Custom Search

English Football Legends Series

Perhaps the most talented of Arsenal's great 1930's team, Alex James was an intelligent player, renowned for his brilliant ball control and sublime crossing.

Alex James

Clubs: Preston North End, Arsenal

Position: Forward

Appearances*: 476

Goals*: 106

Honours: League Championship, 3
FA Cup, 2

---

* League appearances and goals only

A boyhood friend of Hughie Gallacher, James played for various youth clubs before signing for Raith Rovers in 1922. He made 98 appearances for Raith before moving to Preston North End in 1925.

Preston North End

His time with Preston was spent in the Second Division, and, although there were a number of top six finishes, North End never looked like winning promotion.

There were, however, a number of disputes between player and club, mainly over wages and Preston refusal to release him for international matches.

Arsenal

In 1929 Herbert Chapman paid Preston 8,750 pounds to take James to Arsenal.

The player had an indifferent first season with the Gunners, although he did score one of the goals that won the FA Cup against Huddersfield Town.

As James settled in at Highbury, his influence on the team grew, and although his own goal tally was meagre, he became the main supplier for the likes of David Jack, Cliff Bastin, Ted Drake and Jack Lambert.

Arsenal won their first ever League title in 1930/31, with James hugely influential. But he missed the bulk of the following season through injury. Without him, the Gunners were runners-up in both the league and FA Cup.

The following season Arsenal regained the title, and went on to win three in a row between 1932 and 1935.

In 1936 James won his second FA Cup medal, as he captained Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Sheffield United.

Scotland International Career

Surprisingly, Alex James won just eight Scotland caps, partly due to injuries, and partly due to Preston's refusal to release him for international matches.

He was however one of the legendary 'Wembley Wizards' team that thrashed England 5-1 at Wembley in 1928. James scored twice in that match.

Retirement and later years

James retired from playing in 1937. During World War II he served with the Royal Artillery, and after the war he became a journalist.

In 1949 he was offered a job as a youth coach at Arsenal, a role he filled until his death from cancer four years later, at the age of just 51.

James was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Return from Alex James to English Football Legends

Return to The Football Club Home Page

or Search the site

Custom Search