Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
215	215	0	26	0	0	78

Arthur Haigh is another of the Rovers thirteen Originals who played in the first game as a senior club at Bradford on 27 August 1921. Although he took the loose forward position in his first two seasons, he settled more into the second row for the bulk of his career. After serving in the First World War, he was also a member of the successful junior side of 1919-21 which won eight cups in two seasons, and he readily settled into senior football. He was a no-nonsense, no frills player who shirked nothing and worked tirelessly throughout a game, using his strength in both defence and attack.

In the early seasons, competition for the back three rested between Haigh, Clements, Woolley and Barraclough, but he did play in the epic RL Cup-tie with Wigan in 1923. It was his solitary try at Widnes in the first round which gave Rovers a 5-2 win and set up the game with Wigan. He was more established in the side from 1923/24 as he made 18 appearances in 1924/25 and with six tries was the leading try-scorer amongst the forwards. He also made 38 appearances in the 1927/28 season in the gruelling campaign for league championship honours. As the work-horse of the pack, he made a significant contribution to the season.   After a splendid League Championship semi-final victory at Leeds, the Rovers met Swinton in the Top Four Final on 25 May 1928. Although under par, the Rovers were only losing 3-0 at the interval and Swinton themselves were uninspiring. Early in the second half Jimmy Williams broke through and passed to Haigh, who dropped the ball with the line at his mercy. It was just one of those days, but Arthur Haigh did not deserve it. He played in the Yorkshire Cup final against Leeds in the same year, but again tasted defeat. The nearest he came to representative honours was in October 1924, when he was reserve forward for Yorkshire v. Cumberland.

In 1929, he and Jimmy Williams were given a joint testimonial. In those days, a match was allocated. They chose the Bradford game and on a wretched day, the receipts were only £14. Fortunately, the other efforts raised the final sum to £87 for each player. Haigh retired the following season after one match v Wakefield (at home) on 5 October 1929.  Although not spectacular, every team requires the work rate and solidity of players like Arthur Haigh. He also served on the Rovers committee from 1945 to 1957.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey