Gittins Jimmy Image 1 Newport County 1922

Description

West Bromwich, Staffordshire born inside right Jimmy “General” Gittins began his senior football career with Newport County, signing for them in January 1920, making his Football League debut against Swansea Town in April 1921. Although he played 28 times during their 1924-25 campaign, he was initially a fringe player, never assured of a place in the first team until 1926, after which he spent five seasons playing well over 30 matches a season. In 1927-28 he scored a career high 18 goals for The Exiles, when he was the club’s second highest scorer behind Archie Waterston, and he also scored 14 goals in their 1930-31 campaign when he was behind Cyril Pearce as Newport lost their League status at the end of the season.

However Gittins scored 13 more goals in 1931-32 before they regained their League status after a single season, and he played a final season of League football for Newport in 1932-33, his final match coming against Luton Town in April 1933. By the time he joined Birmingham & District League club Shrewsbury Town that summer he had scored 68 goals in 267 appearances for Newport County in their League seasons, and 83 goals in 309 appearances in all competitions. After a season at Gay Meadow, he moved to Brierley Hill Alliance in 1934, his last known club before his eventual retirement.