Robert Mark James was born March 23rd, 1957, in Swansea, Wales. He was a Welsh international who played for many teams including Swansea City, Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers.He was a talented utility player who contributed greatly to Swansea City's rise from the Fourth Division to the First Division between 1978 and 1981, and helped them finish sixth in their first top division campaign.
During the 1974–75 season he had a trial at Arsenal but failed to impress, playing in one reserve team game. Robbie later signed for Queens Park Rangers in November 1984 and played 87 league games for them, scoring four goals, it was whilst he was with QPR, that he appeared for the Rowdies in 1986, playing in the "Coca-Cola Classic Internation Soccer Series", before a brief spell at Leicester City.
In 1987, he rejoined Swansea City, who by now were in the Fourth Division, and helped them win promotion in his first season back at the Vetch Field. He then turned out for Bradford City, and wound up in the Football League with Cardiff City in 1994.
He won 47 full caps for Wales.
Sadly, Robbie died, aged 40, from an unspecified cardiomyopathy while playing for Llanelli where he was player-manager. Where they named a Sports Bar after him.
A bust in memory of Robbie James has recently been erected beside the ticket office of Swansea City's Liberty Stadium. 
1 comment:
I had no idea the late, great Robbie James played for Tampa Bay. What a player! The hardest shot I ever saw. I remember a game against Sunderland when he nearly broke the net. I watched him play for Swansea when he was 16. One of my all time heroes. How he would have loved the Swans success in the English premier league. Sorely missed.
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