keeper at the time, and got the nod to play in the final ahead of Sabin.

Villa legend, Sims, said at the time: “I always know I have to stay on top of my form to keep a place in the first team. Once I go off, this lad Sabin will walk into my place.”

Arthur had to wait until November of the following season, 1957-58, to play his next Villa first team game during which he put in another excellent display as Villa drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur.

Tragically that was to prove Arthur’s final game. Arthur was struck down with a mystery illness just after Christmas 1957, and taken into hospital on January 14 for observation. His condition was more serious than first thought. He was suffering from a kidney disease. Two specialists were called in, but still he failed to respond to treatment.

On March 5, 1958, Arthur died in Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth hospital. He was just 19. At his funeral, some of the Villa players who had graced the Wembley turf just 10 months earlier carried his coffin to church. Hundreds of fans turned out to pay tribute.

Paying tribute in the Birmingham Despatch, sports writer Dennis Shaw said Arthur “Bore the stamp of a future England goalkeeper. The loss to Aston Villa is tremendous”. And manager Eric Houghton remarked: “We have lost a fine young goalkeeper, a very good prospect. We are all depressed.”

School-mate Raymond Sturch later reminisced: “He was a very good player. Right from an early age there was something special about the way he kept goal. We won a few cups here and there with Arthur in our side.

“There was a slope at the Perry Hall Park pitches where we used to play. When it rained it would run down to the bottom of the pitch. We’d often end up playing in three inches of mud.

“I can also remember playing in a blizzard. Hail, rain or sunshine, we’d still turn out to play football.”

“It was tragic what happened to Arthur. I’ve never forgotten him.”

Arthur’s sister Janet Mancuso recalls the rough treatment he used to receive on the pitch:

“It was terribly sad. He was the kindest, most lovely person you could ever meet. He had kidney failure and, at that time, there was nothing I could do. We always thought it was caused by the kicks he received.”

In the 1950s, keepers were given a very rough ride by the opposition. Midlands sports fans knew they had lost a boy wonder.

5 March 1958, Aged 19

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