# Neil James > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Neil_James > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Neil_James.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_James > Source revision: 1283211654 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Neil James** (14 February 1961 – 17 December 2014) was an English professional [rugby league](/source/Rugby_league) footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain_national_rugby_league_team), and at club level for [Castleford](/source/Castleford_Tigers), [Halifax](/source/Halifax_R.L.F.C.), [Gold Coast-Tweed Giants](/source/Gold_Coast_Chargers), [Leeds](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) and [Sheffield Eagles](/source/Sheffield_Eagles), as a , or . ## Background James was born in [Castleford](/source/Castleford), [West Riding of Yorkshire](/source/West_Riding_of_Yorkshire), England, and he died aged 53.[2] ## Playing career ### Castleford James played as a right- in [Castleford](/source/Castleford_Tigers)'s 2-13 defeat by [Hull F.C.](/source/Hull_F.C.) in the [1983 Yorkshire Cup](/source/1983_Yorkshire_Cup) Final during the [1983–84 season](/source/1983%E2%80%9384_Rugby_Football_League_season) at [Elland Road](/source/Elland_Road), [Leeds](/source/Leeds) on Saturday 15 October 1983. ### Halifax In 1985, James was loaned out to [Halifax](/source/Halifax_Panthers). The deal was later made permanent with Castleford receiving [Alan Shillito](/source/Alan_Shillito) and a fee of £5,000 in exchange.[3] James made 34-appearances (including 4 as an [interchange](/source/Rugby_league_positions#Interchange)/[substitute](/source/Substitution_(sport))) in the in [Halifax](/source/Halifax_R.L.F.C.)'s victory in the [Championship](/source/Rugby_Football_League_Championship) during the [1985–86 season](/source/1985%E2%80%9386_Rugby_Football_League_season), scoring 3-tries in League matches and 1 in the [Premiership](/source/Rugby_League_Premiership) Trophy. James appeared as a [substitute](/source/Substitution_(sport)) (replacing [Ben Beevers](/source/Ben_Beevers) on 70-minutes) in [Halifax](/source/Halifax_R.L.F.C.)'s 19-18 victory over [St. Helens](/source/St_Helens_R.F.C.) in the [1987 Challenge Cup](/source/1987_Challenge_Cup) Final during the [1986–87 season](/source/1986%E2%80%9387_Rugby_Football_League_season#Challenge_Cup) at [Wembley Stadium](/source/Wembley_Stadium_(1923)), [London](/source/London) on Saturday 2 May 1987, and played left- and scored a [try](/source/Try_(rugby)) in the 12-32 defeat by [Wigan](/source/Wigan_Warriors) in the [1988 Challenge Cup](/source/1988_Challenge_Cup) Final during the [1987–88 season](/source/1987%E2%80%9388_Rugby_Football_League_season#Challenge_Cup) at [Wembley Stadium](/source/Wembley_Stadium_(1923)), [London](/source/London) on Saturday 30 April 1988. In April 1990, he was signed by [Leeds](/source/Leeds_Rhinos) for a fee of £20,000.[4] ### International honours James won a [cap](/source/Cap_(sport)) for [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain_national_rugby_league_team) while at Halifax, playing right- scored a [try](/source/Try_(rugby)), and was [man of the match](/source/Player_of_the_match) in the 24-10 victory over France at [Central Park](/source/Central_Park_(Wigan)), [Wigan](/source/Wigan) on Saturday 1 March 1986.[1] ## References 1. ["Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"](http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/neil-james/summary.html). rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012. 1. ["Leeds Rhinos: Young starlet Golding pens new four-year deal"](http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos/leeds-rhinos-young-starlet-golding-pens-new-four-year-deal-1-7015581). *Yorkshire Evening Post*. 21 December 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141224220740/http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos/leeds-rhinos-young-starlet-golding-pens-new-four-year-deal-1-7015581) 24 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 July 2023. 1. ["Wembley Star, Neil James Recently Passed Away"](http://www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/news/article/41456/wembley-star-neil-james-recently). *Halifax RLFC*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150518082243/http://www.halifaxrlfc.co.uk/news/article/41456/wembley-star-neil-james-recently) 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 July 2023. 1. Fitzpatrick, Paul (21 April 1990). "Castleford list Ward but fee might scare all but the brave". *The Guardian*. p. 19. ## External links - [Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org](http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/neil-james/summary.html) - [Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk](http://thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/playerprofile.php?pid=819) - (archived by web.archive.org) [RIP Neil James & Joe Anderson](https://web.archive.org/web/20150101201359/http://www.castigers.com/article.php?id=4944) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Neil James](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_James) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_James?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.