Chambers Jimmy Image 1 Newry Town 1925

Description

Mullaghglass, County Armagh born winger Jimmy Chambers was spotted by Belfast Cetic playing for Bessbrook Athletic in the Newry & District League. A “nippy winger, able to perform equally well on both flanks”, he helped Celtic to win the Gibson Cup in 1920 before they withdrew from the Irish League. He was picked for an Irish Amateur international against France in February 1921, scoring in a 2-1 away victory, and also played against England. Chambers then joined first Broadway United and then Belfast Distillery. It was as a centre-forward that Chambers made his Ireland full international debut in April 1921, finding the net in Ireland’s 2-1 defeat by Wales at The Vetch Field, Swansea.

That same season he played for the Whites in both the Co. Antrim Shield and Belfast Charities Cup Finals, finishing with a winners’ medal in the latter. He joined Queen’s Island in 1921 and Willowfield  in 1923, before Chambers moved closer to home with Newry Town and won Inter-League honours in the 1923-34 season, the club’s first season in the Irish League. He finally took his chances across the Irish Sea when signed by Bury in October 1925 making his Football League debut against Cardiff City in February 1926. Although he added a further five Ireland caps between 1927 and 1930 during his time at Gigg Lane, Chambers struggled to make an impact in the Football League, playing just 31 games for Bury in five seasons, scoring 7 goals.

A move to Nottingham Forest in August 1931 brought a brief resurgence in Chambers’ international career, and he added three caps in 1931 during his time at The City Ground. Injuries began to affect his game, and Chambers left Forest after just one season after scoring once in 9 appearances. In a ten year international career, Jimmy Chambers won 12 caps, scoring twice. The highlight of his career was undoubtedly his role in the 7-0 crushing of Wales in February 1930, the match in which Joe Bambrick scored six times. He joined Midland League club Grantham in 1932 before returning to the Irish League in 1933 with Portadown, returning to Newry Town the same year before retirement.