153 James Loughran

Biography

Half back James Loughran hailed from Seaham on the Durham Coast and by 1921 was living in Easington Colliery further down the coast and working as a coal miner, the profession also followed by his father who hailed from County Tyrone in Ireland. He was an experienced player in the lower leagues, playing for Wearside League side Easington Colliery before joining Hull City in the 1922 close season. He made two appearances for the Tigers in three April 1923 days and then played in two September 1923 defeats against Leeds United. Other than those senior appearances, Loughran was a regular for Hull City’s Reserves before being granted a free transfer in April 1924.

In June 1924 Loughran joined Division Three North side Barrow, winning a place in the Cumbrians’ first team in October 1924 against Tranmere Rovers and retaining his shirt for the rest of the season – in April 1925 he scored against Rotherham County, the only senior goal of his career, having move forward from the half back line to the inside right berth. He left Barrow in the 1925 close season having scored one goal in 29 appearances.

In August 1925 Loughran joined Midland League side York City and he was part of the first team for four seasons, captaining the side and scoring twelve goals in 95 appearances. In the 1929 close season York City were elected to the Football League and Loughran, now 32 years of age, joined Midland League side Newark Town in August 1929. He scored three goals in 41 appearances during the 1929/30 season but after one season beside the River Trent James returned to York City in July 1930 for one final season of Football League action, though he added only one senior appearance for the Minstermen in an April 1931 Division Three North clash against Hartlepools United.

In August 1931 James signed for Yorkshire League side Goole Town and by the end of the 1931/32 season he was captaining the side. Staying on for the 1932/33 season, Loughran left the club in the 1933 close season and served Fulford United in the local leagues around York. James remained in York after his footballing days were over and died there in October 1970.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 10 September 1897, Seaham Colliery
Hull City First Game: 7 April 1923, South Shields A (Division Two), 25 years, 209 days old
Hull City Final Game: 29 September 1923, Leeds United A (Division Two), 26 years, 19 days old

Clubs

Easington Colliery, Hull City (1922-1924), Barrow (1924-1925), York City (1925-1929), Newark Town (1929-1930), York City (1930-1931), Goole Town (1931-1933), Fulford United

Hull City Record

Career: 4 apps, 0 goals