Reginald Horace Cumner (31 March 1918 – 18 January 1999) was a Wales international footballer. A forward, he played for Arsenal, Margate, Hull City, Notts County, Watford, Scunthorpe United, Bradford City, Poole Town, and Bridport. He won three international caps in the 1939 British Home Championship, scoring one goal.
Club career Cumner moved from Aberaman Athletic to Arsenal. He was loaned out to Margate and Hull City. During his loan spell at Margate, Cumner scored 43 goals in 80 appearances. During his loan spell at Hull City in 1938, Cumner scored four goals in 12 appearances, finding the net against Chester on his debut and subsequently against Port Vale, Bradford City and Crewe Alexandra. Cumner made his Arsenal debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers in September 1938, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 victory, and scored again against Chelsea the following month.
He played for Arsenal in the 1938 FA Charity Shield at Highbury, which ended in a 2–1 victory over Preston North End. During World War II he guested for Cardiff City, Fulham, Greenock Morton, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Swansea Town, Aberaman Athletic, Port Vale, Clapton Orient and Plymouth Argyle. He suffered severe burns during the war whilst on service for the Royal Marines.
In August 1946, he signed for Notts County in part exchange for Ian McPherson. He helped the Magpies to 12th and sixth place in the Third Division South in 1946–47 and 1947–48. He left Meadow Lane and switched to league rivals Watford. He helped Eddie Hapgood's "Hornets" to finish 17th in 1948–49 and sixth in 1949–50.
After departing Vicarage Road, he joined Leslie Jones's Scunthorpe United. He helped the "Iron" to mid-table finishes in the Third Division North in 1950–51, 1951–52, and 1952–53. He never played another game in the Football League after leaving the Old Showground, as he was signed to Ivor Powell's Bradford City, but never got onto the pitch at Valley Parade. He later moved into non-League football with Poole Town (Western League), Bridport (Dorset Combination), and Swanage Town.
International career Cumner earned three full caps for Wales, and scored in the 1938–39 British Home Championship 3–1 defeat of Ireland. Cumner also represented Wales in wartime internationals, making ten appearances and scoring three goals. In October 1942, only five weeks after suffering severe burns while serving with the Royal Marines, he scored both goals in Wales' 2–1 victory over England.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsArsenal1935–36First Division0000001936–37First Division0000001937–38First Division0000001938–39First Division122001221945–46001111Total12211133Hull City (loan)1937–38Third Division North12400124Notts County1946–47Third Division South355313861947–48Third Division South31651367Total6611827413Watford1948–49Third Division South355003551949–50Third Division South232402721950–51Third Division South400040Total62740667Scunthorpe United1950–51Third Division North35100035101951–52Third Division North44114048111952–53Third Division North23000230Total102214010621Bradford City1953–54Third Division North000000Career total2544517327148
Honours Arsenal FA Charity Shield: 1938
Wales British Home Championship: 1938–39 (shared)
References