Ritchie Archie Image 1 Derby County 1921

Description

Stenhousemuir, Stirlingshire born left back Archie Ritchie began his football career with Denny Hibernian from where he joined hometown Scottish League club Stenhousemuir in 1913, moving to Dumbarton in 1914. He played 29 matches for The Sons during the 1914-15 season but only 6 more matches over the next four seasons during his wartime service. With the First World War ended, Ritchie joined Glasgow Rangers in the summer of 1919, making his Rangers debut in a win at Airdrieonians that August, playing 26 matches for the Ibrox club and winning the 1919-20 Scottish League Championship with them, before transferring to First Division club Derby County in the 1920 close season.

Ritchie missed only 3 matches during his maiden Football League campaign, his debut coming in a draw with Chelsea that August, and he scored his only career goal, a penalty in a draw with Manchester United in May 1921, but Derby suffered relegation at the season end. Although still a regular in 1921-22, he was relegated to the fringes from the beginning of the following season and made only 21 further appearances during the next five seasons to add to his 72 outings during his first two seasons at The Baseball Ground. Already well into his thirties, he joined non league Guildford City in 1927, his final club ahead of his eventual retirement.