Jim Melrose

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Jim Melrose

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|fullname = James Millsopp Melrose{{Hugman|13473|access-date=11 March 2017}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|10|7|df=y}}

|birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland

|currentclub =

|height = 5 ft 9 in{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=118 |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5}}

|position = Striker

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 = Eastercraigs

|years1 = 1975–1980

|clubs1 = Partick Thistle

|caps1 = 122

|goals1 = 31

|years2 = 1980–1982

|clubs2 = Leicester City

|caps2 = 72

|goals2 = 21

|years3 = 1982–1983

|clubs3 = Coventry City

|caps3 = 24

|goals3 = 8

|years4 = 1983–1984

|clubs4 = Celtic

|caps4 = 30

|goals4 = 7

|years5 = 1984

|clubs5 = → Wolves (loan)

|caps5 = 7

|goals5 = 2

|years6 = 1984–1985

|clubs6 = Manchester City

|caps6 = 34

|goals6 = 8

|years7 = 1985–1987

|clubs7 = Charlton Athletic

|caps7 = 48

|goals7 = 19

|years8 = 1987

|clubs8 = Leeds United

|caps8 = 4

|goals8 = 0

|years9 = 1987–1990

|clubs9 = Shrewsbury Town

|caps9 = 49

|goals9 = 3

|years10 = 1990

|clubs10 = Macclesfield Town

|caps10 = 6

|goals10 = 0

|totalcaps = 405

|totalgoals = 99

|nationalyears1 = 1977–1980

|nationalteam1 = Scotland U21

|nationalcaps1 = 8

|nationalgoals1 = 2

}}

James Millsopp Melrose (born 7 October 1958) is a Scottish retired professional footballer who played as a striker. Melrose made nearly 400 appearances in the Scottish and English Football Leagues between 1975 and 1990, scoring nearly 100 goals.

Playing career

Born in Glasgow, Melrose played for Eastercraigs, Partick Thistle, Leicester City, Coventry City, Celtic, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester City, Charlton Athletic, Leeds United, Shrewsbury Town and Macclesfield Town.{{cite web|url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/jimmelrose.html|title=Profile|access-date=7 December 2014|publisher=Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database}} He made eight appearances for the Scotland under-21 team, scoring two goals.{{cite web |url=http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu21/player.php?playerid=29 |title=Jim Melrose |work=fitbastats.com |access-date=9 September 2015}}

Melrose joined Partick Thistle at the age of 12 as a schoolboy and made his debut for at the age of 16.{{Cite web |title=Jim Melrose - The Thistle Archive |url=http://www.thethistlearchive.net/jim-melrose |access-date=16 April 2024 |website=www.thethistlearchive.net}}

He joined Leicester City in 1980 and was a regular at Filbert Street until an injury at Leyton Orient.{{Cite web |title=Former Player Remembers: Jim Melrose |url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/1571453 |access-date=16 April 2024 |website=www.lcfc.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Development |first=PodBean |title=Jim Melrose - 'The Loan Ranger' {{!}} The Wolf Whistle Podcast |url=https://wolfwhistle.podbean.com/e/jim-melrose-the-loan-ranger/ |access-date=16 April 2024 |website=wolfwhistle.podbean.com |language=en}}

After two seasons he moved to Coventry City, later playing for Celtic, Wolves and Manchester City. At Manchester City he helped the team to promotion during the 1984–85 season, but was released at the end of the season.{{Cite web |last=Development |first=PodBean |title=Search : Melrose {{!}} The Wolf Whistle Podcast |url=https://wolfwhistle.podbean.com/?s=Melrose |access-date=16 April 2024 |website=wolfwhistle.podbean.com |language=en}}

Melrose moved to Charlton Athletic, where he holds the record for scoring their fastest ever goal.{{cite tweet|number=923233199861276673|user=CAFCofficial|title=Jim Melrose wrote his name into the history books 31 years ago today by scoring our fastest ever goal 🙌 #cafc|date=25 October 2017}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmJ8jsiSvyk |title=Jim Melrose, 9 second goal for Charlton Athletic. 25/10/86. |language=en |access-date=16 April 2024 |via=www.youtube.com}}

Later career

After hanging up his boots, Melrose stayed within football and worked as a player agent, helping facilitate moves for Steve Lomas to West Ham United, Paul Lambert to Borussia Dortmund and Neil Lennon to Leicester City.

On 12 June 2009, it was announced that a consortium headed by Melrose was interested in buying Stockport County.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/8098042.stm|title=Deal agreed for Stockport buy-out|date=12 June 2009|access-date=7 December 2014|publisher=BBC Sport}}

As of December 2014, Melrose was working as the Chief Scout for Bolton Wanderers.{{cite web|url=http://www.ccfpa.co.uk/?p=13268|title=Jim Melrose signs for the association|date=2 December 2014|access-date=7 December 2014|publisher=CCFPA}}