Batten Bert Image 1 Plymouth Argyle 1925

Description

Bedminster born inside forward Bert Batten signed for Second Division Bristol City in 1920 from Paulton Rovers making his Football League debut at Rotherham County in September 1920, before joining Plymouth Argyle after just one season and 7 appearances for his hometown club. He made his Plymouth debut in October 1921 at Merthyr Town and in nearly five years at Home Park he was a consistent performer and goalscorer at inside-forward and this led to his selection for the FA Tour of Australia in 1925. Down Under he set a new record for goals scored by an English player on a Colonial tour, featuring in 25 of the 26 matches played and netting 45 times, including six goals against South Australia in Adelaide on May 16th and five against the Australian team on July 11th.

This form brought him to the attention of First Division Everton and, after a delayed start to the following season because of the return voyage from Australia, he was sold to the Goodison Park club in February 1926. Batten could not maintain a place in the side and moved to Bradford City that November after a single goal in 15 appearances. He scored 5 times in 24 appearances for The Bantams in 1926-27 before briefly joining Reading in 1927, where after 3 goals in 14 games he moved to Clapton Orient in February 1928. He scored 6 times in 31 appearances before joining non league Northfleet in 1929.