Jim Elsby

James Elsby (1 August 1928 – 7 September 1987) was an English footballer. A full-back, he played 12 games in the Football League for Port Vale in a seven-year career at the club from 1948 to 1955. He helped the club to win the Third Division North title in 1953–54. His nephew, Ian Elsby, also played for Port Vale.[2]

Jim Elsby

Personal information
Full name	James Elsby[1]
Date of birth	(1928-08-01)1 August 1928[1]
Place of birth	Newcastle-under-Lyme, England[1]
Date of death	7 September 1987(1987-09-07) (aged 59)
Height	Newcastle-under-Lyme, England
Playing position(s)	Full-back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1948–1955	Port Vale	12	(0)
	Wereton Queen's Park
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Elsby joined Port Vale as an amateur in November 1948 and signed as a professional in May 1949.[1] He made his debut in a goalless draw with Crystal Palace at The Old Recreation Ground on 7 May 1949, as Bill McGarry was rested.[1] This was his only appearance of the 1948–49 season.[1] He played two Third Division South games in 1949–50.[1] He also played twice in April 1953, as Stan Turner was rested, as manager Freddie Steele led the club to a second-place finish in the Third Division North in 1952–53.[1] He filled in for seven games for Derek Tomkinson and Turner in 1953–54, as the "Valiants" finished the campaign as champions.[1] He did not feature at Vale Park in the Second Division 1954–55 campaign, and moved on to Wereton Queen's Park.[1]

Statistics

Source:[3]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	1948–49	Third Division South	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	1949–50	Third Division South	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	1950–51	Third Division South	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1951–52	Third Division South	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	1952–53	Third Division North	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	1953–54	Third Division North	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
	1954–55	Second Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		12	0	0	0	0	0	12	0

Honours

Port Vale

• Football League Third Division North runner-up: 1952–53
• Football League Third Division North champion: 1953–54[4]

References

1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 95. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
2. Sherwin, Phil (2013). Men of Steele. Hanley, Staffordshire: Pass. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-9926579-1-8.
3. Jim Elsby at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
4. Sherwin, Phil; Askey, Steve (2013), Men of Steele: The story of Port Vale's stunning 1953/54 season, Pass Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9926579-1-8