One of several signings during the summer of 1911, James Denby had followed Saints’ new manager, George Swift, from Chesterfield. Swift had originally offered £75 for his transfer in May but eventually settled on £100 in August.

Strong and versatile,

Denby demonstrated the latter quality, as he switched from centre-half to right-half and back again, with the odd run-out at left-half and inside-right. Yet so determined was the Board to reduce the club’s debts that they agreed to sell him, after only one season, to Bradford City. James declined terms, however, and remained to steady the on-field ship, all the way through to the suspension of League action in 1915. He remained on Southampton’s books but was Chesterfield’s guest in war-time football. In 1939 his occupation was listed as a coal hewer in Mansfield.