Biography
Pacy centre forward James Nicol had a brief three month spell at City between February and May 1936. He contributed two goals in six appearances during February and March 1936 in a side destined for relegation to Division Three North and was granted a free transfer in the 1936 close season.
James Couttie Nicol was born in Edinburgh and started his career at Leith Athletic where he won a Scottish Division Two champions medal in 1930. He scored six goals for Leith during the 1930/31 season and added 19 goals in the 1931/32 season in a side that was destined for relegation. This form encouraged Division One side Portsmouth to pay £1,700 for his services in May 1932 and Nicol made his debut for the Pompey first team in October 1932 against Bolton Wanderers. He scored his first and only goal for Portsmouth a week later against Liverpool, but made only one further appearance in the remainder of the season. Nicol spent the 1933/34 season on loan at Aldershot where he announced his arrival with a hattrick against Queens Park Rangers in his third start for the Shots. He went on to score eleven goals in 20 starts, missing a big chunk of the season between Christmas Day and late March.
In July 1934 he joined Scottish First Division side St Mirren and a year later he returned to England and joined struggling Midland League side Burton Town. After scoring 20 goals for the Burton first team in half a season, including two against Hull City’s reserves in January 1936, the Tigers claimed his signature in February 1936.
Following his short spell at Anlaby Road, Nicol joined Division Three North side York City in July 1936 but made only 15 starts for the Minstermen, scoring four goals. Dropped to the York City reserves in February 1937 he was granted a free transfer that summer and spent the 1937/38 season at Midland League side Scarborough Town, then headed south to join Southern League side Bath City in July 1938. A regular for the Bath first team, Nicol was employed as steward at Bath Golf Club from April 1939 until he was commissioned by the Royal Air Force in October 1941. He served the RAF in India, playing forces football in the Lahore area. Details about his later life remain unknown, other than he died in 1991.
Details
Nationality: Scotland
Date/Place of Birth: 26 January 1908, Edinburgh
Hull City First Game: 20 February 1936, Bradford City H (Division Two), 28 years, 25 days old
Hull City Final Game: 14 March 1936, Norwich City H (Division Two), 28 years, 48 days old
Clubs
Leith Athletic (1928-1932), Portsmouth (1932-1934), Aldershot (1933-1934, loan), St Mirren (1934-1935), Burton Town (1935-1936), Hull City (1936), York City (1936-1937), Scarborough Town (1937-1938), Bath City (1938-1939)
Hull City Record
Career: 6 apps, 2 goals
John Nicol| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935/36 | 6 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |