Biography

Outside right James McAinsh had just turned twenty years of age when he signed for Hull City in December 1933, having been plucked two weeks earlier from Scottish junior side Clackmannan, the town in West Lothian where he was born and raised, and handed a professional contract. The Tigers were drifting in mid-table towards the end of Haydn Green’s tenure as Hull City manager and McAinsh was one of several signings designed to kickstart an upturn in form. James started six consecutive games over the festive period that yielded only one defeat, but after an ankle injury and a dip in form he was unable to maintain his first team shirt and Nottinghamshire wideman Cliff Hubbard was restored to that position in the New Year. McAinsh made one further appearance in February 1934 and was unused by new manager Jack Hill when he took over in April 1934.
McAinsh was handed a free transfer by City in May 1934, in June 1934 he joined Division Three North side Gateshead. He scored on his debut against Chester in August 1934 and stayed around the first team for much of the 1934/35 season playing in both the inside and outside right positions. James missed the first four months of the 1935/36 season, in December 1935 he scored on his return to the Gateshead first team against Lincoln and held his place for most of the rest of the season. He left Gateshead in the 1936 close season having scored six times in 46 senior appearances.
In the summer of 1936 James returned to Scotland and played for Winchburgh Juniors, based west of Edinburgh, for three years. In July 1939 he signed for another Scottish junior side Lochgelly Violet but that transfer was cut short by the outbreak of World War Two. He remained in Scotland after the war and died in Alloa in August 1978.
Details
Nationality: Scotland
Date/Place of Birth: 13 October 1913, Clackmannan
Hull City First Game: 16 December 1933, Oldham Athletic H (Division Two), 20 years, 64 days old
Hull City Final Game: 17 February 1934, Fulham H (Division Two), 20 years, 127 days old
Clubs
Clackmannan, Hull City (1933-1934), Gateshead (1934-1936), Winchburgh Juniors (1936-1939), Lochgelly Violet (1939)
Hull City Record
Career: 7 apps, 0 goals
James McAinshSeason | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1933/34 | 7 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |