Jimmy Blair (footballer, born 1888)

For other people named Jimmy Blair, see James Blair.

Jimmy Blair

Personal information
Full name	James Blair
Date of birth	(1888-05-11)11 May 1888
Place of birth	Glenboig, Scotland
Date of death
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
?–?	Bonnybridge Thistle
?–1908	Ashfield
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1908–1914	Clyde	?	(?)
1914–1920	Sheffield Wednesday	57	(0)
1916–1919	→ Rangers (wartime)
1920–1926	Cardiff City	177	(0)
1926–1928	Bournemouth	?	(?)
International career
1911–1912	Scottish League XI	3	(0)
1919	Scotland (wartime)	3	(0)
1920–1924	Scotland	8	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

James "Jimmy" Blair (11 May 1888 – 28 February 1964) was a Scottish international footballer, probably most well known for playing in the 1925 FA Cup Final for Cardiff City.

His sons, Doug and Jimmy, Jr., were also professional footballers.

Career

Blair had played for Scottish amateur sides Bonnybridge Thistle and Ashfield before being signed by Clyde in 1908. He helped the club reach two Scottish Cup Finals, attracting interest from several clubs around Britain. Sheffield Wednesday signed him in 1914 for a fee of £2,000. Unfortunately he struggled to ever make a big impact on the team due to various events. Soon after joining the club he was involved in a motorcycle crash that kept him out of the team for a long period and he had made just twenty appearances following his recovery when the Football League was suspended due to the outbreak of World War I. He returned home to Scotland during the war and Sheffield Wednesday struggled to get him to return to the club after the hostilities had ended as he was not happy with the deal being offered. He did eventually return to play for the club but, following their relegation, he left to join Cardiff City in 1920 for £3,500.

He made his debut in a 4–2 win over Blackpool and went on to establish himself in Cardiff's first team during his six years at Ninian Park. In 1925 Blair was on the losing side in the FA Cup final against Sheffield United following Fred Tunstall's goal. He left the club in 1926 and played for two years at Bournemouth before retirng. He later spent time in a coaching role at Cardiff before moving into the licensing trade.

During the early 1920s Blair became a regular for Scotland and won a total of eight caps, captaining the side on three occasions, making his first appearance on 13 March 1920 against Ireland and his final appearance on 16 February 1924 against Wales.

Honours

Cardiff City

• FA Cup finalist – 1925

References

• London Hearts profile