Personal
Fullname: James Price
aka: Jimmy Price
Born: 24 April 1896
Died: […]
Birthplace: Annbank
Signed: 10 October 1918
Left: 29 June 1921
Position: Half-back
Debut: Kilmarnock 1-1 Celtic, League 12 Oct 1918
Internationals: none
Biog
Annbank born James Price signed for Celtic in 1918 from Ayrshire side Cumnock Juniors. He was the nephew of Hugh Watson.
“A stylish and effective player… has height, reach and cleverness in offence and defence… the successor to Sunny Jim”.
(from An Alphabet of the Celts by McBride et al)
The half-back made his debut in a 1-1 league draw at Kilmarnock on 12th October. Notably, he played under a pseudonym for this match as a trialist. David Syme in goal was also a debutant on this day (his son & grandson went on to become top level referees in Scotland). Willie Brown also debuted in this same game, but not one of the three went on to have a long career with Celtic.
Used mostly for cover when more established names were injured Price was an able deputy who was a strong and effective player with a good footballing brain.
He was an ever available stand-in right through to 22 March 1919. Reports put his best most notable performance to have been in the 2-1 win over Partick Thistle (on 22 February 1919).
Sadly, first team chances were few and far between and after a loan spell at Airdrie he eventually left Parkhead on a permanent basis. However, he had helped Celtic to regain the league title from Rangers for season 1918/19, with Celtic having won by just the 1pt in the league race, so his contribution was very worthy as Celtic never lost a game he played in that season.
He had to wait until season 1920/21 to get another chance, when he played in two more league games, but sadly went on to suffer his only defeat in the hoops in his final match, a 2-1 defeat to Clyde on 20 November 1920.
He played eight first team games in the league for the Hoops.
He moved on to Airdrie but didn’t spend long there, moving then on to play for Nelson (January 1922), Ashington (summer 1922) and then to North Shields in 1929 where he appears to have ended his playing days. Appears to have settled best at Ashington, serving them for seven years.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1918-21 | 8 | 0 | n/a | n/a | 8 |
| Goals: | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 |