TYRONE JAMES

Born: 19 September 1956

Came from: Fulham   Went to: Liskeard

First game: 10 March 1978   Last game: 27 February 1982

Appearances: 94 (90/4)   Goals: 0

James was born in Paddington in 1956, to 'Windrush' parents from the Caribbean, who emigrated to the UK the year before in 1955. His father was from Trinidad and his mother from Barbados. He grew up in Newham, Essex, attending a tough comprehensive school and playing football, often in isolation given the parlous state of integration in the country at the time.

Persevering and with a father who wasn't a football fan, he was approached by West Ham United Juniors' scout Wally St Pier, after he was spotted playing for Newham Football Club under-16s. He went on to help the Hammers' youths win their junior team cup final. The cup was bought home to show off by a young James and his father's interest was duly ignited. Shortly afterwards he was then offered an apprenticeship with Fulham, during the period when their side included George Best, Alan Mullery, Bobby Moore and Rodney Marsh.

He was one of Fulham's earliest black players and one of just 17 black players in the First Division in England at that challenging time of the 1970s. During his time at Craven Cottage, he made 20 appearances across three seasons following his debut in 1975. While at Fulham, he earned the nickname 'Tyrone the Tiger' quite possibly through his tenacious performances..

Moving to Home Park in March 1978 as a Lennie Lawrence signing, he spent five years with Argyle although he did not appear in the 1982-83 season and spent some of that time on loan to Torquay United, for whom he appeared 13 times and netted his only Football League goal. He also played under Malcolm Allison, Bobby Moncur and Bobby Saxton. His best season was 1979-80, when he was a regular in Bobby Saxton's side, forming a good relationship with Chris Harrison. In total he made a total of 94 appearances, without scoring and was popular with fans.

With appearances in each of the next two seasons, being in single figures for each season, he was released from Home Park at the end of the 1981-82 season and briefly played for Liskeard Athletic. He then choose to emigrate to Australia where he continued his career in the National Soccer League (NSL), the precursor to the present day Australian League (A-League), playing for Melbourne-based sides Sunshine St George (now known as Caroline Springs George Cross), a team forged from Maltese immigrants to Australia and similarly, also for Footscray Jugoslav United Soccer Team (known as Footscray JUST). He also represented Victoria at State Level.

Following his retirement from playing, he moved into a coaching career within the Melbourne area, operating his own academy, the Tyrone James Professional Football Academy.

In 2009 he returned to Fulham, on a visit to the UK, at their Motspur Park training ground and spent an evening meeting children from one of Fulham FC Foundation's 'Kickz Project'. He answered questions on what it was like to be one of the first black players in English football in the 1970s, as part of a week of action for the 'Kick Racism out of Football' campaign that year.

He has also since worked for La Trobe University Soccer Club, in Bundoora, a Melbourne suburb, as a senior team coach, and worked with junior age-range coaching for Albion Thunder.

James is also well-known for technical one-on-one training, notably coaching future professionals including subsequent Socceroo Andrew Nabbout, who was a fellow alumni of his former club Sunshine George Cross.