Jimmy McMullan
Partick Thistle and Maidstone United
### Partick Thistle and Maidstone United

He joined *Thirds''' [Glasgow](/wiki/Glasgow "Glasgow") rivals [Partick Thistle](/wiki/Partick_Thistle_F.C. "Partick Thistle F.C.") in 1913\.\[A Record of pre\-war Scottish League Players], John Litster / Scottish Football Historian magazine, October 2012 He stayed eight seasons with Thistle but missed out on participating in their [Scottish Cup](/wiki/Scottish_Cup "Scottish Cup")\-winning side of [1921](/wiki/1921_Scottish_Cup_Final "1921 Scottish Cup Final") through injury.[Scottish Cup Final  Partick Thistle's First Victory](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VhY-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=EkoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2154%2C5704021), The Glasgow Herald, 18 April 1921*

In the close season of 1921 McMullan became embroiled in controversy. Partick turned down a £5,000 offer from [Newcastle United](/wiki/Newcastle_United_F.C. "Newcastle United F.C.") for his signature and the player, determined to play in English football, signed for non\-league [Maidstone United](/wiki/Maidstone_United_F.C._%281897%29 "Maidstone United F.C. (1897)") as player\-manager.[James McMullan Tells His Own Story \| Bound South](http://partickthistleahistory.wikifoundry.com/page/1921+-+McMullan+to+Maidstone), The Weekly News, 16 July 1921, via Partick Thistle History Archive He returned to the Glasgow club in the summer of 1923\.[Football](http://partickthistleahistory.wikifoundry.com/page/1923+-+McMullan+returns), Kent \& Sussex Courier, 23 July 1923, via Partick Thistle History Archive In February 1926 he eventually earned his long\-desired move to the [Football League](/wiki/Football_League "Football League") aged 30, when [Manchester City](/wiki/Manchester_City_F.C. "Manchester City F.C.") signed him for £4,700\.
### Manchester City

McMullan made his debut for his new team in a 1–1 draw with [Liverpool](/wiki/Liverpool_F.C. "Liverpool F.C.") on 27 February 1926\. [Tommy Browell](/wiki/Tommy_Browell "Tommy Browell") scored the goal for City in that game. Despite containing a number of [England](/wiki/England_national_football_team "England national football team") players such as [Frank Roberts](/wiki/Frank_Roberts_%28footballer%2C_born_1893%29 "Frank Roberts (footballer, born 1893)"), [Billy Austin](/wiki/Billy_Austin_%28footballer%29 "Billy Austin (footballer)"), [Sam Cowan](/wiki/Sam_Cowan "Sam Cowan") and [Tommy Johnson](/wiki/Tommy_Johnson_%28footballer_born_1900%29 "Tommy Johnson (footballer born 1900)"), City finished in twenty\-first place in the First Division that season and were relegated into the second division. McMullan played in the [1926 FA Cup Final](/wiki/1926_FA_Cup_Final "1926 FA Cup Final") defeat to [Bolton Wanderers](/wiki/Bolton_Wanderers_F.C. "Bolton Wanderers F.C."). McMullan scored his first goal for Manchester City in a 3–4 defeat to [Southampton](/wiki/Southampton_F.C. "Southampton F.C.") in the 1926–27 football season. City came third in the second division and were unable to earn promotion. In the 1927–28 football season McMullan helped City into first place in the second division, earning the team promotion. The team had been strengthened by the acquisition of both [Eric Brook](/wiki/Eric_Brook "Eric Brook") and [Fred Tilson](/wiki/Fred_Tilson "Fred Tilson") from [Barnsley](/wiki/Barnsley_F.C. "Barnsley F.C."). 
McMullan reached an FA Cup final with City again in [1933](/wiki/1933_FA_Cup_Final "1933 FA Cup Final") but the team were defeated by [Everton](/wiki/Everton_F.C. "Everton F.C.") 3–0\. Many of his teammates would be part of the City team which won the FA Cup the following year. However, after 242 League and Cup appearances, McMullan departed Manchester City in May 1933\.
### International

In 1920 he won the first of his sixteen caps for [Scotland](/wiki/Scotland_national_football_team "Scotland national football team") against [Wales](/wiki/Wales_national_football_team "Wales national football team") in a 1–1 draw in the [1920 British Home Championship](/wiki/1920_British_Home_Championship "1920 British Home Championship"), having made unofficial appearances in the years prior during wartime. McMullan is considered to have been the greatest Scottish half\-back of his day; he was an ever\-present in the [1921 British Home Championship](/wiki/1921_British_Home_Championship "1921 British Home Championship") which was won by Scotland.
McMullan helped Scotland to victory in the [1925 British Home Championship](/wiki/1925_British_Home_Championship "1925 British Home Championship") and was part of the Scotland team which defeated [England](/wiki/England_national_football_team "England national football team") 2–0\. He was also part of the team which won the [1926 British Home Championship](/wiki/1926_British_Home_Championship "1926 British Home Championship") appearing in the 1–0 victory against England at [Old Trafford](/wiki/Old_Trafford "Old Trafford") and in the 3–0 victory against Wales at [Ninian Park](/wiki/Ninian_Park "Ninian Park"). In the [1927 British Home Championship](/wiki/1927_British_Home_Championship "1927 British Home Championship"), McMullan featured twice for Scotland in a 3–0 victory against Wales and a 2–1 defeat to England at [Hampden Park](/wiki/Hampden_Park "Hampden Park"). Despite this defeat, Scotland won the championship again that season.
In the [1928 British Home Championship](/wiki/1928_British_Home_Championship "1928 British Home Championship"), McMullan captained Scotland as they defeated England 5–1 at [Wembley Stadium](/wiki/Wembley_Stadium "Wembley Stadium") with a hat\-trick from [Alex Jackson](/wiki/Alex_Jackson_%28footballer_born_1905%29 "Alex Jackson (footballer born 1905)") and a brace from [Alex James](/wiki/Alex_James_%28footballer%29 "Alex James (footballer)"). As a result of the resounding victory, the Scotland team were dubbed the "Wembley Wizards"''. Despite this victory Wales won the championship that season. McMullan captained Scotland to victory the following season in the [1929 British Home Championship](/wiki/1929_British_Home_Championship "1929 British Home Championship").


What were some of the key contributions made by James McMullan during his time at Scotland?