Jim Metcalfe

Who was Jim Metcalfe?

James Alfred "Jim" Metcalf was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half. He was born in Whitburn, County Durham, and as a youngster he played local football with Sunderland Schoolboys and Sunderland Royal Rovers. He later played for Southwick where he won several local amateur trophies. Metcalf was signed by Football League Second Division club South Shields in April 1920 and went on to play seven seasons with the Horsley Hill club, making 185 appearances and scoring twice. In June 1927 he joined Second Division rivals Preston North End on a free transfer. During a single season with the Lancashire club, he played in 16 league matches.

The following summer, Metcalf joined Third Division North side Nelson for a transfer fee of £250. He made his debut for the club in the 2–2 draw away at Hartlepools United on 25 August 1928. Metcalf missed only one match of the 1928–29 season, the last game of the campaign against Accrington Stanley. On 26 October 1929, he scored his first and only league goal for Nelson in the 4–1 win against Doncaster Rovers at Seedhill.