Gemmell: James (Jimmy)

1907-1910 (Leeds City Player Details)

Inside Forward

Born: Glasgow: 17-11-1880

Debut: v Oldham Athletic (a): 30-11-1907

5’9” 12st 7lb (1907)

Gemmell started his career with Duntochter Hibernian before joining Clyde in August 1900. He was spotted by First Division Sunderland and was signed by them in November 1900. He was a class act and soon made the Sunderland first team. He soon became a firm crowd favourite and helped the Rokerites win the Football League Championship in 1902, topping the goal-scorers with ten goals in thirty-one games. He spent seven highly successful seasons at Roker Park scoring forty-three goals in one hundred and seventy-six League games. He joined Stoke in May 1907 but had scored twice in eleven League appearances in the season that the Potters resigned from the Football League due to financial problems. He used the excuse of family problems and joined Leeds City in November 1907. He went straight into the first team and remained a regular fixture in the City team, unless injured, until he left to rejoin Sunderland in May 1910. He scored three goals in thirty-six League appearances in his second spell at Roker Park, making a total of forty-six goals in two hundred and twenty-seven games in all competitions. That record was good enough to place him at No. 34 in the list of all-time Sunderland greats. Gemmell was renowned as a quality finisher and his Leeds record included a hat-trick at Elland Road against Wolverhampton Wanderers in December 1908 and a couple of braces. He left Roker and returned to Scotland with Third Lanark in April 1912 and finished his career as Player-Manager of West Stanley, who he joined in July 1913.