Jimmy Nicholson

Irish Footballer that Played for Man Utd - Jimmy Nicholson

James Nicholson - Introduction

Jimmy Nicholson was yet another Northern Ireland footballer that was groomed in the Boyland YC football academy. He went over to Manchester United as a teenager so he did not play senior level football until near the end of his playing career in the mid to late 1970's. Nicholson went on to represent Northern Ireland on 41 occasions and scoring six goals.

James Nicholson & Manchester United

Midfielder James Nicholson joined Manchester United September 1958 as a 15 year old during the Matt Busby era. His progress was quite rapid and Jimmy Nicholson made his Manchester United debut on 24 August 1960 at Goodison Park against Everton. United and the 19 year old Nicholson suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Merseysiders.

Jimmy Nicholson scored his first goal for Manchester United a week later on 31 August 1960. Once again the opposition was Everton and the venue was Old Trafford. This time it was United who won 4-0 with Nicholson scoring the first goal.

Nicholson made 31 appearances for United in the 1960/61 season scoring a total of five goals. This proved to be the

high point of his career with Man Utd. As Matt Busby made significant signings and other new talent emerged through the Old Trafford youth system Nicholson became a peripheral figure at the club. His first team appearances became sporadic. Jimmy Nicholson's last start for Manchester United was at the Hawthorns against West Bromwich Albion on 15 December 1962. United were beaten by WBA 3-0. During Nicholson's career with Manchester United he made a total of 68 appearances scoring 6 goals, the last of which came on 6 January 1962 against Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.

Jimmy Nicholson transferred to Huddersfield Town for the 1964/65 season for a transfer fee of £7,500. He went on to make 320 appearances for the club scoring 29 goals. He also went on to play for Bury, Stalybridge Celtic and Mossley in northern Ireland.

Jimmy Nicholson - Northern Ireland Career

Jimmy Nicholson made his international debut for Northern Ireland on 9 November 1960 in a 2-5 away defeat to Scotland. Nicholson had to wait until 22 June 1966 for his first international goal in a home friendly match against Mexico at Windsor Park. It was a warm-up match for the Mexicans who had qualified for the 1966 World Cup Finals in England. Northern Ireland won the match 4-1. Jimmy Nicholson played for Northern Ireland on 41 occasions and he scored six goals. He was sent off once in his third appearance for Northern Ireland in a 1962 World Cup qualifier against Greece.

James Nicholson - Man Utd & Ireland Statistics

Trevor Anderson - Harry Baird - Billy Behan - George Best - Jackie Blanchflower - Derek Brazil
Tommy Breen - Shay Brennan - Ronnie Briggs - David Byrne - Noel Cantwell - Johnny Carey
Joe Carolan - Roy Carroll - Tom Connell - Gerry Daly - Bernard Donaghy - Mal Donaghy - Tony Dunne
Pat Dunne - Jonny Evans - Sonny Feehan - Darron Gibson - John Giles - Keith Gillespie - Don Givens
Harry Gregg - Ashley Grimes - Mickey Hamill - David Healy - Denis Irwin - Tommy Jackson
Michael Keane - Roy Keane - Paddy Kennedy - Davy Lyner - Mick Martin - David McCreery
Noel McFarlane - Pat McGibbon - Chris McGrath - Paul McGrath - Sammy McIlroy - Sammy McMillan
Walter McMillen - Liam Miller - Kevin Moran - Tommy Morrison - Phil Mulryne - Jimmy Nicholl
Jimmy Nicholson - Liam O'Brien - John O'Shea - Patrick O'Connell - John Peden - James Robinson
Paddy Roche - Jackie Scott - Tom Sloan - Frank Stapleton - Billy Toms - Anthony Whelan
Liam Whelan - Norman Whiteside

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