A player of real promise, signed from Darlington for a nominal fee, James would be sent on loan by Sir Bobby Robson to be 'toughened up' after progressing to the senior team ranks.

There was hope that his promise could be fulfilled at St James Park and after an initial successful loan with Hartlepool he would then be farmed out for QPR. Unused at QPR the club would move him back to Hartlepool however as it seemingly became apparent that early promise was not going to manifest into a top flight calibre talent.

He would move to Exeter on a free transfer after six years on the books for Newcastle as man and boy. That spell would see him play 82 league games in just two seasons and earn him his move to Doncaster Rovers for a fee of £30k (some 15% of the fee United had paid for him almost a decade earlier).

At Doncaster he'll be remembered as something of a club legend perhaps, spending sixteen years at the club, making 614 league appearances (695 in total) and scoring more than a goal every ten games from midfield.

A playoff win against Leeds United to gain passage to the Championship a highlight.

He would be awarded the Sir Tom Finney award by the EFL as 'someone who had made an outstanding contribution to the league', a prize earned for his loyalty to his club and just the continued number of games in the league pyramid.