James Goldthorpe
James, who was born on October 1st 1867, was the second of the brothers, but the first to play for Hunslet, making a guest appearance in the 1885-86 season. Whilst at college he had a soccer trial with Preston North End and played in the local league for Hunslet Welsleyans and as well as playing rugby for Leeds Parish Church and Hunslet. He is best remembered as an authority on the game of rugby league and as one of the quickest members of the Hunslet threequarters in the early days of the club.
In the 1892 Yorkshire Cup Final when Hunslet defeated Leeds by 21 points to 0, at Huddersfield, James or Jimmie as he was know scored two tries. One a memorable length of the field effort after having collected the ball under his own posts.
James scored a drop goal whilst playing for the Yorkshire Probables in the 1889 - 90 season and was selected as travelling reserve although he never played for the county.
After having made over 150 appearances for Hunslet his playing career was brought to a premature close because of an injury sustained in a match at Heckmondwike, following a tackle from Dicky Lockwood. James went on to become secretary of the Hunslet club where he had much to do with the building of the four cups side.
It was in 1907 that James was appointed company secretary of the Leeds Cricket, Football and Athletic club. Here he played a leading part in negotiations to bring many famous players to the club, notably ' Dinny' Campbell the Australian, Willie Davies the Welsh International centre, Jim Bacon from Cross Keys and W E Bowen another Welsh international. One of the tasks he set himself was to compile the records of the club from its formation in 1890. These were published in booklet form in 1911. He combined his duties as secretary with his profession of teaching until autumn 1922 when he resigned to enable him to work for a business in the city.
For many years James wrote a weekly article in the Sports Echo and he continued to be a regular spectator at Headingley where he was usually seen with his notebook, in which he kept a record of all events. All his notes were carefully and neatly written up in books he kept at his home 21 Buckingham Road, Headingley, where he lived with his wife Harriet, son Cyril and daughter May. Cyril was later to marry Lillian who was a member of the Ivy Benson all girl band, one of the top groups of that era.
James's death, on the 8th of January 1942, removed one of the keenest enthusiasts from the game and left an empty seat just to the left of the press box at Headingley.
