Affectionately known as "The Godfather of Manly",[4] he played, coached and was later an administrator at the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership.
Ken Arthurson made his first grade debut in the 1950 NSWRFL season for the three-year-old Manly-Warringah club under the coaching of former Kangaroo tourist and Australian test captain Wally O'Connell, who had moved to Manly from Eastern Suburbs.
Arthurson, by then regarded as one of the best young halfbacks in the league, then played another full season at Manly in 1952, before accepting the role of player-coach with NSW Country Group 11 team Parkes' for 1953.
Unfortunately for Arthurson and Manly, both Grand Finals were played against a St George side in the early years of their record run of 11 straight premierships.
Arthurson later said that there was no shame to running second to those St George teams whose talent included Ken Kearney, Norm Provan, Eddie Lumsden, Brian "Poppa" Clay, Harry Bath and future rugby league Immortal Johnny Raper.
His list of players includes Graham Eadie, Ken Irvine, Terry Randall, Mal Reilly, John O'Neill, Ray Branighan, Max Krilich, Phil Lowe, Paul Vautin, Les Boyd, Kerry Boustead, and possibly his greatest signing, Australian Rugby League Immortal Bob Fulton.
As told by people such as Paul "Fatty" Vautin, Arko's negotiating skills often led a player to sign or re-sign with Manly for less money than they were being offered by other clubs.
Fatty ended up re-signing with Manly for more than his previous contract (on the provision that he used at least half of the money to buy a house in the area...another Arthurson incentive to remain at the club), but far less than what Gibson was offering.
Arthurson's tireless efforts as secretary of Manly-Warringah paid off big time in the 1970s as the Sea Eagles won the NSWRL premiership in 1972, 1973, 1976 and 1978 making the club the most successful of the decade.