James Stanton (18 November 1860 – August 1932) was an English

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

who played at full back or

wing half In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. ...

. He was born in

West Bromwich West Bromwich ( ), commonly known as West Brom, is a market town in the borough of Sandwell, in the county of the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Historic counties of England, Historically part of Staffordshire, it is northwes ...

and attended Christ Church School, before working at the local George Salter's Spring Works. He joined the factory's football team, the West Bromwich Strollers, in 1878 and played in the club's first match (vs. Hudson's) in November of that year. Stanton continued to play for the club after their change of name to

West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion Football Club (), commonly known as West Brom or The Albion, is a professional association football club based in West Bromwich, West Midlands, England. They compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the Englis ...

in 1879. In 1883 he played in Albion's first

FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout association football, football competition in domestic Football in England, English football. First played during ...

match, against

Wednesbury Old Athletic Wednesbury Old Athletic, often referred to as W.O.A.C., was an English association football club based in Wednesbury, West Midlands (Staffordshire at the time). There were three clubs that had this name. Original club The first began life as ...

.Matthews (2005) p. 221. West Bromwich Albion held a

testimonial match A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, particularly in association football in the United Kingdom and South America, where a club has a match to honour a player for servic ...

for Stanton on 16 May 1885; the team lost 1–2 to a district XI.Matthews (1987) pp. 210 He then moved to Newton Heath L&YR, where he made three competitive appearances (all in the Manchester & District Challenge Cup) as well as appearing in 10 friendlies. After playing for Crosswell's Brewery (1886–1887), Stanton finished his playing career at Oldbury Town (1887–1892). He died at sea in August 1932.

References

;Citations ;Sources * * 1860 births 1932 deaths Footballers from West Bromwich English men's footballers Men's association football fullbacks Men's association football wing halves West Bromwich Albion F.C. players Manchester United F.C. players Crosswell's Brewery F.C. players Oldbury Town F.C. players {{England-footy-midfielder-1860s-stub