Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
106	106	0	25	0	0	75

During the Second World War, rugby league was organised in War Emergency Leagues and whilst some clubs had difficulties in maintaining fixtures, Featherstone was one club which endeavoured to play its full part.  They were fortunate in that with most of their players were exempt from military service through working in the local collieries, they were able to preserve the nucleus of the team and continue to develop young players. Arthur Street was one such player who signed from Glasshoughton Juniors in 1940 and made his debut at Hull on 9 November 1940 at the age of eighteen. When he joined the club, he was a hot-headed youngster, but he developed into a constructive loose forward who could read a game shrewdly.

During the war years, he played regularly for the Rovers and enjoyed his best season in 1942/43 when he not only played in every game, but finished as leading try and points scorer with 8 tries and 24 points (only 23 league and cup games were played, with Rovers winning 10 games. This included his only hat-trick of tries scored in the 36-8 victory at home to York in March 1943. His brother Bill also played for the Rovers from 1942, as a utility back and they played 12 matches together before Arthur's form attracted the attention of Dewsbury, who were a power in the game in the immediate post-war years. Street played against them on 25 October 1946 at Post Office Road and, three weeks later, he was transferred there for £350 and the Rovers eternal cycle of financial problems was temporarily eased.

He made 126 appearances for Dewsbury, and was described as the best forward on the field when they lost 13-4 to Wigan in the League Championship final of 1947. Wigan scored eight of their points whilst Street was off the field having his ear stitched. His younger brother Harry joined him in 1948 and he was to have an illustrious career with Dewsbury, Wigan and England before ending his days with a brief spell at Featherstone.  Arthur transferred to Doncaster in 1951 to spearhead the new club's entry into rugby league and he was the mainstay of the team as he made 40 appearances in that first season. A brief spell at Wakefield followed in 1953 when he retired. He then returned to his first love, Featherstone Rovers, when he took up coaching and he had a successful partnership as 'A' team coach with Harold Moxon from 1957 to 1963. His knowledge of the game was vast and he had the satisfaction of coaching the 'A' team to the Yorkshire Senior Competition Championship in 1961/62, when future stars Carl Dooler, Ivor Lingard, Arnie Morgan, Les Tonks, Terry Ramshaw and Keith Cotton emerged. He also served on the club committee.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey