Jimmy Paterson

James Alexander Paterson MC (9 May 1891 – 31 August 1959) was a Scottish doctor and footballer who played as an outside left.

For other people named James Paterson, see James Paterson.

Jimmy Paterson
Personal information
Full name James Alexander Paterson
Date of birth 9 May 1891
Place of birth Chelsea, England
Date of death 31 August 1959(1959-08-31) (aged 68)
Place of death Newmilns, Scotland
Height 5 ft 6 1⁄2 in (1.69 m)[1]
Position(s) Outside left
Youth career
Queen's Park
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1910–1916 Rangers 120 (27)
1919–1920 Rangers  36 (11)
1920–1924 Arsenal  69 (0)
1926 Arsenal  1 (1)
Total 226 (39)
National team
1921 Football League XI 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

Born in London but brought up in Glasgow, Paterson was on the books of both Rangers and Queen's Park as an amateur, whilst training as a doctor.[2] He won the Scottish Football League championship with Rangers in 1912–13 and a Glasgow Cup the following season and played regularly until graduating in 1916.[3][2] With World War I in full effect, he joined the London Scottish Regiment and served as a medical officer, winning the Military Cross for his bravery in action in France in 1917.[2][4] After the war ended, Paterson was posted to a Scottish hospital and played one further season with Rangers in 1919–20 (making a surprise but successful return despite being overweight and untrained), winning the championship for a second time.[2][5]

He moved to London to share a medical practice in Clapton with his brother-in-law, John L. Scott, who was also the Arsenal team doctor.[2][6] Paterson was persuaded to sign for Arsenal as an amateur and made his debut on the left wing against Derby County on 30 October 1920. Paterson became a regular fixture in the Arsenal side that season, and even played for the English Football League XI against the Scottish League XI[2] (he had been ineligible to represent Scotland due to his birthplace under the rules of the time).[6] He was out the side in 1921–22, before returning to play over 20 games in both the 1922–23 and 1923–24 seasons.[7] While he was not paid as a professional, some valuable gifts were bestowed on him during his career including a silver tea service from Rangers and a piano from Arsenal.[2]

An anecdote by the Times columnist Brian Glanville recounted how once, when given a bunch of daffodils by a girl in the crowd for one match, Paterson played on the wing with them in his hand for several minutes before finding a place to put them.[6][8]

He retired from football in the summer of 1924 to concentrate on his medical practice, only to make a surprise return to the Arsenal side two years later after being persuaded by Herbert Chapman.[2] Against Newcastle United on 13 February 1926, he scored his only ever league goal, in a 3–0 win,[6] and he then played in three FA Cup ties against Aston Villa (twice, scoring in the replay) and Swansea Town. In all he made 77 appearances for Arsenal, scoring two goals.

Paterson continued to work in medical practice until his retirement in the 1950s.[2] He died of a heart attack in 1959, aged 68.[2]

References
  1. The Vagrant (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Arsenal". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  2. Mitchell, Andy (27 April 2013). "Dr Jimmy Paterson: The good doctor of Rangers and Arsenal". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  3. Rangers player Paterson, James, FitbaStats
  4. Major James Alexander Paterson, Scotland's War
  5. John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. Dr Jimmy Paterson: unravelling a curious tale and pack of lies, The History of Arsenal, 5 June 2014
  7. "Arsenal First Team Line-Ups". The Arsenal History. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  8. Glanville, Brian (7 May 2006). "Future is bright after farewell to Highbury". The Times. London. Retrieved 16 October 2006.
Sources
  • Harris, Jeff (1995). Hogg, Tony (ed.). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
  • Joy, Bernard (1952). Forward Arsenal!. Phoenix House.
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