Career
James was born in Oldbury. He joined West Bromwich Albion in January 1920 and remained with the club for nine years. In May 1929 he moved to Reading for a fee of £650, then in February 1930 he made a £300 move to Watford.
James retired from football in May 1933, later becoming a public licensee in West Bromwich, where he died in 1976.