&sq=&lang=&file=File:Rcf_arsenal_1934.jpg) Alex James (right) playing in France, 1934 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexander Wilson James | ||
| Date of birth | 14 September 1901 | ||
| Place of birth | Mossend, Lanarkshire, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 1 June 1953 (aged 51) | ||
| Place of death | London, England | ||
| Position(s) | Inside forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Bellshill Athletic | |||
| Ashfield | |||
| 1922–1925 | Raith Rovers | 98 | (27) |
| 1925–1929 | Preston North End | 147 | (53) |
| 1929–1937 | Arsenal | 231 | (26) |
| 1939 | Drumcondra | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 476 | (106) | |
| International career | |||
| 1925–1932 | Scotland | 8 | (3[a]) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Alexander Wilson James (14 September 1901 – 1 June 1953) was a Scottish international footballer. He is mostly noted as a playmaking lynchpin at Arsenal with whom he won six trophies from 1930 to the 1936 season. James featured as a deep-lying creative midfielder who provided a link between defence and attack. He was famed for his high level of footballing intelligence, outstanding ball control and supreme passing.
James was described by Tom Finney as "an inspiration" and "pure magic" with his style of play eventually leading to comparisons with Dennis Bergkamp. His rheumatism meant he wore "baggy" shorts so as to conceal the long johns he put on for warmth. His baggy attire became his own trademark look displayed upon the field of play.[1][2]
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- ^ "Arsenal players: Best 11 of all time". Telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Alex James: Profile". Arsenal.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2017.