James Main

{{short description|Scottish footballer}}

{{about||the botanist|James Main (botanist)|the Alabama judge|James Allen Main}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}

{{infobox football biography

| name = James Main

| image =

| fullname =

| height =

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1886|5|29}}

| birth_place = West Calder, Scotland{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/tragic-tale-hibs-james-main-who-died-christmas-day-injury-2443049 |title=Tragic tale of Hibs' James Main, who died of Christmas Day injury |work=The Scotsman |date=24 December 2009 |access-date=3 October 2020}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1909|12|29|1886|5|29}}

| death_place = Edinburgh, Scotland

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Mossend Juveniles

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Motherwell

| years1 = 1904–1909

| clubs1 = Hibernian{{cite web |url=http://www.hibshistoricaltrust.org.uk/player-profiles/james-main-1886-1909 |title=James Main 1886 - 1909 |publisher=Hibernian Historical Trust |date=24 December 2016 |access-date= 3 October 2020}}

| caps1 = 131

| goals1 = 4

| nationalyears1 = 1908

| nationalteam1 = Scottish League XI

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 1909

| nationalteam2 = Scotland

| nationalcaps2 = 1

| nationalgoals2 = 0

}}

James Main (29 May 1886 – 29 December 1909) was a Scottish footballer, who played for Hibernian and the Scotland national football team as a right back.{{SFA Profile|id=113423}} Main suffered fatal internal injuries while playing in a match on Christmas Day 1909, and died four days later.

Main signed for Hibs in 1904 from Motherwell. He played regularly for the club over the course of the next few seasons,[https://www.fitbastats.com/hibs/player.php?playerid=5632 (Hibernian player) Main, Jimmy], FitbaStats and won international recognition when he was selected to play for Scotland in the 1909 British Home Championship match against Ireland. Scotland won the match 5–0, and Main was expected to win further honours.{{cite news|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/spl/Memorabilia-mixes-with-poignant-tales.4138731.jp |title=Memorabilia mixes with poignant tales in new Easter Road exhibit|publisher=Johnston Press|work=The Scotsman|date=30 May 2008}} Main also played for the Scottish League once, in February 1908.{{cite web |url=http://www.londonhearts.com/SFL/players/jamesmain.html|title=[SFL player] James Main|website=London Hearts Supporters' Club|access-date=12 December 2011}}

Main's life and career was cut short, however, when he suffered a ruptured bowel after being kicked in the stomach by Partick Thistle outside-left Frank Branscombe during a match played at Firhill on Christmas Day 1909. John Sharp, a teammate of Main, later said that the incident was an accident because the Thistle player had slipped on the icy surface before making contact. Main had returned home on the night of the game, but he was rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary when the extent of his internal injuries were realised. An emergency operation was initially successful, but further treatment was ineffective and Main died from his injuries.