James Southworth

Infobox Football biography
playername = James Southworth


fullname = James Southworth
dateofbirth = Not known
cityofbirth = Blackburn
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = 1940
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height =
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Left-back
youthyears =
youthclubs = Silver Star
Blackburn Olympic
years =

1888–1890
clubs = Chester
Blackburn Olympic
Blackburn Rovers
caps(goals) =

021 00(0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
manageryears =
managerclubs =
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James Southworth (born in Blackburn, died in 1940), was a footballer who played as a defender in the early days of professional football for Blackburn Rovers. He was the brother of famous England international Jack Southworth.

Playing career

He played alongside his brother for most of the early part of his career, joining him at Chester and Blackburn Olympic. At Chester he missed the 1885 Boxing Day fixture (a friendly against Chirk) as he was appearing in pantomime. [cite web | title=Twenty Boxing Day crackers: 1885 - Chirk 4 Chester 4| work=www.chester-city.co.uk| url=http://www.chester-city.co.uk/boxing_day_crackers.asp| accessdate=16 November| accessyear=2007] In his role as a conductor at the Royalty Theatre in Chester, he would have to be back in the city after away matches in time for 7.30pm performances, affecting the number of appearances he made for the club. [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | publisher=Yore Publications| year=1997| pages= pg.9 |id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] On the field, an early squad summary by the Chester Chronicle said he was captain and a "dashing and safe back". [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | publisher=Yore Publications| year=1997| pages= pg.9 |id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6]

In 1888 he moved with his brother from Blackburn Olympic to their neighbours and fierce rivals Blackburn Rovers.

The first season of the Football League began in September 1888. James Southworth appeared fairly regularly at left-back making 19 appearances in the league as Rovers ended the inaugural League season in fourth place.

He missed most of the 1889-90 league season but was selected for the FA Cup final against Sheffield Wednesday (from the Football Alliance) at The Oval on 29 March 1890. Rovers were the odds-on favourites to win in view both of their record of three victories in the previous six seasons and their superior league placing. Blackburn fielded a team consisting of nine England or Scotland internationals. Rovers lived up to expectations as they romped away with the Cup defeating their Yorkshire opponents 6–1 with goals by Billy Townley (3), Nat Walton, Jack Southworth and Joe Lofthouse.

As Philip Gibbons points out in his book "Association Football in Victorian England": "The Blackburn side had given one of the finest exhibitions of attacking football in an FA Cup Final, with England internationals, Walton, Townley, Lofthouse and John Southworth at the peak of their form." [cite book |last= Gibbons|first= Philip|authorlink= |title= Association Football in Victorian England - A History of the Game from 1863 to 1900|year= 2001|publisher= Upfront Publishing|pages=pp.142-143|id=ISBN 1-84426-035-6]

The F.A. Cup final was James Southworth's final appearance for Rovers. He made 21 league and 6 cup appearances. Southworth died in 1940.

Honours

Blackburn Rovers
*FA Cup winner: 1890

References