Jim Harley

Jim Harley (21 February 1917 – 7 September 1989) was a Scottish footballer, who played for Liverpool.[1]

Jim Harley
Personal information
Full name James Harley
Date of birth (1917-02-21)21 February 1917
Place of birth Methil, Fife, Scotland
Date of death 9 July 1989(1989-07-09) (aged 72)
Place of death Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
Position(s) Full-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1932–34 Hearts o' Beath
1934–49 Liverpool 131 (0)
National team
1945 Scotland (wartime) 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and playing career

Born in Methil, Fife, Harley played for Hearts O' Beath before George Patterson brought him to Liverpool in April 1934. His debut came 28 September 1935 in a 1st Division match at Anfield against West Bromwich Albion. Liverpool won the match 5 goals to 0, Harley did not score.

Harley never really established himself at first but he stayed loyal to the club and got his chance during the 1937/38 missing 10 of the 47 fixtures, he was even swapped over to the left-back berth when Liverpool brought Tom Cooper into the starting line-up.

Harley carried on in much the same way with 27 appearances in 45 matches, yet again he started the 3 opening games of the 1939/40 and probably would have carried on playing in either of the full-back roles if it were not for the outbreak of the Second World War curtailing the careers of Harley and his peers.

After the 6-year break Harley returned to Merseyside and played in 17 games of the first post-war championship winning side, a side that contained the likes of Jack Balmer, Bill Jones, Berry Nieuwenhuys, Albert Stubbins, Billy Liddell and Bob Paisley.

The 1947/48 season saw Jim put together 21 starts for Liverpool but this to be his last season for the club. Harley was now in his 30s and was no longer seen as a part of the future of Liverpool, his contract expired in 1948.

Harley never got the call for Scotland but he did represent them in two wartime internationals, which are not regarded as 'official' fixtures.[2]

Career details
  • Liverpool (1934–1948)- 134 appearances[3] - Football League (level 1) championship winners medal (1947)

References
  1. "Jim Harley". Barry Hugman's Footballers.
  2. "James Harley". www.londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  3. Harley's career was interrupted for 6 seasons due to World War II.
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