5'10"
b. Hawks Lane,Bury 27 May 1882
d. Heywood 25 August 1945
 

Debut  27 September 1902 (20y 123d) Final Game 26 December 1902 (20y 213d)
CAREER: Hawks Lane St Mary's ‘99;Turton;Blackburn Rovers Mar'02;Nelson Sep’03;Turton Sep'04;Darwen Jan'06;Turton Sum'09.
 

FL    11 apps
LC     1 app
 

When George Derbyshire, a bleachworks’ employee, got married he moved in with his in laws, the Davenports, in Tottington Lower End. He subsequently moved his family to nearby Hawkshaw and James followed his father into the bleachworks. His first team played in the Bury and District Sunday School League and was contemplating giving up football when Turton signed him. He was spotted by the Rovers but his signing was delayed so that he could play for Turton in the Lancashire Junior Cup final. Intended for development in the reserves he received opportunity because of injury to Riley and Eastham but failed to take his opportunity and ended back in Turton. He was essentially a left back, although Nelson occasionally used him on the right, his main attributes being fearless tackling and the ability to kick huge distances. It was said “Though on the large side he possesses a speed that enables him to hold his own with a really fast man.”