ARTHUR, Kenneth
born. 07.12.1978, Bellshill
Kenny was still a schoolboy when he made his senior debut at Boghead 
for the Partick Thistle reserves on the 14th April 1994 in a 3-2 victory. Later that year he was selected for Scotland schoolboy trials which led to him being selected to play against Israel away in October 1994. He then progressed through the Partick Thistle youth & reserve teams. In season 1996-97 with no reserve team he played in the amateur under 16 league for Thistle youth and for feeder club Possilpark YMCA. He signed professional in the summer of 1997, making his debut soon after in a Firhill friendly defeat to Aston Villa who included such internationalists as Stan Collymore, Gareth Southgate, Mark Bosnich, Steve Staunton, Andy Townsend, Dwight Yorke and Sasa Curic in a 3-0 win for the guests. Manager John McVeigh brought experienced keeper Gary O’Connor in on the eve of the season and young Dundee United reserve Andy Stewart on loan in September, by October the Jags off the field financial problems had came to light and the squad was cut thrusting young Kenny into competitive first team action in a explosive 2-2 draw with Stirling Albion at Forthbank. Kenny made 19 more appearances before McVeigh brought former St Johnstone and Dunfermline Athletic keeper Lindsay Hamilton in from Queen’s Park for the final 5 games but it was not enough to save the Jags from relegation from division 1.The following season saw him start as number 1 with the experienced Stevie Ross brought into from Albion Rovers as back-up. The Jags failed to bounce back under new rookie manger Tommy Bryce and John Lambie returned to the club in March 1999. One of Lambie’s first signing was Kenny’s former goalkeeping rival Kevin Buddinaukas who had left Firhill back in 1997 for junior football. Budd was now first choice and Kenny appearances were restricted to 5 games. Kenny returned to first choice in 2000 helping the Jags win the 2nd division championship with 13 clean sheets in 34 league games. A injury meant he found himself playing second fiddle to new arrival Gary Gow who himself was dropped for Frenchman David Klein. The former Metz keeper made two howlers letting Airdrieonians snatch a point and Firhill and gifting St Mirren three points at Love Street. Lambie heeded the calls to bring back fans favourite Arthur as no.1. The Jags continued at the top of the table with Arthur making many a vital save including one penalty stop from St Mirren in December the Jags then went up the park and Martin Hardie claimed the winning goal, away from the great league form Thistle reached the Scottish cup semi-final at Hampden losing in the 3-0 to eventually cup winners Rangers. With the back to back championships wrapped up the Jags prepared for life once again in the top flight of Scottish football. Kenny again found himself vying for the gloves with Kevin Budinaukas who had returned from Clyde late in the previous season, despite this Kenny made 44 appearances in all competitions helping Thistle achieve the goal of avoiding relegation, and was called up to the Scotland squad where he was a unused substitute in a 1-0 defeat in Lithuania, and was a second half substitute in a B international against Northern Ireland at Firhill. John Lambie retired in 2003 leaving his assistant Gerry Collins to take charge; one of his first signings was the Faroe Islands international keeper Jakup Mikkelsen from Danish side Molde FK. Again injury meant Kenny didn’t start the season as no 1., but after Mikklelsen’s poor form Arthur was once again called on playing 31 games that season, an injury in a Scottish Cup tie at Cappielow forced new co-managers Gerry Britton and Derek Whyte into signing former Scotland U21 keeper Jamie Langfield from Raith Rovers. Arthur again fought his was back after Langfield’s poor form, but this was in fain as relegation was confirmed and a return to the 1st division. The following season was one to forget for Thistle as relegation took place again despite Kenny’s effort’s in all but one of the league games. Dick Campbell had taken over the club towards the end of the season in a futile attempt to keep the club in the 1st division . With the aim of achieving promotion at the first attempt (despite competition from big spending Gretna and Morton) the jags set out of a long campaign with many up’s and down’s. But on Sunday 14th May 2006 in the promotion play-off final 2nd leg away to Peterhead Kenny had perhaps his most important save in the penalty shoot out from Peterhead’s Dougie Cameron helping the Jags clinch a return to 1st division football. Away from the league Kenny also helped the Jags to a Scottish Cup quarter final losing 2-1 away to eventually winners Heart of Midlothian, but in the 4th round reply, live on Sky TV Kenny also shown in the penalty shoot-out saving two spot kicks from SPL Inverness Caley Thistle. 2006-07 and a return to 1st division football was Kenny’s testimonial year with a young Celtic XI providing the opposition at Firhill for his benefit game. His last appearance for the Jags came at Firhill against Clyde in March 2007. In the summer of 2007 he moved to the English league signing for Accrington Stanley.
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