Despite being a player – and a short-lived one at that – in 1906, it would be the fans around in the 40s and 50s who would have greater cause to remember the name of Jim Angell. That would be because his Woolston-based Building, Decorating and Plumbing company was prominently advertised on the West Stand, perfectly positioned as a backdrop to any goal action captured by the photographer. (1952-53 John Flood scores v Blackburn) and the programme carried an advert.

In 1901 Jim was an apprentice plumber in a local shipyard but the following  year he signed on with the Saints but spent the next three seasons in the Reserves. Having waited for his first team opportunity so long the fact when it came it only spanned a fortnight must have been frustrating, but there was always his growing plumbing business to fall back on. After the Great War Jim was on the Thornycroft committee that oversaw the works team hold Burnley to a draw in the FA Cup in 1920 and then Tom Parker brought him once more back to The Dell as manager of the ‘A’ team in 1937. Two years previously he had been one of many  old players to be invited to the club’s jubilee celebrations (top right).

His son Ray and nephew Denis were both on the books when WWII broke out in 1939 and the latter played a few war-time games for the first team before being killed on active service with the R.A.F.