McGraw: James

WW2 Guest: 1939-1946 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Inside Left

Born: Unknown: Unknown

Debut: v Bradford City (h): 28-10-1939

Height & Weight: Unknown

Little is known about James McGraw, but he had been signed from Scottish club Benburb in May 1938 and was on the Leeds United Ground-staff during the War Years. He scored eight goals in eighty-six games in the League and played another two games in the War Cup for Leeds United during the War Years as he became one of the more regular players used by the club. He played his first game in the first game of the War Years at Inside Left in the 3-0 win over Bradford City at Elland Road on 28th October 1939 in the Regional League North-East Division. He scored his first goal in the second game at Hull City in a 3-0 win and repeated the feat in the following gam at the Feethams in a 3-1 win over Darlington. He was also on target in a 5-2 win over Bradford Park Avenue at Elland Road and finished the campaign with three goals from twelve games and one game in the War Cup. In the 1940-41 North Regional League he showed his versatility by playing twice at Inside Right, once at Centre Forward, Left Back and Right Half as well as scoring twice in the four games at Inside Left in the nine games he played in the League as well as one game at Inside Right in the War Cup. The 1941-42 Football League Northern Section (First Championship) saw him play once at Left Back and score once in the other game he played at Inside Left before scoring once in four games at Inside Left and two games at Left Back and once in each of Right Back and Outside Left spots in the Second Championship. He was pressed into service at full back in the 1942-43 Football League Northern Section (First Championship), playing seven times on the left and twice on the right, while in the Second Championship he was at Left Back in nine games and at Inside Left in one. The 1943-44 Football League Northern Section (First Championship) saw him three times at Right Back, three times at Left Back and once at Left Half and Inside Right in the nine games he played, while he played six times at Left Back, twice at Right Back and once at Inside Left in his nine games in the Second Championship. He again split his duties between the two Full Back berths in the 1944-45 Football League Northern Section (First Championship), playing six on the left and two on the right, and had four more games at Left Back and one at Right Half in the Second Championship. In the final season of the Wartime Leagues he played five games at Left Back in the 1945-46 Football League Northern Section and in his final game on 16th March 1946 he scored in a 4-9 defeat at Bradford Park Avenue. He also played with Bradford City and Huddersfield Town in the War Years. With the Bantams he played once in the 1939-40 season, scored twice in six games in 1940-41, scored once in two games in 1941-42 and made eight appearances in 1944-45 without scoring. He played just one game with Town, without scoring in 1940-41. It is not thought that McGraw played professionally in the Football League.