James Todd (19 March 1921 – 21 December 2007) was a footballer from Northern Ireland who played for Port Vale between 1946 and 1953. A half-back, he was "a real terrier type who used to fight for the ball all the time".[3]

Jimmy Todd
Personal information
Full name James Todd[1]
Date of birth (1921-03-19)19 March 1921[1]
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland[1]
Date of death 21 December 2007(2007-12-21) (aged 86)
Place of death Stoke-on-Trent, England
Height 5 ft 6+12 in (1.69 m)[2]
Position(s) Half-back
Youth career
Ards
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1944–1946 Blackpool 0 (0)
1946–1953 Port Vale 146 (0)
Wellington Town
Stafford Rangers
Total 146+ (0+)
International career
1946–1947 Ireland (Victory) 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Todd began his playing career with Ards, before playing for the Royal Air Force and then Blackpool, before moving to Port Vale for a then-club-record four-figure fee in October 1946, on the recommendation of Stanley Matthews.[1] He made 31 appearances in the Third Division South in 1946–47, 24 appearances in 1947–48, and 11 appearances in 1948–49.[1] Having slipped out of the first-team picture at The Old Recreation Ground, he returned to play 41 games in 1949–50.[1] However, he played only eight games in 1950–51, becoming a fringe player at newly constructed Vale Park.[1] In the summer, manager Gordon Hodgson died, and following Ivor Powell's brief tenure, Freddie Steele took charge of the club in November.[1] Todd played 25 times in 1951–52, and then made 11 league appearances in 1952–53, as Vale finished as runners-up in the Third Division North.[1] Having played 146 league and eleven FA Cup games for the "Valiants", he was given a free transfer to Cheshire County League side Wellington Town in May 1953.[1] Todd later played for Stafford Rangers.[1]

Career statistics

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Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackpool 1945–46 0 0 4 0 4 0
Port Vale 1946–47 Third Division South 30 0 5 0 35 0
1947–48 Third Division South 24 0 0 0 24 0
1948–49 Third Division South 11 0 0 0 11 0
1949–50 Third Division South 37 0 4 0 41 0
1950–51 Third Division South 8 0 0 0 8 0
1951–52 Third Division South 24 0 1 0 25 0
1952–53 Third Division North 11 0 1 0 12 0
Total 145 0 15 0 160 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 291. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0. ASIN 0952915200.
  2. ^ "Port Vale v Brighton, 1949". onevalefan.co.uk. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Jim Todd". nifootball.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  4. ^ Jimmy Todd at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)