James Blessington

James Blessington (28 February 1874 – 18 April 1939) was a Scottish football player (an inside right) and manager.

James Blessington

Personal information
Date of birth	(1874-02-28)28 February 1874
Place of birth	Linlithgow, Scotland
Date of death	18 April 1939(1939-04-18) (aged 65)
Place of death	Newton Abbott, England
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1]
Position(s)	Inside right
Youth career
	Harp Athletic
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1890–1892	Hibernian
1891–1892	→ Leith Athletic (loan)	20	(8)
1892–1898	Celtic	83	(31)
1898	→ Preston North End (loan)
1898–1899	Preston North End
1899	Derby County	2	(0)
1899–1900	Bristol City
1900–1903	Luton Town
1903–1909	Leicester Fosse	100	(18)
International career
1892–1898	Scottish League XI	6	(1)
1894–1896	Scotland	4	(0)
Managerial career
1907–1909	Leicester Fosse
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Club

Born in Linlithgow, West Lothian,^[2] Blessington began his playing career with several Edinburgh sides, including Hibernian (then temporarily known as Leith Hibernians)^[3] and Leith Athletic, before moving to Glasgow to join Celtic in 1892.^[4] He spent six seasons at Celtic Park, earning three Scottish Football League titles (1892–93, 1893–94 and 1895–96).^[5][6]

He moved to England in 1898, spending short periods with Preston North End, Derby County, Bristol City followed by three years at Luton Town and his longest spell at Leicester Fosse^[2] between 1903 and 1909.^[7]

International

Blessington was capped four times by the Scotland national team between 1894 and 1896 during his time with Celtic.^[8][9] He also made six appearances for the Scottish League representative side, scoring one goal.^[10][11][12]

Managerial career and later life

Between 1907 and 1909 Blessington acted as player-manager of Leicester Fosse (though he played only very occasionally),^[7] becoming that club's first manager, and was in charge for a total of 84 games.

He then moved to Ireland, where he helped coach Belfast Celtic and also assisted the Irish Amateur Athletic Association as a handicapper.^[2] He later moved to Newton Abbot in Devon, where he ran a pub.^[2]