James Southworth

James Southworth (15 November 1864 – 18 August 1940) was a footballer who played as a defender in the early days of professional football for Blackburn Rovers. He was the brother of famous England international Jack Southworth.

Playing career Southworth was born in Blackburn to Robert and Martha Southworth.

In 1883, aged 19 James Southworth signed for one of the clubs that eventually formed Blackburn Olympic. A club called Silver Star F.C. The following year, 1884, he became a player for Blackburn Olympic F.C. There is conflicting information from sources as to when he joined Chester. Some sources state 1885 and others 1886.

He played alongside his younger brother Jack Southworth for most of the early part of his career, joining him at Chester and Blackburn Olympic. At Chester he missed the 1885 Boxing Day fixture (a friendly against Chirk) as he was appearing in pantomime. In his role as a conductor, at the Royalty Theatre in Chester, he would have to be back in the city after away matches in time for 7.30pm performances, affecting the number of appearances he made for the club. On the field, an early squad summary by the Chester Chronicle said he was captain and a "dashing and safe back".

He missed most of the 1889-90 league season but was selected for the FA Cup final against Sheffield Wednesday (from the Football Alliance) at The Oval on 29 March 1890. Rovers were the favourites to win in view both of their record of three victories in the previous six seasons and their superior league placing. Blackburn fielded a team consisting of nine England or Scotland internationals. Rovers lived up to expectations as they comfortably won the Cup defeating their Yorkshire opponents 6–1 with goals by Billy Townley (3), Nat Walton, Jack Southworth and Joe Lofthouse.

As Philip Gibbons wrote in his book Association Football in Victorian England: "The Blackburn side had given one of the finest exhibitions of attacking football in an FA Cup Final, with England internationals, Walton, Townley, Lofthouse and John Southworth at the peak of their form."

The F.A. Cup final was James Southworth's final appearance for Rovers. He made 21 league and 6 cup appearances.

Southworth stayed a professional musician, working in music halls. He emigrated to Australia, where he died in 1940.

Honours Blackburn Rovers FA Cup winner: 1890