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.
Early years
Born in Mossend, Lanarkshire, James was schooled at the Bellshill Academy in Bellshill where he began a long friendship with Hughie Gallacher. James started his youth footballing career with local Junior clubs, Bellshill Athletic and Ashfield.
Club career
Raith Rovers
Alex James joined Raith Rovers in 1922. Having finished third in the season before his arrival, Rovers' best league finish whilst James was at the club was fourth in 1924. Raith placed ninth within both the 1923 and 1925 seasons. All in all he made close to a hundred League appearances in his three seasons at Starks Park, and was also involved in an incident of shipwrecking in the summer of 1923 when the team's vessel bound for the Canary Islands struck rocks in a storm.
Preston North End
James then went on to link up for £3,000 (£ today) with club Preston North End in 1925. During his time at the Second Division side, The Lilywhites twice seemed certain for promotion to only finish sixth and fourth respectively. He then fell out with the club firstly over his wages which were at the Football League's maximum of £8 a week, and also due to Preston not always releasing him for international duty with Scotland. Altogether James scored 55 goals in 157 appearances with the club.
Arsenal
James left Preston for Herbert Chapman's Arsenal in 1929 for £8,750 (£ today), making his debut against Leeds United on 31 August 1929 two weeks before his 28th birthday. In order to circumvent the maximum wage rules, Arsenal arranged it so that his employment at the club was supplemented by a £250-a-year "sports demonstrator" job at Selfridges, the London department store. James had an unremarkable first season at Arsenal, partly due to the recovery from injuries he had accrued at Preston. However his first season brought the first of what would be six trophies in seven seasons when he played in the 1930 FA Cup Final win against Huddersfield Town, scoring the first in a 2–0 win to give Arsenal their first major trophy.
Over time he settled into his role and became part of the dominant side of English football in 1930s. Playing so deep as a supporting player, he scored relatively few goals for Arsenal – only 27 in 261 appearances – but created many times that number. James's passing and vision supplied the ammunition that Joe Hulme, David Jack, Cliff Bastin, and Jack Lambert all put into the net. James orchestrated Arsenal to their first ever First Division Championship win in 1930–31.
The defending champions started the 1931–32 season badly largely through missing goals from injured Jack Lambert. However, as Lambert returned to goalscoring form Arsenal enjoyed a good run to regain ground on leaders Everton. After their FA Cup semi final win they harboured hopes of a league and cup double; they were now only three points behind Everton with a game in hand. However, only two minutes into the next game at West Ham United, James suffered serious ligament damage. He missed the rest of the league season and without their playmaker, Arsenal won only one more league game and finished second to Everton. They also lost in the 1932 FA Cup Final against Newcastle United. James had been passed fit before injuring himself in a pre-match photo call for the press. Without him, Arsenal lost 2–1, albeit thanks to a highly controversial goal from Newcastle's Jack Allen. He recovered to help Arsenal to a second title in 1932–33; Arsenal scored a club record 118 goals in the League that season.
Another spate of injuries marred James's 1933–34 season. Arsenal retained their title but scored far fewer (75) goals in the process. With James recovered they won a fourth championship, and their third in a row in 1934–35 in style. Ted Drake scored 42 league goals in his first season with the club, many of them supplied by James.