James Horton (footballer, born 1907) explained

James Horton
Fullname:James William George Horton
Birth Date:6 January 1907
Birth Place:Aldershot, England
Death Date:July 1972 (aged 65)
Death Place:Aldershot, England
Position:Forward
Youthclubs1:Royal Engineers
Youthclubs2:Wellington Works
Youthclubs3:Aldershot & District Traction
Years1:1928
Clubs1:Woking
Years2:1928–1930
Clubs2:Aldershot Town
Years3:1930–1934
Clubs3:Millwall
Caps3:49
Goals3:8
Years4:1934–1935
Clubs4:Southampton
Caps4:4
Goals4:1
Years5:1935
Clubs5:Aldershot
Caps5:0
Goals5:0

James William George Horton[1] (6 January 1907 – July 1972) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward for Aldershot, Millwall and Southampton in the 1920s and 1930s.

Football career

Horton was born in Aldershot and qualified as an electrician. After playing for various works teams, he started his football career when he joined Woking of the Isthmian League in October 1928.[2] After scoring five goals on his debut and three in his next match, he was soon offered a contract with Aldershot Town of the Southern League, who he joined in November.[2]

At Aldershot, he scored 27 goals in 26 appearances in 1928–29, following this with 31 league goals in only 21 games in the next season, before joining Millwall, of the Football League Second Division for a fee of £1,000 in January 1930.[3]

At Millwall, Horton was in and out of the side over the next four and a half years, managing only 49 league appearances with eight goals[1] before transferring to fellow Second Division club, Southampton, for a £500 fee in September 1934.[2]

At The Dell, Horton was used as cover and made only four first-team appearances, in three different forward positions, in the 1934–35 season.[4] Horton was considered "a bit of a character" and would change into his playing kit, but only remove his bowler hat at the moment of leaving the dressing room.[2]

After a season with the Saints, Horton returned to Aldershot, but a leg injury forced him to retire from professional football[2] without making a Football League appearance for the club.[1]

Later career

After the Second World War, Horton found employment as the groundsman at Aldershot's Recreation Ground stadium.[2]

Family

Horton's son, Billy, played for Aldershot in the 1960s; James' grandson, Jamie, was on the books of Farnborough Town in the 1990s.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . Tony Brown . 2004 . 1-899468-67-6 . Nottingham . 130.
  2. Book: Holley, Duncan . The Alphabet of the Saints . Chalk, Gary . ACL & Polar Publishing . 1992 . 0-9514862-3-3 . 176–177.
  3. Web site: The 1920s . Aldershot F.C. History . AFC 1926–1992 . 15 October 2012.
  4. Book: Chalk, Gary . Saints – A complete record . Holley, Duncan . Breedon Books . 1987 . 0-907969-22-4 . 93.