james knowles

Jim, who served his apprenticeship as an engineer at the Mugiemoss paper mill, started his senior career with Victoria United, for whom he played three years before the club joined the amalgamation into the current Aberdeen FC. After playing a season playing occasionally for Bon-Accord, Jim joined up at Pittodrie but remained only a season before going to America to work. Most of Jim's games were played for the Reserves in the Northern League, but he also played for the Whites in the Second Division and scored a goal against Falkirk. In an interview in the Press and Journal in 1971, Jim recalled that his wages as a reserve were 10s including payment for training two nights a week. On the occasion that he played for the First Team, his wage went up to £1 - both wages were better than he had received when with Victoria United, where the players were paid on the basis of a share of the gate receipts. Jim also recalled that despite the bringing together of players from the three rival clubs, there was a great team-spirit prevailing in the new Club.