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