James Blair was born in Glenboig, Lanarkshire on 11th May 1888. A left sided player of some versatility, his long football career would begin in junior football, like so many of his contemporaries. He spent a season at both Bonnybridge Thistle and then Ashfield Juniors, before being signed by Clyde in 1908. He quickly became a key player at the club in the left back position, where future Rangers managerial giant William Struth was the trainer.
This was a Clyde team who were a genuine challenger for the top honours in the country, with players such as ex-Rangers striker Jackie Chalmers, and the first player from the club to represent Scotland in a full international match, team captain William Walker. With Blair a virtual ever present, they finished 3rd in the league championship in 1908/09, one place above Rangers, and were unlucky that season to lose to Celtic in a replayed Scottish Cup semi-final. Blair was an excellent defender, showing great positional awareness as well as firm in the tackle.
The following season saw another top 5 finish in the league, but it was a great run in the Scottish Cup that really attracted attention. On 5th February 1910 a massive 35,000 crowd at Shawfield watched Clyde knock Rangers out the cup by 2-0, and Blair also starred in a magnificent semi-final win over league champions Celtic, when a Jackie Chalmers double helped them on the way to a deserved 3-1 triumph. But it wasn’t to be a cup run that ended in glory, as Blair had to endure a 2-1 loss in a second reply at Ibrox to Dundee.
Before his Clyde career was over, Blair would line up in another Scottish Cup final just 2 years later, this time against Celtic, again at Ibrox. The match was spoiled somewhat by a gale force wind blowing straight down the pitch, and Celtic winning the toss proved crucial as they harnessed the elements in the first half to take a lead they never looked like relinquishing. Blair did win a trophy with Clyde, however, when he lined up in the 1910 Charity Cup final against Third Lanark, a game that they won based on winning more corners after a 1-1 draw.
Blair represented the Scottish League 3 times during his Clyde career, and started well over 150 games for the club. In June 1914, Clyde accepted a large offer of £2,000 for him from Sheffield Wednesday of the English First Division, and Blair headed south.
His career in Yorkshire got off to a very unfortunate start, when just before the first pre-season training session with his new club, Blair was involved in a nasty motorcycle accident that sidelined him for several weeks. Not the best way to impress his new employer! He finally made his debut at left back against Bradford Park Avenue on September 26th 1914, an enjoyable first appearance as Wednesday won 6-0. By now, of course, War had been declared and this would inevitably disrupt Blair’s career at Wednesday. This was to be the final season of English league football before it was suspended for the duration of the conflict, and Blair started 20 times and played his part in a much-improved final league position of 7th. He returned north in 1915, still registered as a Wednesday player, and appeared as a guest for both Clydebank and Alloa Athletic before he joined Rangers on loan for the start of season 1916/17. By this time, both the Scottish Second Division and the Scottish Cup competitions had been suspended, but the top league continued despite the unique wartime circumstances, which included many previously regular players serving their country and countless others now appearing as guests with other clubs. Rangers had finished 2nd behind Celtic in the previous season, and were hopeful of a better challenge this time round.
Jimmy Blair’s Rangers debut came on August 19th 1916 at Ibrox against Dundee before 12,000 spectators, and he enjoyed a solid winning debut by 3-0. He was an automatic choice at left back from that day, starting 35 of the 38 league games played. His first experience of the Old Firm match was less pleasurable, a 3-0 reverse in the Glasgow Cup semi-final in late September, but he helped contribute to a much more dependable defence than the previous season, which was shown by the 2 league games against Celtic both ending 0-0. Blair took on penalty duties during the season, scoring 3 out of 3 from the spot in matches against Motherwell, Hamilton and Dundee. By the time he left Rangers he would score 7 times for the club, all of them from the spot.
Rangers didn’t improve their league placing that season, however, their inconsistency meaning a distant 3rd place finish behind to Celtic. And the extent of the challenge for the following season got made even more obvious when the Charity Cup campaign was ended by the Parkhead side. Despite the lack of silverware and Celtic’s dominance, Jimmy Blair was enjoying life at Ibrox, and had no hesitation in extending his loan spell for another season. But 1917/18 was to be very different from that first season in Royal Blue.
It was now a 34-game season after the number of teams was reduced due to travel difficulties. Blair was to play in 27 of these, a season of drama right to the last day. The first sign Rangers were genuine contenders came in the Glasgow Cup semi-final at Parkhead on September 22nd 1917. Jimmy Blair was left back as Rangers brushed holders Celtic aside by 3-0, with the future legendary names of Tommy Cairns and Sandy Archibald on the scoresheet. The following month, Blair won his first medal as a Rangers player, when Partick Thistle were easily beaten 4-1 in the final.
Blair scored just the once in 1917/18, but it was a vital strike. His calmly taken penalty on January 2nd at home to Partick was the only goal of the game, turning 1 point into 2. Despite only taking 1 point from the Old Firm league encounters, Rangers went into the final day’s fixtures on April 13th 1918 level on points with Celtic. Rangers had a home game against Clyde, who were stuck in second bottom place, while Celtic were also at home, to a Motherwell team sitting in 5th. Two victories would mean a playoff match, as the title was not decided on goal average at this time.
Jimmy Blair was in his regular starting position as goals by Sandy Archibald and Jimmy Bowie finally saw off Clyde in a much tighter match than anticipated, and the Rangers players and management then celebrated as the news filtered through from Parkhead that Motherwell had battled to a 1-1 draw. Rangers were champions for the first time since 1913, and Jimmy Blair had a league medal. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Rangers weren’t as prepared for the next match as they might have been, and they were knocked out the Charity Cup by Partick.
The summer of 1918 was to be the last of the Great War, but it meant one last season of wartime football competition, and Jimmy Blair’s loan from Sheffield Wednesday was again extended. Season 1918/19 was to be another last day thriller in the title race, but with a sadly different ending. It started well for Rangers, who went on an impressive early season run of form. Blair was still a mainstay of the team, and won his second Glasgow Cup medal when Celtic were defeated 2-0 in the final before a huge 65,000 crowd. When they were easily beaten 3-0 at Parkhead in the league not long afterwards, most observers felt the title was certain to stay at Ibrox. But an unexpected period of inconsistency in mid-season was to prove fatal. Three 1-0 defeats between late November and early January to Morton, Partick and Kilmarnock allowed Celtic to overtake the champions, and a draw in the New Year fixture failed to overturn things. Blair scored 2 penalties in a 2-1 win over Airdrie during this shaky spell, and although Rangers found their form again during the title run-in, a point dropped against Ayr United in a 1-1 draw on March 22nd 1918 was to be the final nail in the title coffin. Blair scored a penalty that day, and played in the last 3 matches which were all handsome 4-0 wins, but Celtic also won their last 3 games and reclaimed the title on the final day by a single point.
Blair and Rangers shook off their disappointment admirably in the end of season Charity Cup, defeating Third Lanark and Clyde before a 2-1 win over a Queens Park team featuring Alan Morton in the final. With there being no Scottish Cup competition during his time at the club, this means Blair won each of the 3 main competitions available. His Rangers career now ended in the summer of 1919, as English league football was to be resumed and Sheffield Wednesday recalled their player. Although never an “official” Ranger, Jimmy Blair started 103 times across his 3 seasons on loan. He started in 3 “Victory Internationals” for Scotland in the spring of 1919, showing the impression he had left during his Ibrox career.
This was a Clyde team who were a genuine challenger for the top honours in the country, with players such as ex-Rangers striker Jackie Chalmers, and the first player from the club to represent Scotland in a full international match, team captain William Walker. With Blair a virtual ever present, they finished 3rd in the league championship in 1908/09, one place above Rangers, and were unlucky that season to lose to Celtic in a replayed Scottish Cup semi-final. Blair was an excellent defender, showing great positional awareness as well as firm in the tackle.
The following season saw another top 5 finish in the league, but it was a great run in the Scottish Cup that really attracted attention. On 5th February 1910 a massive 35,000 crowd at Shawfield watched Clyde knock Rangers out the cup by 2-0, and Blair also starred in a magnificent semi-final win over league champions Celtic, when a Jackie Chalmers double helped them on the way to a deserved 3-1 triumph. But it wasn’t to be a cup run that ended in glory, as Blair had to endure a 2-1 loss in a second reply at Ibrox to Dundee.
Before his Clyde career was over, Blair would line up in another Scottish Cup final just 2 years later, this time against Celtic, again at Ibrox. The match was spoiled somewhat by a gale force wind blowing straight down the pitch, and Celtic winning the toss proved crucial as they harnessed the elements in the first half to take a lead they never looked like relinquishing. Blair did win a trophy with Clyde, however, when he lined up in the 1910 Charity Cup final against Third Lanark, a game that they won based on winning more corners after a 1-1 draw.
Blair represented the Scottish League 3 times during his Clyde career, and started well over 150 games for the club. In June 1914, Clyde accepted a large offer of £2,000 for him from Sheffield Wednesday of the English First Division, and Blair headed south.
His career in Yorkshire got off to a very unfortunate start, when just before the first pre-season training session with his new club, Blair was involved in a nasty motorcycle accident that sidelined him for several weeks. Not the best way to impress his new employer! He finally made his debut at left back against Bradford Park Avenue on September 26th 1914, an enjoyable first appearance as Wednesday won 6-0. By now, of course, War had been declared and this would inevitably disrupt Blair’s career at Wednesday. This was to be the final season of English league football before it was suspended for the duration of the conflict, and Blair started 20 times and played his part in a much-improved final league position of 7th. He returned north in 1915, still registered as a Wednesday player, and appeared as a guest for both Clydebank and Alloa Athletic before he joined Rangers on loan for the start of season 1916/17. By this time, both the Scottish Second Division and the Scottish Cup competitions had been suspended, but the top league continued despite the unique wartime circumstances, which included many previously regular players serving their country and countless others now appearing as guests with other clubs. Rangers had finished 2nd behind Celtic in the previous season, and were hopeful of a better challenge this time round.
Jimmy Blair’s Rangers debut came on August 19th 1916 at Ibrox against Dundee before 12,000 spectators, and he enjoyed a solid winning debut by 3-0. He was an automatic choice at left back from that day, starting 35 of the 38 league games played. His first experience of the Old Firm match was less pleasurable, a 3-0 reverse in the Glasgow Cup semi-final in late September, but he helped contribute to a much more dependable defence than the previous season, which was shown by the 2 league games against Celtic both ending 0-0. Blair took on penalty duties during the season, scoring 3 out of 3 from the spot in matches against Motherwell, Hamilton and Dundee. By the time he left Rangers he would score 7 times for the club, all of them from the spot.
Rangers didn’t improve their league placing that season, however, their inconsistency meaning a distant 3rd place finish behind to Celtic. And the extent of the challenge for the following season got made even more obvious when the Charity Cup campaign was ended by the Parkhead side. Despite the lack of silverware and Celtic’s dominance, Jimmy Blair was enjoying life at Ibrox, and had no hesitation in extending his loan spell for another season. But 1917/18 was to be very different from that first season in Royal Blue.
It was now a 34-game season after the number of teams was reduced due to travel difficulties. Blair was to play in 27 of these, a season of drama right to the last day. The first sign Rangers were genuine contenders came in the Glasgow Cup semi-final at Parkhead on September 22nd 1917. Jimmy Blair was left back as Rangers brushed holders Celtic aside by 3-0, with the future legendary names of Tommy Cairns and Sandy Archibald on the scoresheet. The following month, Blair won his first medal as a Rangers player, when Partick Thistle were easily beaten 4-1 in the final.
Blair scored just the once in 1917/18, but it was a vital strike. His calmly taken penalty on January 2nd at home to Partick was the only goal of the game, turning 1 point into 2. Despite only taking 1 point from the Old Firm league encounters, Rangers went into the final day’s fixtures on April 13th 1918 level on points with Celtic. Rangers had a home game against Clyde, who were stuck in second bottom place, while Celtic were also at home, to a Motherwell team sitting in 5th. Two victories would mean a playoff match, as the title was not decided on goal average at this time.
Jimmy Blair was in his regular starting position as goals by Sandy Archibald and Jimmy Bowie finally saw off Clyde in a much tighter match than anticipated, and the Rangers players and management then celebrated as the news filtered through from Parkhead that Motherwell had battled to a 1-1 draw. Rangers were champions for the first time since 1913, and Jimmy Blair had a league medal. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Rangers weren’t as prepared for the next match as they might have been, and they were knocked out the Charity Cup by Partick.
The summer of 1918 was to be the last of the Great War, but it meant one last season of wartime football competition, and Jimmy Blair’s loan from Sheffield Wednesday was again extended. Season 1918/19 was to be another last day thriller in the title race, but with a sadly different ending. It started well for Rangers, who went on an impressive early season run of form. Blair was still a mainstay of the team, and won his second Glasgow Cup medal when Celtic were defeated 2-0 in the final before a huge 65,000 crowd. When they were easily beaten 3-0 at Parkhead in the league not long afterwards, most observers felt the title was certain to stay at Ibrox. But an unexpected period of inconsistency in mid-season was to prove fatal. Three 1-0 defeats between late November and early January to Morton, Partick and Kilmarnock allowed Celtic to overtake the champions, and a draw in the New Year fixture failed to overturn things. Blair scored 2 penalties in a 2-1 win over Airdrie during this shaky spell, and although Rangers found their form again during the title run-in, a point dropped against Ayr United in a 1-1 draw on March 22nd 1918 was to be the final nail in the title coffin. Blair scored a penalty that day, and played in the last 3 matches which were all handsome 4-0 wins, but Celtic also won their last 3 games and reclaimed the title on the final day by a single point.
Blair and Rangers shook off their disappointment admirably in the end of season Charity Cup, defeating Third Lanark and Clyde before a 2-1 win over a Queens Park team featuring Alan Morton in the final. With there being no Scottish Cup competition during his time at the club, this means Blair won each of the 3 main competitions available. His Rangers career now ended in the summer of 1919, as English league football was to be resumed and Sheffield Wednesday recalled their player. Although never an “official” Ranger, Jimmy Blair started 103 times across his 3 seasons on loan. He started in 3 “Victory Internationals” for Scotland in the spring of 1919, showing the impression he had left during his Ibrox career.
