7.11.15

Sergeant James Hamilton Speirs M.M.

Jimmy Speirs was an inside left who was born in Glasgow. He represented Scotland in 1 international (against Wales in 1908).  He played for Glasgow Rangers and Clyde before joining Bradford City in 1909.
The following season Speirs captained City when they won the FA Cup.
In 3 seasons at Valley Parade he made  96 first team appearances.
At Xmas 1912 Speirs joined Herbert Chapman's Leeds City. He made 78 first team appearances up until football was suspended in 1915. 

 Speirs enlisted voluntarily in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. He reached the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery.


Jimmy Speirs was killed in action at the Battle of Passchendaele in August 1917. He was 31 years old. 

I got this photograph from a Bantams website which appears to be no longer online- apologies for not being able to give better credit.