Leighton James: Former Wales, Burnley, Swansea and Derby winger dies aged 71
Leighton James, the former Wales winger who played more than 600 games in the Football League, has died at the age of 71.
Capped 54 times by Wales, James played 399 games for Burnley in three spells and spent two years at Derby County.
James also represented Swansea City, Sunderland, Bury and Newport County in a 19-year playing career before turning to management with several clubs.
Burnley and Swansea said they were “saddened” at James’ passing.
Clarets chairman Alan Pace said: “We are sorry to hear the news of Leighton’s passing.
“He left an indelible mark on this football club and stories of his playing skills still echo around Turf Moor.
“Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”
Swansea said James was “widely-regarded as one of the Swans’ finest players”.
The Welsh club added James “was a key figure in the side that secured a first-ever promotion to the top-flight in
1981, scoring a stunning goal in the victory over Preston North End at Deepdale to complete the club’s rise.
“He went on to star the following campaign as John Toshack’s side took the fight to the elite of English football, eventually finishing sixth in the First Division.”
Following the end of his playing career, James continued to be involved in football as a media pundit and was renowned for offering robust opinions.
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Listen: Remembering Leighton James
Born in Loughor, Swansea, on February 16, 1953, James started his professional career with Burnley and made his league debut against Nottingham Forest in November 1970.
First Division winners Derby County spent a club record £300,000 to bring James to the Baseball Ground after he had played for the Clarets for five years, made 180 appearances and scored 45 goals.
After leaving Burnley to join Queens Park Rangers, James had to look for new opportunities once more after the
Clarets were demoted to the third level.
Moving home was alluring, so James joined Swansea City, his hometown team, and helped them go from the third
division to the first during a time when he was playing some of his best football as part of their explosive ascent
under manager John Toshack.
Swansea’s historic victories over Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur helped them go
from the bottom league to the top division in just three years.
James spent his final years with the club in Sunderland, Bury, and Newport County before making a third stint back
at Burnley in 1986 and retiring in 1989.
Before Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale, James was the left winger who would get club and international fans pulses
racing.
His first senior cap for Wales came in a 1-0 loss to Czechoslovakia less than a year after he made his Burnley debut
while still a youngster.
James contributed to some well-known wins for Wales, although he never participated in a big event.
He scored and generally shone in Wales’ 4-1 triumph over England in Wrexham in 1980, which was perhaps his best
international performance. His penalty helped achieve a historic victory over England at Wembley in the British
Home Championships.
James scored 10 times for Wales, making his last appearance in 1983.
After his playing career James went on to manage a number of non-league clubs in England and Wales, the most
high-profile being Accrington Stanley in 1997-1998.
In Wales he has managed Llanelli, Aberaman and Haverfordwest County.
James also became well known in Wales after his playing days for some of his forthright views expressed as a radio pundit and newspaper columnist.
The best example of that occurred in 2006, when Robbie Savage and James got into a heated fight on air about
Savage’s choice to retire from international football.
Prior to having a stroke in 2014, James was employed as a lollipop guy at Swansea’s Penyrheol Primary School.
On Saturday, April 20, Swansea’s players will honour James by wearing black armbands at Huddersfield, and their
under-21 team will do the same when they play Bristol City.
Similarly, Burnley’s players will play Sheffield United in the Premier League.
Read more on https://sportupdates.co.uk/
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