James Harrower

Infobox Football biography
playername = James Harrower


fullname =
dateofbirth = August 18, 1935
cityofbirth = Alva, Clackmannanshire
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath = 2006
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height =
nickname =
position = Inside-Forward
youthyears =
youthclubs = Sauchie
Kilsyth Rangers
Bo'ness United
years = 1954-58 1958-61 1961-62 1962-63 1963-65 1965-66
clubs = Hibernian Liverpool Newcastle United Falkirk St. Johnstone Albion Rovers
caps(goals) = 36 (11) 96 (21) 05 0(0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam = Scotland Under-23
nationalcaps(goals) = 1

James 'Jimmy' Harrower (born 18 August 1935, died 2006) is a Scottish ex-professional footballer. Born in Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, Harrower played for Sauchie FC Bo'ness United and Hibernian, before Liverpool manager Phil Taylor signed him for £11,000.

He made his Liverpool debut on 11 January 1958 in a 2nd Division match at Anfield, Fulham were the visitors as Liverpool took the points with a 2-1 victory. The attacking midfielder scored his first goal on 28 March '58 as Liverpool left it late, after scoring early through Jimmy Melia in 5th minute, in beating Ipswich Town 3-1 with Harrower scoring in the 86th minute and Alan A'Court netting a minute later.

Harrower was a player with a knack of pulling off amazing trickery with the ball, but like so many players with this ability he lacked the consistency required to play at the highest level; in fact he used to irritate the Anfield crowd who knew what he could do but never saw enough of it. His best season at Liverpool was his first full season 1958/59: he missed just 5 matches and scored 6 goals.

Unfortunately for James, the manager who signed him, Taylor, left the club at the end of the campaign and his replacement Bill Shankly decided that change was needed. James was vying for the inside-left position with Jimmy Melia but midway through the campaign Shankly decided that Melia was the man for the job. Melia kept the position the following season and the future looked bleak for Harrower in a red shirt; in the March of 1961 he was on his way moving to Newcastle United.

He spent a year on Tyneside playing just 6 games, he then moved back to Scotland joining Falkirk, he also played for St. Johnstone, Albion Rovers and Alloa Athletic. He also represented Scotland at Under-23 level.

After retiring James went back the job he learnt as a trade, plastering, he also enjoyed a round of Golf, he played in the occasional game where, although he lacked the fitness, he'd show the youngsters a trick or two and the thunderous shot he possessed.

References

*cite book| last=Jeffrey | first=Jim | title=The Men Who Made Hibernian F.C. since 1946 | publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd | year=2005 | isbn=0-7524-3091-2

External links

* [http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=313 Player profile at LFChistory.net]
* [http://www.alloaadvertiser.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=995&format=html Obituary at the Alloaadvertiser.com]