James King (footballer)
Encyclopedia
James King was a Scottish
international footballer who spent the majority of his career with Hamilton Academical.
He was born in Craigneuk
, Wishaw
on 16 April 1906. King could play equally well on either of the two extreme wing positions. He was introduced to Juvenile football with Carfin Harp by Robbie Donnelly, a former Partick Thistle
player. While Jimmy was with them in 1928 they won every competition which the club participated except the Scottish Juvenile Cup. He also played for Carluke Rovers prior to his signature being obtained by Hamilton manager Willie McAndrew in 1929.
He was chosen to play for the Lanarkshire Junior League versus the Forfar District League. Originally a provisional signing for Hamilton he completed full signing forms on the 3 June 1929.
He was chosen to represent the Scottish Alliance League to meet a Scottish Junior Select at Firhill on 18 April 1931. Originally operated on the left, the advantage of his two footedness was put to use to accommodate Bobby Reid
who took over the number 11 jersey with Jimmy crossing over to the right side.
5'8" and 10sts 2 lb, he was an able marksman as well with over 80 goals in his 262 League appearances for Hamilton. He earned a Scottish League place against the Irish League
in 1933. This was overshadowed by his two full Scottish caps, both against the Irish, in 1932 and 1933.
Played in the 1935 Scottish Cup
Final for Hamilton against Rangers
. Improved terms were offered to him, £4 per week, an increase of £1. By 1937 Bobby Reid was on the left wing and Jimmy had moved to the right and that was his role when a crowd of 28,690 turned up at Douglas Park
on a Wednesday afternoon on 3 March to witness a Scottish Cup tie with Heart of Midlothian
.
He was a tremendous servant to Hamilton and remained with them until 1939 when Jimmy McStay
took him to Alloa Athletic to assist in their efforts to stay in the top League. With only five games played war broke out.
One of his son's, Johnny, played for Hamilton during the 1960s at centre forward. Another, Eddie, was signed by Hibernian
while an inside left with Wishaw Juniors, while Jimmy, junior, turned out as junior with Douglasdale Juniors, Bellshill Athletic and Royal Albert.
Jimmy died in March 1985 at the age of 79, after a long illness. His son, Jimmy, was present at a Hall of Fame Dinner in February 2002 when his father was named as one of the four best ever Hamilton player. Appropriately, he was known to the Hamilton Academical support as King James.
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...
international footballer who spent the majority of his career with Hamilton Academical.
He was born in Craigneuk
Craigneuk
Craigneuk is a suburb of Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The original village of Craigneuk was located in the area where Meadowhead Road meets Glasgow Road. It was originally part of Dalziel parish along with the other rural weaving villages of Flemington, Windmillhill and Motherwell....
, Wishaw
Wishaw
Wishaw is a large town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles south-east of Glasgow....
on 16 April 1906. King could play equally well on either of the two extreme wing positions. He was introduced to Juvenile football with Carfin Harp by Robbie Donnelly, a former Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
player. While Jimmy was with them in 1928 they won every competition which the club participated except the Scottish Juvenile Cup. He also played for Carluke Rovers prior to his signature being obtained by Hamilton manager Willie McAndrew in 1929.
He was chosen to play for the Lanarkshire Junior League versus the Forfar District League. Originally a provisional signing for Hamilton he completed full signing forms on the 3 June 1929.
He was chosen to represent the Scottish Alliance League to meet a Scottish Junior Select at Firhill on 18 April 1931. Originally operated on the left, the advantage of his two footedness was put to use to accommodate Bobby Reid
Bobby Reid (footballer born 1911)
Robert "Bobby" Reid was a Scottish footballer who played at both professional and international levels as a winger.-Club career:...
who took over the number 11 jersey with Jimmy crossing over to the right side.
5'8" and 10sts 2 lb, he was an able marksman as well with over 80 goals in his 262 League appearances for Hamilton. He earned a Scottish League place against the Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
in 1933. This was overshadowed by his two full Scottish caps, both against the Irish, in 1932 and 1933.
Played in the 1935 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...
Final for Hamilton against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
. Improved terms were offered to him, £4 per week, an increase of £1. By 1937 Bobby Reid was on the left wing and Jimmy had moved to the right and that was his role when a crowd of 28,690 turned up at Douglas Park
Douglas Park
Douglas Park was a football stadium in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, the home ground of Hamilton Academical FC from 1888 to 1994.The stadium holds the record for Hamilton Academical's largest ever attendance, 28,690 people against Hearts in 1937...
on a Wednesday afternoon on 3 March to witness a Scottish Cup tie with Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
.
He was a tremendous servant to Hamilton and remained with them until 1939 when Jimmy McStay
Jimmy McStay
James Frederick "Jimmy" McStay was a Scottish football player and manager. He spent most of his career at Celtic, and was a captain and manager for the club. He took over the club captaincy from his brother, Willie McStay, in 1929.McStay managed the club between 9 February 1940, and 23 July 1945...
took him to Alloa Athletic to assist in their efforts to stay in the top League. With only five games played war broke out.
One of his son's, Johnny, played for Hamilton during the 1960s at centre forward. Another, Eddie, was signed by 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...
while an inside left with Wishaw Juniors, while Jimmy, junior, turned out as junior with Douglasdale Juniors, Bellshill Athletic and Royal Albert.
Jimmy died in March 1985 at the age of 79, after a long illness. His son, Jimmy, was present at a Hall of Fame Dinner in February 2002 when his father was named as one of the four best ever Hamilton player. Appropriately, he was known to the Hamilton Academical support as King James.