John James (footballer, born 1948): Difference between revisions

John James
	James pictured whilst with Port Vale
Personal information
Full name	John Brian James
Date of birth	24 October 1948
Place of birth	Stone, Staffordshire, England
Date of death	February 2021 (aged 72)
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1964–1966	Port Vale
Senior career*
Years	Team
1966–1973	Port Vale
1973–1975	Chester
1975–1978	Tranmere Rovers
1976	→ Chicago Sting (loan)
	Stafford Rangers
Total
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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John Brian James (24 October 1948 – February 2021) was an English footballer who played as a striker. He played in the English Football League for Port Vale, Chester and Tranmere Rovers, making 381 appearances in the process, and also played in the North American Soccer League for the Chicago Sting. He won promotions out of the Fourth Division with Port Vale, Chester and Tranmere.

Career

Port Vale

James began his career in his native Staffordshire with Port Vale, turning professional in April 1966. He made his senior debut on 12 April 1966, in a 3–0 win over Newport County at Vale Park.^[4] He would help the youth team to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup in 1966–67.^[5] Initially a defender, manager Gordon Lee converted him into a striker.^[5] He became a first-team regular from September 1967 and went on to make more than 200 league appearances for Vale, including 43 in the club's promotion season from the Fourth Division in 1969–70.^[6] His goals were crucial to the club, top scorer in both 1969–70 and 1970–71 with 17 and 15 goals respectively.^[6] He missed much of the 1971–72 campaign due to a cartilage injury requiring two separate operations. After returning to the squad in February 1972, he was much less effective and lost his first-team spot.^[6]

Chester

In February 1973, James moved to Chester for £5,000,^[7] playing his first game alongside fellow home debutant Reg Matthewson in a 5–0 win over Darlington, that saw James amongst the scorers.^[7] The following season saw James net 21 league goals, the highest tally by a Chester player since Gary Talbot in 1968–69,^[8] but his most memorable campaign would follow in 1974–75.^{[citation needed]}

James struck 13 times as Chester won promotion from the Fourth Division, but he was to enjoy national fame thanks to his goalscoring exploits in the League Cup during the same season.^[9] After wins over Walsall, Blackpool and Preston North End, Chester were drawn at home to First Division champions Leeds United. On a momentous night, Chester recorded a shock 3–0 win, with James scoring twice. He followed it up by scoring the winning goal in the quarterfinals against another top-flight side, Newcastle United,^[10] to set up a semi–final tie with Aston Villa. James found the net in the second leg to level the aggregate score at 4–4, only for Brian Little to grab a late Villa winner and break Chester's hearts.^[11]

Tranmere Rovers

Despite his contribution to Chester's success, James played just two first–team games for Chester after promotion. He joined neighbours Tranmere Rovers in part-exchange for Paul Crossley in September 1975.^[12] Once more promotion from the Fourth Division was enjoyed, with James netting 19 times in 38 league games. After a spell playing for Chicago Sting in the North American Soccer League,^[13] he returned to Prenton Park and remained at the club before joining non-League Stafford Rangers in 1978.^[14]

Style of play

Speaking in 2016, a Port Vale supporter who remembered seeing James play compared him to a Duracell battery due to his high stamina levels.^[15] Fans nicknamed him "Jesse" after the famous outlaw Jesse James.^[4]

John James did everything wrong, but he was a great player. He wasn't quick, he couldn't beat people and he couldn't shoot, but he'd hold the ball up all day. He disproved the coaching manual.
— Teammate Roy Sproson described him as an unconventional player.^[16]

Later life

James later moved to Torquay to run a newsagents with his wife.^[17]

He died in February 2021, aged 72, following battles with cancer and Alzheimer's disease, leaving his wife of 53 years, Tricia.^[5]^[4]^[18]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[19]
Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	1965–66	Fourth Division	10	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
	1966–67	Fourth Division	7	0	0	0	1	0	8	0
	1967–68	Fourth Division	41	2	1	0	1	0	43	2
	1968–69	Fourth Division	34	4	4	1	1	0	39	5
	1969–70	Fourth Division	43	14	4	3	1	0	48	17
	1970–71	Third Division	45	15	1	0	1	0	47	15
	1971–72	Third Division	14	1	0	0	0	0	14	1
	1972–73	Third Division	16	3	2	1	2	0	20	4
	Total		210	39	12	5	7	0	229	44
Chester	1972–73	Fourth Division	15	6	0	0	0	0	15	6
	1973–74	Fourth Division	41	21	3	2	1	0	45	23
	1974–75	Fourth Division	41	13	1	0	8	4	50	17
	1975–76	Third Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		98	40	4	2	10	4	112	46
Tranmere Rovers	1975–76	Fourth Division	38	19	1	0	0	0	39	19
	1976–77	Third Division	16	4	2	0	2	3	20	7
	1977–78	Third Division	19	1	2	1	1	0	22	2
	Total		73	24	3	1	3	3	79	28
Chicago Sting (loan)	1976	NASL	9	4	–	–	–	–	9	4
Career total			390	107	19	8	20	7	429	122

Honours

Port Vale

Football League Fourth Division promotion (4th place): 1969–70^[20]

Chester

Football League Fourth Division promotion (4th place): 1974–75

Tranmere Rovers

Football League Fourth Division promotion (4th place): 1975–76

References

^ "John James". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
^ Fielding, Rob (11 February 2021). "John James passes away". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
^ "Portsmouth v Port Vale, 1967". onevalefan.co.uk. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "RIP John James (1948-2021)". Port Vale F.C. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Baggaley, Michael (14 February 2021). "'Lionhearted' - Tributes to Port Vale legend John James". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 151. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
^ ^a ^b Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. p. 85. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. pp. stats section. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. pp. 88–90. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
^ "Chester 1 Newcastle United 0". football-england.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. p. 90. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
^ Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. p. 91. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
^ "Chicago Sting All-Time Player Roster 1975–1994". Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
^ "Tranmere Rovers 1946/47–2006/07". Neil Brown. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
^ Baggaley, Mike (1 April 2016). "Fans recall promotion-winning heroes of 1969/70". The Sentinel. Retrieved 1 April 2016.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 306. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
^ Maul, Rob (13 August 2006). "Caught in Time". London: TimesOnline. Retrieved 19 February 2008.^{[dead link‍]}
^ Baggaley, Michael (15 February 2021). "'One hundred percent' - tributes to Chester FC legend John James". CheshireLive. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
^ John James at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
^ Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.

[1] "John James". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.

[2] Fielding, Rob (11 February 2021). "John James passes away". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2021.

[3] "Portsmouth v Port Vale, 1967". onevalefan.co.uk. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2020.

[rip1-4] "RIP John James (1948-2021)". Port Vale F.C. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.

[lionheart-5] Baggaley, Michael (14 February 2021). "'Lionhearted' - Tributes to Port Vale legend John James". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 14 February 2021.

[kent-6] Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 151. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

[Chas_Sumner_1997_85-7] Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. p. 85. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.

[8] Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. pp. stats section. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.

[9] Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. pp. 88–90. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.

[10] "Chester 1 Newcastle United 0". football-england.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.

[11] Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. p. 90. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.

[12] Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997. Yore Publications. p. 91. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.

[13] "Chicago Sting All-Time Player Roster 1975–1994". Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.

[14] "Tranmere Rovers 1946/47–2006/07". Neil Brown. Retrieved 19 February 2008.

[15] Baggaley, Mike (1 April 2016). "Fans recall promotion-winning heroes of 1969/70". The Sentinel. Retrieved 1 April 2016.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[16] Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 306. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.

[17] Maul, Rob (13 August 2006). "Caught in Time". London: TimesOnline. Retrieved 19 February 2008.^{[dead link‍]}

[18] Baggaley, Michael (15 February 2021). "'One hundred percent' - tributes to Chester FC legend John James". CheshireLive. Retrieved 24 February 2021.

[19] John James at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

[Kent6970-20] Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.

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@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 | name           = John James
 | image          = John James.jpg
-| caption        = John James while in [[Port Vale F.C.]]
+| caption        = James pictured whilst with [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]
 | fullname       = John Brian James<ref>{{Hugman|10043|accessdate=9 March 2017}}</ref>
 | birth_date     = {{birth date|1948|10|24|df=y}}
@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 ==Career==
 ===Port Vale===
-James began his career in his native [[Staffordshire]] with [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]], turning professional in April 1966. He made his senior debut on 12 April 1966, in a 3–0 win over [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]] at [[Vale Park]].<ref name="rip1"/> He would help the youth-team to reach the quarter-finals of the [[FA Youth Cup]] in [[1966–67 FA Youth Cup|1966–67]].<ref name="lionheart">{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title='Lionhearted' - Tributes to Port Vale legend John James |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lionhearted-tributes-port-vale-legend-5002953 |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=14 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Initially a [[Defender (association football)|defender]], [[Manager (association football)|manager]] [[Gordon Lee (footballer)|Gordon Lee]] converted him into a [[Forward (association football)|striker]].<ref name="lionheart"/> He became a first-team regular from September 1967 and went on to make more than 200 league appearances for Vale, including 43 in the club's [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] season from the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] in [[1969–70 Port Vale F.C. season|1969–70]].<ref name="kent">{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Personalities|publisher=Witan Books|page=151|year=1996|isbn=0-9529152-0-0}}</ref> His goals were crucial to the club, [[List of Port Vale F.C. seasons|top scorer]] in both 1969–70 and [[1970–71 Port Vale F.C. season|1970–71]] with 17 and 15 goals respectively.<ref name="kent"/> He missed much of the [[1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season|1971–72]] campaign due to a [[cartilage]] injury requiring two separate operations. After returning to the squad in February 1972 he was much less effective and lost his first team spot.<ref name="kent"/>
+James began his career in his native [[Staffordshire]] with [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]], turning professional in April 1966. He made his senior debut on 12 April 1966, in a 3–0 win over [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]] at [[Vale Park]].<ref name="rip1"/> He would help the [[Youth system|youth team]] to reach the quarter-finals of the [[FA Youth Cup]] in [[1966–67 FA Youth Cup|1966–67]].<ref name="lionheart">{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title='Lionhearted' - Tributes to Port Vale legend John James |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lionhearted-tributes-port-vale-legend-5002953 |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=14 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Initially a [[Defender (association football)|defender]], [[Manager (association football)|manager]] [[Gordon Lee (footballer)|Gordon Lee]] converted him into a [[Forward (association football)|striker]].<ref name="lionheart"/> He became a first-team regular from September 1967 and went on to make more than 200 league appearances for Vale, including 43 in the club's [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] season from the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] in [[1969–70 Port Vale F.C. season|1969–70]].<ref name="kent">{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Personalities|publisher=Witan Books|page=151|year=1996|isbn=0-9529152-0-0}}</ref> His goals were crucial to the club, [[List of Port Vale F.C. seasons|top scorer]] in both 1969–70 and [[1970–71 Port Vale F.C. season|1970–71]] with 17 and 15 goals respectively.<ref name="kent"/> He missed much of the [[1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season|1971–72]] campaign due to a [[cartilage]] injury requiring two separate operations. After returning to the squad in February 1972, he was much less effective and lost his first-team spot.<ref name="kent"/>
 ===Chester===
-In February 1973, James moved to [[Chester City F.C.|Chester]] for £5,000,<ref name="Chas Sumner 1997 85">{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997 | year=1997| pages=85|publisher=Yore Publications|isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref> playing his first game alongside fellow home debutant [[Reg Matthewson]] in a 5–0 win over [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]], that saw James amongst the scorers.<ref name="Chas Sumner 1997 85"/> The following season saw James net 21 league goals, the highest tally by a Chester player since [[Gary Talbot]] in [[1968–69 in English football|1968–69]],<ref>{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997 | year=1997| pages=stats section|publisher=Yore Publications|isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref> but his most memorable campaign would follow in [[1974–75 in English football|1974–75]].{{cn|date=February 2021}}
+In February 1973, James moved to [[Chester City F.C.|Chester]] for £5,000,<ref name="Chas Sumner 1997 85">{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997 | year=1997| pages=85|publisher=Yore Publications|isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref> playing his first game alongside fellow home debutant [[Reg Matthewson]] in a 5–0 win over [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]], that saw James amongst the scorers.<ref name="Chas Sumner 1997 85"/> The following season saw James net 21 league goals, the highest tally by a Chester player since [[Gary Talbot]] in [[1968–69 in English football|1968–69]],<ref>{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997 | year=1997| pages=stats section|publisher=Yore Publications|isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref> but his most memorable campaign would follow in [[1974–75 in English football|1974–75]].{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}
-James struck 13 times as Chester won promotion from the Fourth Division, but he was to enjoy national fame thanks to his goalscoring exploits in the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] during the same season.<ref>{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997 | year=1997| pages=88–90|publisher=Yore Publications|isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref> After wins over [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]], [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] and [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]], Chester were drawn at home to [[Football League First Division|First Division]] champions [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]. On a momentous night, Chester recorded a shock 3–0 win, with James scoring twice. He followed it up by scoring the winning goal in the quarter-finals against another top-flight side, [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]],<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.football-england.com/chester_1_newcastle_0.html |title = Chester 1 Newcastle United 0 |publisher = football-england.com |access-date = 19 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080227031306/http://www.football-england.com/chester_1_newcastle_0.html |archive-date = 27 February 2008 |df = dmy-all
+James struck 13 times as Chester won promotion from the Fourth Division, but he was to enjoy national fame thanks to his goalscoring exploits in the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] during the same season.<ref>{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997 | year=1997| pages=88–90|publisher=Yore Publications|isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref> After wins over [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]], [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] and [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]], Chester were drawn at home to [[Football League First Division|First Division]] champions [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]. On a momentous night, Chester recorded a shock 3–0 win, with James scoring twice. He followed it up by scoring the winning goal in the quarterfinals against another top-flight side, [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]],<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.football-england.com/chester_1_newcastle_0.html |title = Chester 1 Newcastle United 0 |publisher = football-england.com |access-date = 19 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080227031306/http://www.football-england.com/chester_1_newcastle_0.html |archive-date = 27 February 2008 |df = dmy-all
-}}</ref> to set up a semi–final tie with [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. James found the net in the second leg to level the aggregate score at 4–4, only for [[Brian Little (footballer)|Brian Little]] to grab a late Villa winner and break Chester's hearts.<ref>{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997 | year=1997| pages=90|publisher=Yore Publications|isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref>
+}}</ref> to set up a semi–final tie with [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. James found the net in the second leg to level the [[aggregate score|aggregate]] score at 4–4, only for [[Brian Little (footballer)|Brian Little]] to grab a late Villa winner and break Chester's hearts.<ref>{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997 | year=1997| pages=90|publisher=Yore Publications|isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref>
 ===Tranmere Rovers===
-Despite his contribution to Chester's success, James played just two first–team games for Chester after promotion and joined neighbours [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] in part-exchange for [[Paul Crossley (footballer)|Paul Crossley]] in September 1975.<ref>{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997 | year=1997| pages=91|publisher=Yore Publications|isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref> Once more promotion from the Fourth Division was enjoyed, with James netting 19 times in 38 league games. After a spell playing for [[Chicago Sting]] in the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://home.att.net/~nasl/rosters/sting.htm |title= Chicago Sting All-Time Player Roster 1975–1994 |publisher= |access-date= 19 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080914094022/http://home.att.net/~nasl/rosters/sting.htm |archive-date= 14 September 2008 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> he returned to [[Prenton Park]] and remained at the club before joining [[Non-League football|non-League]] [[Stafford Rangers F.C.|Stafford Rangers]] in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/tranmere/tranmere.html|title= Tranmere Rovers 1946/47–2006/07| publisher =Neil Brown| access-date=19 February 2008}}</ref>
+Despite his contribution to Chester's success, James played just two first–team games for Chester after promotion. He joined neighbours [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] in part-exchange for [[Paul Crossley (footballer)|Paul Crossley]] in September 1975.<ref>{{cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885–1997 | year=1997| pages=91|publisher=Yore Publications|isbn=1-874427-52-6}}</ref> Once more promotion from the Fourth Division was enjoyed, with James netting 19 times in 38 league games. After a spell playing for [[Chicago Sting]] in the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://home.att.net/~nasl/rosters/sting.htm |title= Chicago Sting All-Time Player Roster 1975–1994 |publisher= |access-date= 19 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080914094022/http://home.att.net/~nasl/rosters/sting.htm |archive-date= 14 September 2008 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> he returned to [[Prenton Park]] and remained at the club before joining [[Non-League football|non-League]] [[Stafford Rangers F.C.|Stafford Rangers]] in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/tranmere/tranmere.html|title= Tranmere Rovers 1946/47–2006/07| publisher =Neil Brown| access-date=19 February 2008}}</ref>
 ==Style of play==
-Speaking in 2016, a Port Vale supporter who remembered seeing James play compared him to a [[Duracell]] battery due to his high stamina levels.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Fans recall promotion-winning heroes of 1969/70|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Port-Vale-Fans-recall-heroes-1969-70/story-29033430-detail/story.html|access-date=1 April 2016|work=The Sentinel|date=1 April 2016}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Fans nicknamed him "Jesse" after the famous outlaw [[Jesse James]].<ref name="rip1">{{cite news |title=RIP John James (1948-2021) |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2021/february/rip-john-james/ |access-date=12 February 2021 |date=12 February 2021|work=www.port-vale.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref>
+Speaking in 2016, a Port Vale supporter who remembered seeing James play compared him to a [[Duracell]] battery due to his high stamina levels.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Fans recall promotion-winning heroes of 1969/70|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Port-Vale-Fans-recall-heroes-1969-70/story-29033430-detail/story.html|access-date=1 April 2016|work=The Sentinel|date=1 April 2016}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Fans nicknamed him "Jesse" after the famous outlaw [[Jesse James]].<ref name="rip1">{{cite news |title=RIP John James (1948-2021) |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/2021/february/rip-john-james/ |access-date=12 February 2021 |date=12 February 2021|work = Port Vale F.C. |language=en-gb}}</ref>
-{{Quote|"John James did everything wrong, but he was a great player. He wasn't quick, he couldn't beat people and he couldn't shoot, but he'd hold the ball up all day. He disproved the coaching manual."|Teammate [[Roy Sproson]] described him as an unconventional player.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories|publisher=Witan Books|date=December 1991|pages=306|isbn=0-9508981-6-3}}</ref>}}
+{{Blockquote|John James did everything wrong, but he was a great player. He wasn't quick, he couldn't beat people and he couldn't shoot, but he'd hold the ball up all day. He disproved the coaching manual.|Teammate [[Roy Sproson]] described him as an unconventional player.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories|publisher=Witan Books|date=December 1991|pages=306|isbn=0-9508981-6-3}}</ref>}}
 ==Later life==
-James later moved to [[Torquay]] to run a newsagents with his wife.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article607187.ece|title= Caught in Time| publisher =TimesOnline| access-date=19 February 2008 | location=London | first=Rob | last=Maul | date=13 August 2006}}</ref>
+James later moved to [[Torquay]] to run a newsagents with his wife.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article607187.ece|title= Caught in Time| publisher =TimesOnline| access-date=19 February 2008 | location=London | first=Rob | last=Maul | date=13 August 2006}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
 He died in February 2021, aged 72, following battles with [[cancer]] and [[Alzheimer's disease]], leaving his wife of 53 years, Tricia.<ref name="lionheart"/><ref name="rip1"/><ref>{{cite news |last= Baggaley |first= Michael |date= 15 February 2021 |title= 'One hundred percent' - tributes to Chester FC legend John James |url= https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/one-hundred-percent-tributes-chester-19836445 |work= CheshireLive |access-date= 24 February 2021}}</ref>
@@ Line 170: / Line 170: @@
 [[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
 [[Category:Deaths from dementia in England]]
-[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease]]
+[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in England]]
 [[Category:Place of death missing]]