After huge success with the world’s best football players including Pele and George Best, the Welsh wing wizard Leighton James soon signed with Stylo Matchmakers and from 1970 he showcased some great form with Burnley FC. James started his career as a left-winger with Burnley, making his league debut in November 1970 against Nottingham Forest in the under 18’s squad. In 1971, he won his first international cap against Czechoslovakia. Altogether, he played 54 times for Wales and scored 10 goals.
In 1975, he signed for Derby County for a then club-record fee of £317,000 and in 1977 joined Queens Park Rangers in exchange for Don Masson. He made his QPR debut against WBA in October 1977 and went on to play 28 league games, scoring 4 goals.
In 1978, Leighton James returned to play with Burnley but left when they were relegated to the third division and signed for Swansea City, helping them from the third division to the first. He had spells with Sunderland, Bury and Newport County before in 1986 he returned to Burnley for a third spell, as youth team manager and occasional player. It’s no secret that every Burnley FC fan should know the name..
