James Cleghorn
James Cleghorn
A. Player

born in Scotland

James Cleghorn was born on Saturday, 11th March, 1876, in Peebles, Tweeddale.

The goalkeeper appeared as a guest for Thistle in April, 1899, whilst a Peebles Rovers player.

Aged 22, he made his only known appearance on Monday, 3rd April, 1899, in a 2-0 friendly defeat at home to Hibernian.

His club-list included Peebles Rovers and Partick Thistle.

James died on Saturday, 23rd August, 1952, in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, aged 76.

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Bio Extra

The son of Robert Cleghorn (general labourer) and Mary Cleghorn (née Hunter). In the 1881 census, the family all lived in Peebles and 5-year-old James was the second youngest of 8 siblings; Ellen (22), Sarah (15), Robert (13), Christina (11), Iasabella (9), George (7) and William (8 months).

The Cleghorn brothers (James, goalkeeper & George, right back) both played their one and only game for Thistle on the same day. The occasion, on Monday 3rd April 1899, was billed as a "Grand Holiday Match", Hibernians the opponents at Meadowside. The match kicked-off at 1.30pm and a 3.05pm special train was laid on, departing from the adjacent Partick West station, bound for Parkhead, where Celtic were set to entertain Third Lanark. A goal in each half sealed the win for the Edinburgh side, with James being at fault for the second. There were six low-ley games offering opportunity before the call for the season, but, perhaps tellingly, neither brother featured again.

James was a mason and master buildern to trade and was married to Isobel (or Isobella) Cleghorn. He travelled to Canada two or three times and returned to Scotland everytime. We don’t know if it was work that took him to Canada or homesickness that brought him back to Scotland.

(WS/JK)



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