James Moles

James Moles
Personal information
Full name James Moles
Date of birth 1884
Place of birth Tottenham, England
Date of death 7 November 1915 (aged 30–31)
Place of death Lillers, France
Position Left half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Asplin Rovers
1900–1902 Tottenham Hotspur 4 (0)
–1909 Leyton
1909–1911 Birmingham 33 (0)
Leyton
Edmonton
Rotherham Town
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

James Moles (1884 – 7 November 1915) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham as a left half. His style of play was described as "aggressive".

Career

Moles played for Southern League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton, before joining Second Division club Birmingham in 1909, as cover for Frank Buckley. He made his debut in a 2–2 home draw with Glossop on 13 September 1909, replacing Buckley as the team's centre half. In the second half of the 1909–10 season, he played regularly in his preferred position of left half. Moles' aggressive style cost him his place and he returned to London local football in 1911.

Personal life

Moles gave a false age when he attested in the Militia in February 1900 and was discharged after 48 days. Moles served as a lance corporal in the Middlesex Regiment during the First World War and died of wounds at No. 9 Casualty Clearing Station, Lillers on 7 November 1915. He was buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Birmingham 1909–10 Second Division 27 0 0 0 27 0
1910–11 6 0 0 0 6 0
Career total 3 0 0 0 33 0

References

  1. 1 2 Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 207. ISBN 978-1905891610.
  2. 1 2 3 "Casualty Details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "Tributes planned for Saturday's fixture". www.themillers.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  4. ↑ Lockley, Mike (29 March 2018). "The brave Midland football stars who fought and died in WWI". birminghammail. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  5. 1 2 Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  6. 1 2 Matthews, p. 156.
  7. 1 2 "James Moles | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  8. 1 2 Matthews, p. 264-267.