Jimmy Todd

James "Jimmy" Todd (19 March 1921 – 21 December 2007) was a footballer from Northern Ireland who played for Port Vale between 1946 and 1953. A half-back, he was "a real terrier type who used to fight for the ball all the time".

Playing career

Todd began his playing career with Ards, before playing for the Royal Air Force and then Blackpool, before moving to Port Vale for a then-club-record four-figure fee in October 1946, on the recommendation of Stanley Matthews. He made 31 appearances in the Third Division South in 1946–47, 24 appearances in 1947–48, and 11 appearances in 1948–49. Having slipped out of the first team picture at The Old Recreation Ground, he returned to play 41 games in 1949–50. However he played only eight games in 1950–51, becoming a fringe player at newly constructed Vale Park. In the summer, manager Gordon Hodgson died, and following Ivor Powell's brief tenure, Freddie Steele took charge of the club in November. Todd played 25 times in 1951–52, and then made 11 league appearances in 1952–53, as Vale finished as runners-up in the Third Division North. Having played 146 league and eleven FA Cup games for the "Valiants", he was given a free transfer to Cheshire County League side Wellington Town in May 1953. Todd later played for Stafford Rangers.

Statistics

• Sourced from Jimmy Todd profile at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

Honours

with Port Vale

• Football League Third Division North runner-up: 1952–53