John James (footballer, born 1948)

John Brian James (born 24 October 1948) is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He played in the English Football League for Port Vale, Chester and Tranmere Rovers, making 381 appearances in the process, and also played in the North American Soccer League for the Chicago Sting. He won promotions out of the Fourth Division with Port Vale, Chester and Tranmere.

John James

Brian Wharburton, Paul Bannister, James, Stanley Matthews, John Bostock and Stan Turner (left to right)
Personal information
Full name	John Brian James[1]
Date of birth	24 October 1948
Place of birth	Stone, Staffordshire, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1964–1966	Port Vale
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1966–1973	Port Vale	210	(39)
1973–1975	Chester	98	(40)
1975–1978	Tranmere Rovers	73	(24)
1976	→ Chicago Sting (loan)	9	(4)
	Stafford Rangers
Total		390+	(107+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Port Vale

James began his career in his native Staffordshire with Port Vale, turning professional in April 1966. He became a first team regular from September 1967 and went on to make more than 200 league appearances for Vale, including 43 in the club's promotion season from Division Four in 1969–70. His goals were crucial to the club, top scorer in both 1969–70 and 1970–71 with 17 and 15 goals respectively. He missed much of the 1971–72 campaign due to a cartilage injury requiring two separate operations. After returning to the squad in February 1972 he was much less effective and lost his first team spot.[3]

Chester

In February 1973, James moved to Chester for £5,000,[4] playing his first game alongside fellow home debutant Reg Matthewson in a 5–0 win over Darlington, that saw James amongst the scorers.[4] The following season saw James net 21 league goals, the highest tally by a Chester player since Gary Talbot in 1968–69,[5] but his most memorable campaign would follow in 1974–75.

James struck 13 times as Chester won promotion from the Fourth Division, but he was to enjoy national fame thanks to his goalscoring exploits in the League Cup during the same season.[6] After wins over Walsall, Blackpool and Preston North End, Chester were drawn at home to First Division champions Leeds United. On a momentous night, Chester recorded a shock 3–0 win, with James scoring twice. He followed it up by scoring the winning goal in the quarter-finals against another top-flight side, Newcastle United,[7] to set up a semi–final tie with Aston Villa. James found the net in the second leg to level the aggregate score at 4–4, only for Brian Little to grab a late Villa winner and break Chester's hearts.[8]

Tranmere Rovers

Despite his contribution to Chester's success, James played just two first–team games for Chester after promotion and joined neighbours Tranmere Rovers in part-exchange for Paul Crossley in September 1975.[9] Once more promotion from the Fourth Division was enjoyed, with James netting 19 times in 38 league games. After a spell playing for Chicago Sting in the North American Soccer League,[10] he returned to Prenton Park and remained at the club before joining non–league Stafford Rangers in 1978.[11]

Style of play

Speaking in 2016, a Port Vale supporter who remembered seeing James play compared him to a Duracell battery due to his high stamina levels.[12]

"John James did everything wrong, but he was a great player. He wasn't quick, he couldn't beat people and he couldn't shoot, but he'd hold the ball up all day. He disproved the coaching manual."

— Teammate Roy Sproson described him as an unconventional player.[13]

Later life

James later moved to Torquay to run a newsagents.[14]

Statistics

Source:[15]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	1965–66	Fourth Division	10	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
	1966–67	Fourth Division	7	0	0	0	1	0	8	0
	1967–68	Fourth Division	41	2	1	0	1	0	43	2
	1968–69	Fourth Division	34	4	4	1	1	0	39	5
	1969–70	Fourth Division	43	14	4	3	1	0	48	17
	1970–71	Third Division	45	15	1	0	1	0	47	15
	1971–72	Third Division	14	1	0	0	0	0	14	1
	1972–73	Third Division	16	3	2	1	2	0	20	4
	Total		210	39	12	5	7	0	229	44
Chester	1972–73	Fourth Division	15	6	0	0	0	0	15	6
	1973–74	Fourth Division	41	21	3	2	1	0	45	23
	1974–75	Fourth Division	41	13	1	0	8	4	50	17
	1975–76	Third Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		98	40	4	2	10	4	112	46
Tranmere Rovers	1975–76	Fourth Division	38	19	1	0	0	0	39	19
	1976–77	Third Division	16	4	2	0	2	3	20	7
	1977–78	Third Division	19	1	2	1	1	0	22	2
	Total		73	24	3	1	3	3	79	28
Chicago Sting (loan)	1976	NASL	9	4	–	–	–	–	9	4
Career total			390	107	19	8	20	7	429	122

Honours

Port Vale

• Football League Fourth Division promotion (4th place): 1969–70[16] (43 apps, 14 goals)

Chester

• Football League Fourth Division promotion (4th place): 1974–75 (41 apps, 13 goals)
• League Cup semi-finalist: 1974–75

Tranmere Rovers

• Football League Fourth Division promotion (4th place): 1975–76

References

1. "John James". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
2. "Portsmouth v Port Vale, 1967". onevalefan.co.uk. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
3. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 151. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
4. Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. p. 85. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
5. Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. pp. stats section. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
6. Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. pp. 88–90. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
7. "Chester 1 Newcastle United 0". football-england.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
8. Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. p. 90. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
9. Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. p. 91. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
10. "Chicago Sting All-Time Player Roster 1975–1994". Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
11. "Tranmere Rovers 1946/47–2006/07". Neil Brown. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
12. Baggaley, Mike (1 April 2016). "Fans recall promotion-winning heroes of 1969/70". The Sentinel. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
13. Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 306. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
14. Maul, Rob (13 August 2006). "Caught in Time". London: TimesOnline. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
15. John James at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
16. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.