Alex James

Early Life

Alex James was born on September 14, 1901, in Mossend, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He came from a working-class family. Like many Scottish boys at that time, he learned to play football in the streets. He was small for his age, but he had special skills with the ball. Even as a young boy, people could see he was different from other players.

Growing Up

Life was not easy in Scotland in those days. Many people worked in factories and mines. Young Alex worked in the mines too, but he always found time to play football. He played football before work and after work. The hard life made him strong, even though he was not very tall.

First Steps in Football

James started playing for a local team called Bellshill Athletic. This was a small team, but it was good for young players to learn the game. He was very young when he started, but he played well against older players. People began to notice his special way of passing the ball.

Professional Career Begins

In 1922, James signed for Raith Rovers. This was his first professional team. Now he could play football for money and didn't have to work in the mines anymore. At Raith Rovers, he learned how to be a professional player. He was small (only 1.65 meters tall) but very quick and clever with the ball.

Moving to Preston North End

In 1925, James moved to England to play for Preston North End. This was a big change for him. English football was different from Scottish football. The players were bigger and stronger. But James was clever. He used his brain more than his strength. He became famous for his perfect passes and the way he could control the game.

Playing Style

Alex James had a very special way of playing football. He wore very long shorts (longer than other players). He could pass the ball better than almost anyone else. He didn't run as much as other players, but he didn't need to. He could see things on the football field that other players couldn't see. People called him a "football genius" because of how he played.

His Special Skills

These were the things that made James special:
- Perfect passing
- Great vision (he could see where to pass before anyone else)
- Excellent ball control
- Very smart on the field
- Good at making goals for other players
- Could shoot well with both feet
- Good at free kicks

Playing for Scotland

James played 23 games for Scotland's national team. His first game was in 1925. He played against England many times. In those days, games between Scotland and England were very important. They were called the "Home Internationals." James helped Scotland win many of these games.

Moving to Arsenal

In 1929, Arsenal bought James for £8,750. This was a lot of money in those days. At Arsenal, James became one of the best players in England. He played with another famous player called Herbert Chapman. Together, they helped make Arsenal the best team in England.

Success at Arsenal

At Arsenal, James won many trophies:
- Four League Championships (1931, 1933, 1934, 1935)
- Two FA Cups (1930, 1936)
- Many other small trophies

He was the leader of the team. Other players looked up to him. Fans loved to watch him play because he made football look beautiful.

His Way of Living

James lived differently from many other players. He liked nice clothes and good food. Some people thought he was lazy because he didn't run much during games. But this wasn't true. He was just very smart about how he played. He only ran when he needed to run.

Famous Matches

One of his best games was against England in 1928. Scotland won 5-1, and James played wonderfully. He helped score many goals. English fans couldn't believe how good he was. After this game, many English teams wanted to buy him.

How He Changed Football

James changed the way people thought about football. Before him, many teams just kicked the ball long and ran fast. James showed that thinking and passing were more important. He showed that small players could be better than big players if they were smart enough.

His Influence on Other Players

Many young players wanted to play like Alex James. He taught them:
- How to pass the ball well
- How to think about the game
- How to be clever on the field
- That size doesn't matter in football
- How to make the game beautiful

Later Life

After he stopped playing football, James worked as a coach. He helped young players learn the game. He also wrote about football for newspapers. Sadly, he died quite young, in 1953. He was only 51 years old.

Records and Awards
- 23 games for Scotland
- 4 League Championships with Arsenal
- 2 FA Cups
- Member of the Scottish Football Hall of Fame
- One of Arsenal's greatest ever players

Important Dates
- 1901: Born in Mossend
- 1922: Starts playing for Raith Rovers
- 1925: Moves to Preston North End
- 1929: Joins Arsenal
- 1936: Wins his last trophy
- 1953: Dies in London

What People Said About Him

Other players and managers said:
- "He was a genius with the ball"
- "The cleverest player I ever saw"
- "He could pass the ball like no one else"
- "He made football look easy"
- "The best passer in football"

His Legacy

Today, people remember Alex James as:
- One of Scotland's best ever players
- A football genius
- Someone who changed how football was played
- A great passer of the ball
- An important person in Arsenal's history

Simple Facts About James
- Height: 1.65 meters
- Position: Forward/Midfielder
- Famous for: Passing and thinking
- Best skill: Passing the ball
- Teams: Raith Rovers, Preston North End, Arsenal
- Scotland games: 23
- Trophies won: Many

Why He Was Special

James was special because:
1. He was very smart on the football field
2. He could pass better than anyone else
3. He showed that small players could be great
4. He helped change how football was played
5. He won many trophies
6. He played beautiful football
7. He inspired other players

Conclusion

Alex James was one of football's first geniuses. He showed that football was not just about being big and strong. It was about being smart and skillful. Even today, many years after he stopped playing, people remember him as a special player. His story teaches us that you don't have to be big to be great at sports. You just need to be clever and work hard.

Simple Vocabulary List

Important words from the text:
- Genius = very clever person
- Pass = give the ball to another player
- Vision = ability to see what will happen
- Trophy = prize for winning
- Legacy = what people remember about you
- Inspire = make others want to do something
- Skillful = very good at something
- Smart = clever, intelligent

Reading Comprehension Questions: Alex James Biography

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When was Alex James born?
a) September 14, 1902
b) September 14, 1901
c) September 15, 1901
d) September 14, 1900

2. Where did he work before becoming a professional footballer?
a) In a factory
b) In the mines
c) In a shop
d) In a school

3. How tall was Alex James?
a) 1.75 meters
b) 1.70 meters
c) 1.65 meters
d) 1.60 meters

4. What was his first professional team?
a) Arsenal
b) Preston North End
c) Raith Rovers
d) Bellshill Athletic

5. How many games did he play for Scotland?
a) 21
b) 22
c) 23
d) 24

True or False Questions

6. Alex James was a very tall player.
- True or False?

7. He won four League Championships with Arsenal.
- True or False?

8. He was famous for running a lot during games.
- True or False?

9. He could only play well with one foot.
- True or False?

10. He worked as a coach after he stopped playing football.
- True or False?

Short Answer Questions

11. What was special about Alex James's shorts?

12. Name three teams that Alex James played for.

13. What was his best skill on the football field?

14. How much did Arsenal pay to buy Alex James?

15. What job did he do after he stopped playing football? (Name two things)

Fill in the Blanks

16. Alex James was born in _______, Scotland.

17. Arsenal bought James in the year _______.

18. He won _______ FA Cups with Arsenal.

19. James died in _______ when he was 51 years old.

20. He played his first game for Scotland in _______.

Matching

Match the years with the events in Alex James's life:

21. Years and Events:
- ___ Born
- ___ Joined Raith Rovers
- ___ Moved to Arsenal
- ___ Died

Years:
a) 1929
b) 1901
c) 1922
d) 1953

Discussion Questions

22. Why do you think people called Alex James a "football genius"?

23. How did Alex James change the way football was played?

24. Why was it important that Alex James showed small players could be good at football?

Put These Events in Order (1-4)

25. Put these events in order:
___ Played for Scotland
___ Worked in the mines
___ Won trophies with Arsenal
___ Played for Preston North End