Makinson: James (Jim)
1935-1944
(Player Details)
(Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)
Right Half
Born: Aspull, Nr Wigan: 25-01-1913
Debut: v West Bromwich Albion (a): 19-02-1936
5’9” 10st 10lb (1935)
Makinson signed for Leeds from Lancashire Combination club Clitheroe in November 1935. He
quickly established himself in the United team and only missed two League games in the 1937-38
campaign. In the following season the wing half duties were shared between four very capable
players in Makinson, Willis Edwards, Bobby Browne and the returning Wilf Copping. He lost his
best playing days to the Second World War. Makinson was one of the group of players that made
over a hundred wartime appearances for United and formed the backbone of the team. He played
the first Wartime game for United in a 3-0 home win over Bradford City on 26th October 1939
in the Regional League North-East Division and went on to miss just two League and one Cup
game that season. In the 1940-41 North Regional League he was ever-present in both the League
and Cup and scored twice in consecutive games at home to Sheffield Wednesday and at Rochdale.
The 1941-42 Football League Northern Section saw him ever-present in the First Championship
and he missed only three games in the Second Championship before active duty meant he was
unable to play in 1942-43. After he was discharged from the Royal Navy with a shoulder injury
in September 1943 he returned and in the 1943-44 Football League Northern Section he played
ten times in the First Championship and seven times in the SecondChampionship. He had a
special support made for his shoulder and was able to play those games before retiring in
1944. He was in great demand from his own club in those War years, but like many other of his
team-mates he turned out for other teams when called upon. He had one game for Huddersfield
Town in the 1940-41 season, two games for Lincoln City in 1942-43 while he also played for
York City in two games in 1943-44 and another one in 1944-45. He died in 1979, aged 66.