James Low (footballer, born 1894)

James Low (9 March 1894 – 5 March 1960) was a Scottish footballer who played as an outside right (winger).

For the Scottish international (1887) who played for St Bernard's, see James Lowe (footballer). For the Scottish international (1891) who played for Cambuslang, see James Low (Scottish footballer).

James Low
Personal information
Full name James Low
Date of birth (1894-03-09)9 March 1894[1]
Place of birth Kilbirnie, Scotland
Date of death 5 March 1960(1960-03-05) (aged 65)[2]
Place of death Elgin, Scotland
Height 5 ft 6 1⁄2 in (1.69 m)[3]
Position(s) Outside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Elgin City
–1912 Edinburgh University
1912–1919 Hearts 95 (22)
1920 Elgin City
1920–1921 Rangers 4 (0)
1921–1928 Newcastle United 108 (8)
National team
1914 Scottish League XI 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early life

Low was born in Ayrshire and raised in Elgin.

Early playing career

He began his career at local club Elgin City where he garnered the nicknames, 'Jamie'[2] or 'Jimmy',[4] then moved south to study agriculture at the University of Edinburgh, where he was playing for their football team when scouted by Heart of Midlothian.[2]

Low broke into the strong Hearts first team as a teenager and also represented the Scottish League twice in 1914.[5]

First world war service

In November 1914 he was one of the contingent from the club who enlisted to fight in World War One in McCrae's Battalion.[2] Due to his university education he was coveted by specialist units, and became a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders. In 1917 he was wounded in action, sustaining a head injury.[1] At the end of the war he returned to Hearts.

Later playing career

Low in total played in a dozen matches,[6] until his war injury affected his play and he was released on a free transfer.[1]

Low returned home to play for Elgin City, however his condition improved and in March 1920 he was signed by Rangers following a successful trial.[1] He was backup to the established Sandy Archibald at Ibrox Park and featured in only a handful of matches [7] before transferring to Newcastle United in October 1921.

Low remained at Newcastle for seven years and played regularly, making 123 league and cup appearances.[8] He was an FA Cup winner with the Magpies in 1924.

After retiring in 1930 he returned to Elgin to run his family business manufacturing fishing nets.[2] He died in 1960, days before his 66th birthday.[1]

References
  1. Purdie, Tom (2014). Hearts: The Supreme Sacrifice to Hearts at War. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 9781445633343.
  2. Alexander, Jack (2004). McCrae's Battalion: The Story of the 16th Royal Scots. Mainstream Publishing/Random House. ISBN 9781845968212.
  3. Tynesider (21 August 1922). "Few big transfers in the First Division of the Football League. Newcastle United". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  4. "Heart of Midlothian & the Great War". Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  5. "Scottish League player James Low". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  6. "Hearts player James Low". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  7. "Rangers player James Low". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  8. "Newcastle player James Low". Toon1892.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
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