James Blessington
James Blessington | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland |
| Died | April 18, 1939 (aged 65) |
| Occupation(s) | Footballer, football manager |
| Years active | 1890s–1909 |
| Known for | Playing as inside right for Celtic, Leicester Fosse; first official manager of Leicester Fosse; Scotland international |
James Blessington (28 February 1874 – 18 April 1939) was a Scottish footballer who played primarily as an inside right and later transitioned into management.
Club
Originating from Linlithgow, West Lothian, Blessington launched his football journey with several Edinburgh-based teams, including Hibernian (known at the time as Leith Hibernians) and Leith Athletic. In 1892, he signed for Celtic, where he remained for six seasons. During his tenure at Celtic Park, he contributed to securing three Scottish Football League championships in the seasons 1892–93, 1893–94, and 1895–96.
In 1898, Blessington relocated to England, where he had short spells with Preston North End, Derby County, and Bristol City. Following this period, he spent three years with Luton Town before embarking on his most extended stint at Leicester Fosse from 1903 until 1909.
International
While playing for Celtic, Blessington earned four appearances for the Scotland national team between 1894 and 1896. Additionally, he represented the Scottish League select side on six occasions, scoring one goal.
Managerial career and later life
Between 1907 and 1909, Blessington took on the role of player-manager at Leicester Fosse, becoming the club’s inaugural official manager. Overseeing a total of 84 matches, his playing involvement during this period was limited. Afterwards, he moved to Ireland to coach Belfast Celtic and took up a position as a handicapper with the Irish Amateur Athletic Association. Eventually, Blessington settled in Newton Abbot, Devon, where he managed a public house.