James Dunn (Scottish footballer)
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Dunn was a Scottish
professional international footballer
, most famous for being part of the 1928 Wembley Wizards
side.
Dunn, born in Glasgow
and nicknamed "ginger" due to the colour of his hair, started his senior career in 1920 when Hibernian
signed him from his local junior side Govan St Anthony's. He stayed eight years with the Edinburgh
club, helping them to consecutive Scottish Cup
finals in 1923 and 1924, although he collected a runners-up medal on each occasion. In 1925 he earned his first selection for the Scottish national team
, playing in a 3-1 defeat of Wales
at Tynecastle
. He gained a further 4 Scotland caps while with Hibs, the most memorable being the last, against England
at Wembley
in 1928.
Dunn was a late inclusion in the side for the British Home Championship
match, having missed selection for the preceding international trial match between home-based and Anglo-Scots. The entire Scotland forward-line measured 5 foot 7 or less and it was widely expected that the bigger, stronger English side would overpower their Scottish opponents. Dunn and his colleagues thought otherwise and raced to a surprise 5-1 victory, a record Scottish win at Wembley. The victory was widely celebrated in Scotland and the team was later somewhat mythologised as the Wembley Wizards
.
Dunn joined Everton
immediately after his Wembley escapades and played with the Merseyside
club for the next 7 seasons. He won a Second Division championship and Football League championship with the Toffees in consecutive seasons (1931 and 1932) and was part of their FA Cup
winning side of 1933, scoring in the final itself
. He left Goodison Park
in 1935 for Exeter City
, becoming the Grecians record signing in the process. He joined Runcorn the following year before retiring into a coaching role. His son, Jimmy Dunn (jnr)
, would later also find fame on the football field, participating in Wolverhampton Wanderers
victorious 1949 FA Cup
side.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional international footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, most famous for being part of the 1928 Wembley Wizards
Wembley Wizards
- Aftermath :When asked for his comment after the game, Alex James simply beamed a smile and said, “We could have had ten!”Back in Scotland the pubs did rather well and the newspapers were not slow in piling praise on the heads of those little no-hopers of the Scottish side...
side.
Dunn, born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and nicknamed "ginger" due to the colour of his hair, started his senior career in 1920 when Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
signed him from his local junior side Govan St Anthony's. He stayed eight years with the Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
club, helping them to consecutive Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
finals in 1923 and 1924, although he collected a runners-up medal on each occasion. In 1925 he earned his first selection for the Scottish national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, playing in a 3-1 defeat of Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
at Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
. He gained a further 4 Scotland caps while with Hibs, the most memorable being the last, against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in 1928.
Dunn was a late inclusion in the side for the British Home Championship
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
match, having missed selection for the preceding international trial match between home-based and Anglo-Scots. The entire Scotland forward-line measured 5 foot 7 or less and it was widely expected that the bigger, stronger English side would overpower their Scottish opponents. Dunn and his colleagues thought otherwise and raced to a surprise 5-1 victory, a record Scottish win at Wembley. The victory was widely celebrated in Scotland and the team was later somewhat mythologised as the Wembley Wizards
Wembley Wizards
- Aftermath :When asked for his comment after the game, Alex James simply beamed a smile and said, “We could have had ten!”Back in Scotland the pubs did rather well and the newspapers were not slow in piling praise on the heads of those little no-hopers of the Scottish side...
.
Dunn joined Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
immediately after his Wembley escapades and played with the Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
club for the next 7 seasons. He won a Second Division championship and Football League championship with the Toffees in consecutive seasons (1931 and 1932) and was part of their FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winning side of 1933, scoring in the final itself
1933 FA Cup Final
The 1933 FA Cup Final was a football match between Everton and Manchester City on 29 April 1933 at Wembley Stadium in London. The deciding match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup , it was the 62nd final, and the 11th at Wembley...
. He left Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
in 1935 for Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
, becoming the Grecians record signing in the process. He joined Runcorn the following year before retiring into a coaching role. His son, Jimmy Dunn (jnr)
Jimmy Dunn (Scottish footballer born 1923)
James "Jimmy" Dunn is a Scottish former footballer, who spent the majority of his league career with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He is the son of the Scottish international footballer James Dunn.-Career:...
, would later also find fame on the football field, participating in Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
victorious 1949 FA Cup
1949 FA Cup Final
The 1949 FA Cup Final was contested by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium. Wolves finished 6th in the First Division during that season, and boasted several England internationals among their ranks, while Leicester City had struggled to avoid relegation in the Second...
side.
External links
- Jimmy Dunn, www.ihibs.co.uk