Leighton James
Encyclopedia
Leighton James is a former Wales international footballer.
making his league debut in November 1970 against Nottingham Forest
.
In 1971 he won his first international cap against Czechoslovakia
. Altogether, he played 54 times for Wales
and scored 10 goals.
In 1975 he signed for Derby County
for a then club record fee of £310,000 before signing for Queens Park Rangers
in 1977 in exchange for Don Masson
. He made his QPR debut against WBA in October 1977 and went on to play 28 league games, scoring 4 goals.
In 1978 he returned to play with Burnley
but left when they were relegated to the third division and signed for Swansea City helping them from the third division to the first division. He had spells with Sunderland, Bury
and Newport County before in 1986 he returned to Burnley
for a third spell , he became youth team manager as well as playing a bit part role. He retired from playing in 1989 after being sacked as youth team manager.
He became a coach at Bradford City before succeeding Gary Simpson as manager of Gainsborough Trinity
in October 1993. He was the manager at Morecambe
but was sacked after only 5 months in charge. Leighton has also had two spells in charge of League of Wales
club Llanelli
, who he saw relegated in 2002-03.
In 2001-02 he coached Garden Village
of the Welsh Football League
to the Second Division championship title with a final day victory at Chepstow Town.
In 2004-2005, he coached St. Joseph's Sixth Form Football Academy, Aberafan, Port Talbot until it was dissolved after abysmal performances including a loss against the school's own sixth-form pupils who were not in the Football Academy.
He currently works as a football pundit for BBC
radio and television along with a regular programme on Real Radio
. The BBC suspended James for a period due to controversial remarks made in a regular newspaper column regarding Cardiff City
.
In December 2009, James was appointed manager of Welsh Football League Division One side Aberaman Athletic
.
He is currently Director of Football at Welsh Football League Division One side Haverfordwest County.
reported that he was given a driving ban for driving while one and a half times over the legal alcohol limit.
He caused further controversy in March 2008 by commenting in his column in the South Wales Evening Post that he would like Cardiff City
to lose to Barnsley FC
in the FA Cup
semi-final 2008. Although the rivalry between the football clubs of Swansea
and Cardiff
is well documented, James' comments angered some because of his supposed impartiality as a pundit, and also for his staunch attitude that Welsh people should support Welsh teams in whatever sport, an opinion he has discussed at length on radio phone in programmes. As punishment for his comments, the BBC saw fit to ban James from appearing on their programmes for two weeks, before dropping the pundit. James returned on 26 April 2008 to the Wales on Saturday programme.
James' comments about Cardiff City were the subject of the song, "Leighton James Don't Like Us", recorded by Cardiff musician Leigh Bailey.
Away from football, in June 2007 James was named Rookie Lollipop Man
of the Year by Swansea Council
for Penyrheol Primary School, which his nephew Thomas James went to.http://football.guardian.co.uk/Fiver/0,,2103331,00.html.
James is also a rugby fan, and often comments on rugby on the Real Radio sports phone in. He is an avid Scarlets fan.
Playing career
James started his career as a left winger with BurnleyBurnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
making his league debut in November 1970 against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
.
In 1971 he won his first international cap against Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
. Altogether, he played 54 times for 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...
and scored 10 goals.
In 1975 he signed for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
for a then club record fee of £310,000 before signing for Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in 1977 in exchange for Don Masson
Don Masson
Donald "Don" Sandison Masson is a Scottish former footballer.-Club career:Masson began his career with Middlesbrough in 1964 before going on to Notts County in 1968...
. He made his QPR debut against WBA in October 1977 and went on to play 28 league games, scoring 4 goals.
In 1978 he returned to play with Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
but left when they were relegated to the third division and signed for Swansea City helping them from the third division to the first division. He had spells with Sunderland, Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
and Newport County before in 1986 he returned to Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
for a third spell , he became youth team manager as well as playing a bit part role. He retired from playing in 1989 after being sacked as youth team manager.
He became a coach at Bradford City before succeeding Gary Simpson as manager of Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
in October 1993. He was the manager at Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
but was sacked after only 5 months in charge. Leighton has also had two spells in charge of League of Wales
League of Wales
The Welsh Premier League is the national football league for Wales. It has both Professional and Semi-Professional status clubs and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. Prior to 2002, the league was known as the League of Wales, but changed its name as part of a sponsorship deal...
club Llanelli
Llanelli A.F.C.
Llanelli Association Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club that plays in the Welsh Premier League for the 2010–11 season. The team has been based at Stebonheath Park since 1920, and as of 2009 is managed by Andy Legg....
, who he saw relegated in 2002-03.
In 2001-02 he coached Garden Village
Garden Village F.C.
Garden Village Association Football Club is a football club, based in Swansea, south west Wales and currently playing in the Welsh Football League Division Two...
of the Welsh Football League
Welsh Football League
The Welsh Football League is a club football league in Wales. Division One of the Welsh Football League is at Level 2 of the Welsh football league system, immediately below the national Welsh Premier League.The Welsh Football League's history stretches back to 1904 when the competition was first...
to the Second Division championship title with a final day victory at Chepstow Town.
In 2004-2005, he coached St. Joseph's Sixth Form Football Academy, Aberafan, Port Talbot until it was dissolved after abysmal performances including a loss against the school's own sixth-form pupils who were not in the Football Academy.
He currently works as a football pundit for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio and television along with a regular programme on Real Radio
Real Radio
Real Radio is a network of adult contemporary independent local radio stations in England, Scotland and Wales and is operated by . Each station broadcasts local breakfast through to drive time shows and network programming in the evening and through the night...
. The BBC suspended James for a period due to controversial remarks made in a regular newspaper column regarding Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
.
In December 2009, James was appointed manager of Welsh Football League Division One side Aberaman Athletic
Aberaman Athletic F.C.
Aberaman Athletic Football Club is a Welsh football club that currently play in the Welsh Football League Division One. Their ground is situated on Cardiff Road, Aberdare, between the suburb of Aberaman and the village of Abercwmboi....
.
He is currently Director of Football at Welsh Football League Division One side Haverfordwest County.
Personal life
James' personal life has not been without controversy. In June 2007, the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reported that he was given a driving ban for driving while one and a half times over the legal alcohol limit.
He caused further controversy in March 2008 by commenting in his column in the South Wales Evening Post that he would like Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
to lose to Barnsley FC
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in the 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...
semi-final 2008. Although the rivalry between the football clubs of Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
is well documented, James' comments angered some because of his supposed impartiality as a pundit, and also for his staunch attitude that Welsh people should support Welsh teams in whatever sport, an opinion he has discussed at length on radio phone in programmes. As punishment for his comments, the BBC saw fit to ban James from appearing on their programmes for two weeks, before dropping the pundit. James returned on 26 April 2008 to the Wales on Saturday programme.
James' comments about Cardiff City were the subject of the song, "Leighton James Don't Like Us", recorded by Cardiff musician Leigh Bailey.
Away from football, in June 2007 James was named Rookie Lollipop Man
Crossing guard
A crossing guard , a school crossing patrol officer , school crossing supervisor or school road patrol is a traffic management specialist who is normally stationed on busy roadways to aid pedestrians...
of the Year by Swansea Council
City and County of Swansea
The City and County of Swansea Council is the governing body for one of the Principal Areas of Wales covering Swansea, Gower and the surrounding area. The council consists of 72 councillors representing 36 electoral wards....
for Penyrheol Primary School, which his nephew Thomas James went to.http://football.guardian.co.uk/Fiver/0,,2103331,00.html.
James is also a rugby fan, and often comments on rugby on the Real Radio sports phone in. He is an avid Scarlets fan.