Jimmy Ross

Preston North End

Pre-League era (1883–1888)

Jimmy Ross came south to Preston to join his famous elder brother Nick. His debut for Preston North End happened by chance – he had to gone to Padiham on 24 November 1883 as a spectator to watch his brother play but, as the team were a couple of men short, he was invited to play. He scored two goals in North End's 4–0 win. Ross was a phenomenal goalscorer. In the four seasons up to the formation of the Football League in 1888, he scored over 250 goals in only 220 appearances, including in a Lancashire Senior Cup final. Born in Edinburgh, he was unlucky not to have been chosen for his country as the Scottish Football Association selectors only chose from players at clubs north of the border at the time. Ross formed a highly successful partnership up front for North End with England international John Goodall. He scored seven goals against Hyde United in a 26–0 win and six against Reading when North End won 18–0. Jimmy Ross appeared in the 1888 FA Cup final against West Bromwich Albion which Preston North End lost 2–1.

Football League debut (1888–1894)

Ross made his League debut on 8 September 1888 as a forward against Burnley at Preston North End's Deepdale ground. Preston won 5–2 and Ross scored the third and fourth goals. On 13 October 1888, in a League match at Deepdale against West Bromwich Albion, Ross scored in the 88th minute to put his team 3–0 up and became the first League player to score…

Preston North End

Football League: 1888–89, 1890–90 FA Cup: 1888–89 runner-up: 1887–88 Liverpool

Football League Second Division: 1895–96 Burnley

Football League Second Division: 1897–98 Manchester City

Football League Second Division: 1898–99