| James Hunter | |
| Fullname: | James Aiton Hunter[1] |
| Height: | 5ft 8in |
| Birth Date: | 5 July 1898 |
| Birth Place: | Balfron, Scotland |
| Death Place: | Campbeltown, Scotland |
| Years1: | 1919 |
| Clubs1: | Newcastle United |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 1919 |
| Caps2: | 3 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1919–1924 |
| Caps3: | 136 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 1924–1925 |
| Clubs4: | Newcastle United |
| Caps4: | 10 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 1925–1930 |
| Clubs5: | New Bedford Whalers |
| Caps5: | 170 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | – |
| Totalcaps: | 319 |
| Totalgoals: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1923 |
| Nationalteam1: | Scottish League XI |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
James Aiton Hunter, also known as James Semple (5 July 1898 – 1982) was a Scottish footballer who played as a left back.
His first senior club at the end of World War I was Newcastle United, but before playing a first-team match he then signed for Motherwell while still registered as a Newcastle player; however it was decided that the transfer was acceptable with no fee due.[2] [3] Hunter soon moved on to Falkirk at the end of 1919, spending the next four years with the Bairns[4] and being selected twice for the Scottish Football League XI in 1923.[5]
In January 1924 he returned to Newcastle for a free of £3,500[3] with the club anticipating the need to replace defender Frank Hudspeth who was then 33, but the veteran played on for several more years.[2] Hunter served as back-up until 1925, with a high asking price deterring clubs in Britain; instead he moved away to play in the American Soccer League with New Bedford Whalers,[3] [6] [7] where he played until 1930.[8]