 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 November 1864[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Blackburn, England | ||
| Date of death | 18 August 1940(1940-08-18) (aged 75)[2][3] | ||
| Place of death | New South Wales, Australia | ||
| Position | Left-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1883–1884 | Silver Star | ||
| 1884–1886 | Blackburn Olympic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1886 | Chester | ||
| 1886–1888 | Blackburn Olympic | ||
| 1888–1890 | Blackburn Rovers | 21 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
James Southworth (15 November 1864 – 18 August 1940) was afootballer who played as adefender in the early days of professional football forBlackburn Rovers. He was the brother of famousEngland internationalJack Southworth.
Southworth was born inBlackburn to Robert and Martha Southworth.[4]
In 1883, aged 19 James Southworth signed for one of the clubs that eventually formed Blackburn Olympic. A club called Silver Star F.C. The following year, 1884, he became a player for Blackburn Olympic F.C. There is conflicting information from sources as to when he joinedChester. Some sources state 1885 and others 1886.
He played alongside his younger brotherJack Southworth for most of the early part of his career, joining him atChester andBlackburn Olympic. At Chester he missed the 1885Boxing Day fixture (a friendly againstChirk) as he was appearing inpantomime.[5] In his role as aconductor, at the Royalty Theatre inChester, he would have to be back in the city after away matches in time for 7.30pm performances, affecting the number of appearances he made for the club.[6] On the field, an early squad summary by theChester Chronicle said he was captain and a "dashing and safe back".[6]
In 1888, he moved with his brother from Blackburn Olympic to their neighbours and fierce rivalsBlackburn Rovers.
Thefirst season ofthe Football League began, for Blackburn Rovers, on 15 September 1888 atLeamington Road, then home of Blackburn Rovers. Southworth played at left-back in this match and Rovers drew with Accrington 5-5. James Southworth played in 19 of the 22 League matches played by Blackburn Rovers in season 1888–89. James Southworth played in the two FA Cup semi-final matches againstWolverhampton Wanderers (the first match ended 1–1). Blackburn Rovers lost the replay 3–1. As a full-back he played in a defence that achieved three clean sheets and kept the opposition to one-League-goal-in-a-match on three occasions. Blackburn Rovers ended the inaugural League season in fourth place.[7]
He missed most of the1889-90 league season but was selected for theFA Cup final againstSheffield Wednesday (from theFootball Alliance) atThe Oval on 29 March 1890. Rovers were the favourites to win in view both of their record of three victories in the previous six seasons and their superior league placing. Blackburn fielded a team consisting of nine England or Scotland internationals. Rovers lived up to expectations as they comfortably won the Cup defeating their Yorkshire opponents 6–1 with goals byBilly Townley (3),Nat Walton,Jack Southworth andJoe Lofthouse.
As Philip Gibbons wrote in his bookAssociation Football in Victorian England: "The Blackburn side had given one of the finest exhibitions of attacking football in an FA Cup Final, with England internationals, Walton, Townley, Lofthouse and John Southworth at the peak of their form."[8]
The F.A. Cup final was James Southworth's final appearance for Rovers. He made 21 league and 6 cup appearances.
Southworth stayed a professional musician, working in music halls.[9] He emigrated to Australia, where he died in 1940.[3]