Leighton James was one of Britain's top talents. After Derby won the League for the second time in '75 they threw their whole transfer budget at Leighton James and at the time (Nov '75) £300k was one of the World's highest ever transfer fees. I think it was only bettered by the £350k Everton paid for Bob Latchford.
He was Derby's star player for the next 12 months as they came close to winning the title again and lost in the semi's of the FA Cup in a match that was billed as Leighton James v Gordon Hill. Derby struggled the next season and the following year Tommy Docherty was appointed (and systematically started dismantling a great squad). He bombed James (swopping him for Don Mason) and replaced him with Gordon Hill.
It would be easy to forget how big a club Derby were at that time and what a star James was.
QPR struggled, he was sold back to Burnley (who had dropped into Div 2) and the Tosh bought him for the Jacks who were flying at the time.
His greatest ever Wales performance was in possibly the greatest ever Wales match (OK that was the Belgium match) when we beat England 4-1 in the Home Championships. James ripped them apart. You can't possibly understand what this result meant to a 13 yr Welsh kid living in England. I would always forgive him is anti-City commentary for this alone:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRg2oWavtlk
The biggest indication of how good he was, is that if was English he would have had a load of caps for England, apart from him that can only be said of Tosh
RIP Leighton James - a true Welsh football great.
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Originally Posted by BLUETIT
