Archie Rawlings

Archie Rawlings was born in Leicester on 2nd October, 1891. He played local football for Wombell before joining Northampton Town. He also had brief spells at Barnsley, Rochdale and Dundee before joining Preston North End in 1920.

Playing at outside right, Rawlings joined a forward line that included Tommy Roberts and Rowland Woodhouse. Rawlings and Woodhouse provided the service for Roberts who was the club's top scorer for the next five seasons

In 1921 Rawlings won an international cap when he was picked to play for England against Belgium in Brussels.

Preston North End did very well in the FA Cup in 1921. Led by veteran defender, Joseph McCall, the club defeated Newcastle United (3-1), Barnsley (3-0) and Arsenal (2-1). Rawlings scored the first goal in the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur and created the chance for Tommy Roberts to score the winning goal.

Rawlings was found guilty of a breach of discipline following an incident after the semi-final win. Rawlings was suspended indefinitely when he refused to apologize for his behaviour. However, he was an important member of the team and he was selected to play for Preston North End in the FA Cup Final against Huddersfield Town. Preston lost to the only goal of the game, a penalty conceded by Tommy Hamilton. It was awarded when Hamilton tripped Huddersfield's outside-left Billy Smith. Hamilton admitted the offence but claimed it was outside the penalty area.

Rawlings scored 22 goals in 64 games before leaving to join Liverpool in 1923. He only stayed two years before moving on to Walsall (1926), Bradford Park Avenue (1926-27) and Southport (1928).

Archie Rawlings died in 1952.