Archie Devine

Who was Archie Devine?

Archie Devine was a Scottish footballer.

He started his career playing junior football with Lochgelly United, moving on to Hearts in 1904 and then moving on to play for Raith Rovers. It was at Falkirk that he first made his name, scoring 13 goals in 25 appearances in 1909–10, which earned him a solitary cap for Scotland, against Wales on March 5, 1910, scoring the winner in a 1–0 victory; however he never played for the national side again.

In April 1910 he moved south of the border to Bradford City, and was part of the side that won the 1911 FA Cup Final against Newcastle United. He stayed at Bradford for nearly three years before joining Woolwich Arsenal. He made his debut for Arsenal against Chelsea on February 15, 1913, and was part of the side that were relegated in 1912–13. He started 1913–14 as a regular, and scored the winner in Arsenal's very first game at Highbury, a 2–1 victory over Leicester Fosse on September 6, 1913.

However, later that same season was forced out of the side by Wally Hardinge, and left the club; he played 24 games for Arsenal, scoring five goals. He later played for Shelbourne, Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly United. After retiring he worked as a miner and a docker. He died in September 1964, aged 78.