Arthur Drewry (3 March 1891 – 25 March 1961), CBE, was a prominent English football administrator best known for serving as the fifth President of FIFA from 1955 until his death in 1961. He occupied several senior posts in English football, combining national influence with a visible international role in the sport's post‑war era.
Beginning his administrative career at local and regional levels, Drewry moved into higher office through sustained involvement in football governance. His experience within English structures prepared him for leadership at the national and global levels, where organizational stability and the expansion of membership were priorities.
Career and offices
Drewry held multiple key positions that linked club, league and national administration. During his lifetime he served in senior capacities including:
- President of FIFA (1955–1961)
- Chairman of The Football Association
- President of The Football League
These roles placed him at the centre of discussions about international competitions, rules, and the relationship between FIFA and national associations in an era of growing global participation.
Under Drewry's presidency FIFA supervised the staging of major tournaments such as the 1958 FIFA World Cup and dealt with the administrative consequences of a widening membership as decolonisation and new national federations increased the game's footprint worldwide. His tenure addressed practical matters of organisation, representation and the running of international fixtures.
Drewry died in office in 1961. He is remembered for guiding football bodies during a period of consolidation and for being part of the succession of leaders who shaped mid‑20th century governance; his position between earlier long‑serving presidents and later modernizers marks a transitional phase in FIFA's development. He was awarded the CBE for his services to the game.
For readers seeking more on his life and administrative style, contemporary records and histories of FIFA and English football provide further context about his decisions, the competitions overseen during his term, and the evolving structures of international football governance.