Jim Mitchell, also known as Fred, who died 50 years ago (May 1975) holds a unique place in footballing history as the last man to play for England in a full international wearing spectacles and he is also uniquely the last man to play in an FA Cup Final wearing glasses.
He joined his home-town team as a junior and made his league début for Blackpool as a 19-year-old in 1915. He then played for the Northern Nomads and his University team and Mitchell was Great Britain’s first choice goalkeeper for the 1920 Olympics but after a 3-1 defeat by Norway the British team were on their way home and just over a week later Mitchell joined Preston North End as an amateur. He played in 21 League games for Preston and played in several cup ties including the 1922 FA Cup Final (Preston lost against Huddersfield Town, 1-0). After the Cup Final Mitchell joined Manchester City and spent four years at Maine Road before one season at Leicester City as a reserve ‘keeper, before his retirement after 125 League games. He won five England amateur caps, and against Ireland at Goodison Park in 1924 he made his one and only full England appearance. He returned to his old Blackpool school as a teacher for a while before joining Stead & Simpson, a well-known shoe manufacturer in Leicester and later became a director of the company.
Gary Freestone – Leicester 50 Years Ago