James Hopkins (footballer born 1901)
Encyclopedia
James Hopkins was a Northern Irish
association football player, who played at inside forward
.
Born in Ballymoney
, he started out at Belfast United before being signed by Arsenal
in 1919 at the age of 18. He was a regular for Arsenal's reserve side for two seasons before his first-team debut came, against West Bromwich Albion
on March 19, 1921; Hopkins scored in a 4-3 victory and went on to play a further seven times that season. Injury and illness marred his 1921-22
season however, and he only played in 11 League games all season. The following season his appearances were even more sporadic, and despite scoring in both his League starts for Arsenal in 1922-23
, he was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion
in January 1923; in total he played 22 games for Arsenal, scoring seven goals.
Hopkins spent the next six seasons at Brighton, making over 200 League appearances in the Third Division South
and scoring 72 goals. He also won a single cap for Northern Ireland
against England
on October 24, 1925 at Windsor Park
; the game finished 0-0. He left Brighton in 1929 and ended his career with Aldershot
. He died in 1943.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
association football player, who played at inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
.
Born in Ballymoney
Ballymoney
Ballymoney is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 9,021 people in the 2001 Census. It is currently served by Ballymoney Borough Council....
, he started out at Belfast United before being signed by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in 1919 at the age of 18. He was a regular for Arsenal's reserve side for two seasons before his first-team debut came, against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on March 19, 1921; Hopkins scored in a 4-3 victory and went on to play a further seven times that season. Injury and illness marred his 1921-22
1921-22 in English football
The 1921–22 season was the 47th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The league underwent a major expansion for the second consecutive season, adding 20 teams from the Midlands and Northern England. They were placed in the new Third Division North, and the existing southern-based...
season however, and he only played in 11 League games all season. The following season his appearances were even more sporadic, and despite scoring in both his League starts for Arsenal in 1922-23
1922-23 in English football
The 1922–23 season was the 48th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Liverpool retained the First Division title, but halfway through the season their manager David Ashworth left the club to take over at Oldham Athletic, who ended the season relegated.-Honours:Notes = Number in...
, he was sold to Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
in January 1923; in total he played 22 games for Arsenal, scoring seven goals.
Hopkins spent the next six seasons at Brighton, making over 200 League appearances in the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
and scoring 72 goals. He also won a single cap for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
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...
on October 24, 1925 at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
; the game finished 0-0. He left Brighton in 1929 and ended his career with Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
. He died in 1943.