James Clabby Townsend was born in Greenock, Scotland on February 2, 1945. Jim started his career with Port Glasgow Juniors.
In 1961 he joined St. Johnstone. He played in 57 league games and scored eight goals for the Perth team.
In February 1964 he was sold to Middlesbrough for £25,000. Jim played in 67 Football League games and scored 6 goals for Middlesbrough.
Jim returned to Scotland in 1966 and joined his former club St. Johnstone. He played in 31 league games and scored four goals during the 1966-67 season for the Perth club.
He joined Heart of Midlothian from St. Johnstone at the end of the 1966-67 season and played in one league game in the 1966-67 season.
Jim played in eleven games during the 1968-1969 season for Hearts.
He played in 107 league games and scored 11 goals during his time with Hearts.
The 5’9″ and 11 st 4 lbs inside right or right half joined joined Morton in 1972.
In the 1973-74 season he played in 21 Scottish League games for Morton.
In all he played in 89 league games and scored one goal with the Greenock club.
Jim spent the summer of 1976 on vacation in the United States and had a short spell with North American Soccer League club Boston Minutemen.
In an interview with Scottish newspaper Daily Record on November 11, 2013 he said “At the time I had hoped to get into the USA but that was tougher than Canada. I’m glad things panned out the way they did. American (sic) is a terrible country tight now.”
On January 10, 1977 he moved to Canada. In April 1977 he signed as a player-coach for Windsor Stars.
Windsor Stars finished the season in fourth place in the First Division of National Soccer League in the 1977 season.
On February 6, 1978 he was surprisingly released from his contract with Windsor Stars.
He continued his interview in the Daily Record to say that “By the time I left for Canada I knew my football days were numbered, although I played for some Mickey Mouse clubs over there.”
Jim settled in Windsor, Ontario. He passed away on 19th October, 2020 at the age of 75.
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Sources:
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/sixties-saints-star-jim-townsend-2732548