View source for Jimmy Hampson

{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jimmy Hampson
| image = Jimmy Hampson.jpg
| fullname = James Hampson
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1906|3|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Little Hulton]], England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1938|1|10|1906|3|23|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Fleetwood]], England
| height = 5 ft 6+1/4 in<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-dispatch-football-guide-1936-vi-d/134505593/ |title=Blackpool. Brightest chances for three years: seasoned recruits |newspaper=Sunday Dispatch Football Guide |location=London |date=23 August 1936 |page=vi |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Centre forward]]
| youthyears1 = 192?–1925
| youthclubs1 = Walkden Park
| years1 = 1925–1927
| years2 = 1927–1938
| years3 = 
| clubs1 = [[Nelson F.C.|Nelson]]
| clubs2 = [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
| caps1 = 64
| goals1 = 42
| caps2 = 361
| goals2 = 248
| totalcaps = 425
| totalgoals = 290
| nationalyears1 = 1930–1932
| nationalteam1 = [[England national football team|England]]
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 5
}}
'''James Hampson''' (23 March 1906 – 10 January 1938) was an English professional [[Association football|footballer]]. He spent eleven seasons at [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]], where he remains record goalscorer with 252 goals in 373 games, and is still regarded as one of the best [[Striker (association football)|centre forwards]] to play for the club.<ref name="legends-8">{{Cite book|title=Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC|editor=Singleton, Steve|work=[[Blackpool Gazette]]|location=[[Blackpool]]|year=2007|pages=8|edition=1|isbn=978-1-84547-182-8}}</ref><ref name="BFC140692">{{Cite web|title=Blackpool Legends |publisher=[[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] |date=2 August 2007 |url=http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SeasideLegends/0,,10432~140692,00.html |access-date=2008-01-04 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201143440/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SeasideLegends/0%2C%2C10432~140692%2C00.html |archive-date= 1 February 2008 }}</ref>

==Club career==
Born in [[Little Hulton]], [[Lancashire]], Hampson began his career with Walkden Park. In 1925 he joined [[Football League Third Division]], [[Nelson F.C.|Nelson]], and in his first season, [[1925–26 in English football|1925–26]], he scored 13 goals in 20 league games. During his first season at Nelson, Hampson scored [[Hat-trick#Association football|hat-tricks]] in three consecutive games. The following season, [[1926–27 in English football|1926–27]], he scored 23 goals in 35 games.<ref name="BFC140692"/>

In October 1927, he joined Blackpool for a fee of £1,000, scoring on his debut in a 3–1 defeat at [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] on 15 October.<ref name="legends-8"/><ref name="BFC140692"/> He went on to score 31 goals in the remaining 32 games of the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1927–28|1927–28]] season, including two in his second game for the club, against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. He missed just one game in his first season for the club, and his goals helped Blackpool stave off relegation, finishing the season 19th in the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]].<ref name="BFC140692"/>

The following season, [[Blackpool F.C. season 1928–29|1928–29]], he scored 40 goals to become the Second Division's top scorer. He scored five goals in the first four games that season, prompting other clubs to take an interest in signing him. In September, Blackpool denied that they had received an offer from [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]. After a 2–0 defeat to [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] on 13 October 1928, Blackpool fans cheered him off the pitch and he was described as being the "darling of Blackpool". On 10 November, he scored a then club-record five goals in a 7–0 victory over [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]. The record has since been equalled by [[Jimmy McIntosh]]. Blackpool finished that season in eighth place.

In July 1929, [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] tried unsuccessfully to sign him. The following December, [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] also tried to sign him but were also turned down.<ref name="BFC140692"/>

In [[Blackpool F.C. season 1929–30|1929–30]], Blackpool won the Second Division championship and were promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history. Hampson was the top goalscorer in England with 46 strikes in 44 league and cup games. He played one game, against [[West Lancashire Derby|local rivals]] [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]], at inside-right, but still scored one goal as Blackpool won 5–1.<ref name="BFC140692"/>
[[File:Peter Doherty and Jimmy Hampson.jpg|thumb|left|Hampson (right), shaking hands with former [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] [[Striker (association football)|forward]] [[Peter Doherty (footballer)|Peter Doherty]], of [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]], in the late 1930s.]]

At the end of their debut season in the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] ([[Blackpool F.C. season 1930–31|1930–31]]), Blackpool drew their final game against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] to escape relegation back to the Second Division. Although Blackpool conceded 125 goals, Hampson still managed to score 31 goals in 41 games.<ref name="BFC140692"/> The following season, [[Blackpool F.C. season 1931–32|1931–32]], Blackpool again struggled against relegation, with Hampson scoring 23 league goals in 42 games as the club finished one place above the relegation places. Again the club had to deny transfer rumours. At the Supporters Club's annual dinner, held at the resort's [[Winter Gardens, Blackpool|Winter Gardens]] on 10 November 1931, the club stated that they had "no intention of parting with Hampson".<ref name="BFC140692"/>

The following season, [[Blackpool F.C. season 1932–33|1932–33]], Blackpool were relegated, finishing bottom of the league with Hampson scoring 18 league goals in 34 games. During the season, Hampson lost his position as centre-forward to defender [[Phil Watson (footballer)|Phil Watson]] before being moved to the right wing for the game against [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] on 22 April 1933. He was reinstated as centre-forward, however, for the final game of the season, at [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref name="BFC140692"/>

During the following [[Blackpool F.C. season 1933–34|1933–34]] season, it was reported that he had turned down the club's terms for a new contract; however, the terms were soon sorted and he signed on again for the next season. After 21 games and 13 goals, he was injured and he made just one more appearance for the club that season.<ref name="BFC140692"/>

He scored a hat-trick in the opening game of the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1934–35|1934–35]] season against [[Bury F.C.|Bury]]; however, following a spell in which he did not score, he was dropped and Blackpool stated that they would be prepared to transfer him. He did not play again until February 1935, and ended the season on 21 goals from 25 starts.<ref name="BFC140692"/> He missed the start of the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1935–36|1935–36]] season with an injury, coupled with the club signing [[Scotland national football team|Scottish international]] striker [[Bobby Finan]]. Hampson did not play until 9 October 1935, against [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]], when he scored in a 1–1 draw. He was not a regular starter that season and finished on just six goals from 21 games, although he had to play at inside-left for much of them.<ref name="BFC140692"/>

Hampson and Finan scored 44 goals between them in the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1936–37|1936–37]] season, with Hampson scoring 16 of them (not 15 as sometimes listed) as Blackpool finished as runners-up and were once again promoted to the First Division. Hampson started the [[Blackpool F.C. season 1937–38|1937–38]] season scoring four goals in 19 league games.

Hampson held the record for the fastest century of goals: 101 in 97 games between 1927 and 1930.<ref name="calley">{{Cite book|last=Calley|first=Roy|title=Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992|title-link=Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992|publisher=Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd|date=20 October 1992|isbn=1-873626-07-X }}</ref>

==Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame==
Hampson was inducted into the [[Blackpool F.C.#Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player [[Jimmy Armfield]] in April 2006.<ref name="legends-11">{{Cite book|title=Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC|editor=Singleton, Steve|work=[[Blackpool Gazette]]|location=[[Blackpool]]|year=2007|pages=11|edition=1|isbn=978-1-84547-182-8}}</ref> Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Hampson is in the pre-1950s.<ref name="bsa60">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bsaweb.info/HOFp50.aspx |title=The Hall of Fame – pre 1950s |publisher=Blackpool Supporters Association |access-date=29 November 2009 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612154347/http://www.bsaweb.info/HOFp50.aspx |archive-date=12 June 2010 }}</ref>

==International career==
Hampson's international career was brief, due to the presence of [[Dixie Dean]] combined with Hampson's club playing in the League's second tier. He scored five goals in just three appearances. He scored one goal on his debut against [[Ireland national football team (IFA)|Ireland]] on 20 October 1930, which England won 5–1.<ref name="FA173">{{Cite web| title = Match statistics: England 5–1 Ireland 20 October 1930 | publisher = [[The Football Association]] | url =http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/matchstats.html?m=173| archive-url =https://archive.today/20071029051823/http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/matchstats.html?m=173| url-status =dead| archive-date =2007-10-29| access-date = 2008-01-04 }}</ref> He then scored twice against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] on 22 November in a 4–0 win. His last appearance for his country came in December 1932 against [[Austria national football team|Austria]] when he again scored twice.<ref name="legends-8"/><ref name="BFC140692"/> He played for the [[The Football League XI|Football League representative team]] four times, scoring nine goals – including a hat-trick in a game against the [[Irish Football League]] held at [[Bloomfield Road]]. He also played for a Football League XI against a combined Wales and Ireland XI in a game held to celebrate the jubilee of King [[George V]] in May 1935. Hampson scored five goals in a 10–2 win for the Football League XI.<ref name="BFC140692"/>

==Death==
On 8 January 1938, Hampson played his last-ever match, an [[FA Cup]] tie for [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] against [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]. His final contribution was a quick throw-in, seven minutes before the end of the match, from which Blackpool scored.

On 10 January, a day after visiting his wife, Betty,<ref name=Seasiders.net>{{cite web|url=http://www.seasiders.net/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=EDB1&id=20808 |title=The legend of Jimmy Hampson |access-date=2017-03-22 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040104083720/http://www.seasiders.net/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=EDB1&id=20808 |archive-date= 4 January 2004 }} – Seasiders.net</ref> who was ill in a [[nursing home]], Hampson went out fishing with some friends off the [[Fleetwood]] coast. Their 40-foot yacht, ''Defender'',<ref name=Seasiders.net/> collided with a [[commercial trawler|trawler]] and the 31-year-old Hampson was knocked overboard. He drowned, and his body was never recovered.<ref name="legends-8"/><ref name="BFC140692"/>

== See also ==
*[[List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea]]

==Career statistics==
===Club statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{ENFA}}</ref>
! rowspan="2" |Club
! rowspan="2" |Season
! rowspan="2" |Division
! colspan="2" |League
! colspan="2" |FA Cup
! colspan="2" |Other
! colspan="2" |Total
|-
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Nelson F.C.|Nelson]]
|[[1925–26 Nelson F.C. season|1925–26]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]
|20||13||0||0||0||0||20||13
|-
|[[1926–27 Nelson F.C. season|1926–27]]
|35||23||2||2||0||0||37||25
|-
|[[1927–28 Nelson F.C. season|1927–28]]
|9||6||0||0||0||0||9||6
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!64!!42!!2!!2!!0!!0!!66!!44
|-
| rowspan="12" |[[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
|[[1927–28 Blackpool F.C. season|1927–28]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|32||31||1||0||0||0||33||31
|-
|[[1928–29 Blackpool F.C. season|1928–29]]
|41||40||1||0||0||0||42||40
|-
|[[1929–30 Blackpool F.C. season|1929–30]]
|41||45||2||1||0||0||43||46
|-
|[[1930–31 Blackpool F.C. season|1930–31]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|41||32||2||1||0||0||43||33
|-
|[[1931–32 Blackpool F.C. season|1931–32]]
|42||23||2||1||0||0||44||24
|-
|[[1932–33 Blackpool F.C. season|1932–33]]
|35||18||3||1||0||0||38||19
|-
|[[1933–34 Blackpool F.C. season|1933–34]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|23||13||0||0||0||0||23||13
|-
|[[1934–35 Blackpool F.C. season|1934–35]]
|25||20||0||0||0||0||25||20
|-
|[[1935–36 Blackpool F.C. season|1935–36]]
|21||6||0||0||0||0||21||6
|-
|[[1936–37 Blackpool F.C. season|1936–37]]
|42||16||0||0||0||0||42||16
|-
|[[1937–38 Blackpool F.C. season|1937–38]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|18||4||1||0||0||0||19||4
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!361!!248!!12!!4!!0!!0!!373!!252
|-
! colspan="3" |Career total
!425!!290!!14!!6!!0!!0!!439!!296
|}

===International statistics===
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name=NFT>{{NFT player |id=32994 |name=Hampson, Jimmy|accessdate=13 September 2020}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan=2|[[England national football team|England]]
|1930||2||3
|-
|1932||1||2
|-
!colspan=2|Total||3||5
|}

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list England's goal tally first. Score after each Hampson goal is shown in bold with asterisk.''<ref>{{Englandstats|ref=y|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+List of international goals scored by Jimmy Hampson
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Cap !! Minute !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1 || 20 October 1930 || [[Bramall Lane]], [[Sheffield]], England || {{fb|IRE}} || 1 || 25' || '''2'''*–0 || 5–1 || [[1930–31 British Home Championship]]
|-
| 2 || rowspan="2" | 22 November 1930 || rowspan="2" | [[Racecourse Ground]], [[Wrexham]], Wales || rowspan="2" | {{fb|WAL|1807}} || rowspan="2" | 2 || 12' || '''1'''*–0 || rowspan="2" | 4–0 || rowspan="2" | [[1930–31 British Home Championship]]
|-
| 3 || 70' || '''3'''*–0 
|-
| 4 || rowspan="2" | 7 December 1932 || rowspan="2" | [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]], [[London]], England || rowspan="2" | {{fb|AUT}} || rowspan="2" | 3 || 5' || '''1'''*–0 || rowspan="2" | 4–3 || rowspan="2" | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| 5 || 27' || '''2'''*–0 
|}

==Honours==
'''Blackpool'''
*[[Football League Second Division]]: [[Blackpool F.C. season 1929–30|1929–30]]
*[[Football League Second Division]] runner-up: [[1936–37 Blackpool F.C. season|1936–37]]
'''England'''

*[[British Home Championship]]: [[1930–31 British Home Championship|1930–31]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|last=Calley|first=Roy|title=Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992|publisher=Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd|date=20 October 1992|isbn=1-873626-07-X}}
*{{Cite book|title=Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC|editor=Singleton, Steve|work=[[Blackpool Gazette]]|location=[[Blackpool]]|year=2007|edition=1|isbn=978-1-84547-182-8}}

==External links==
*[http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/?pf=p&i=895&ap=p&searchname=hampson Hampson's profile at the FA's official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070430180555/http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SeasideLegendsDetail/0%2C%2C10432~140692%2C00.html Profile at Blackpool's official website]
*{{Englandstats}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016213417/http://englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=435 Profile at EnglandFC.com]
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040104083720/http://www.seasiders.net/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=EDB1&id=20808 |date=4 January 2004 |title="The legend of Jimmy Hampson – Seasiders.net }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100612154347/http://www.bsaweb.info/HOFp50.aspx Hampson in the Blackpool Supporters Association Hall of Fame]

{{English Second Division top scorers}}
{{Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hampson, Jimmy}}
[[Category:1906 births]]
[[Category:1938 deaths]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in England]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Blackpool F.C. players]]
[[Category:Deaths by drowning in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Missing English people]]
[[Category:Missing person cases in England]]
[[Category:Nelson F.C. players]]
[[Category:People from Little Hulton]]
[[Category:Footballers from Greater Manchester]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from the City of Salford]]
[[Category:People lost at sea]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]