Veteran Wales world and supervisor John Toshack says Leighton James became as soon as “one in all the very simplest wingers British football has ever seen.”
The worn Wales winger who played more than 600 games within the Soccer League, has died at the age of 71.
Toshack says Wales had been “fortunate” to have the worn Burnley winger, who played 54 instances for his country.
“Leighton is one in all the absolute most practical two-footed avid gamers I’ve ever played with or seen and I have seen pretty about a,” he talked about.
“I consistently loved teaming up with him, he became as soon as paunchy of self belief in his have capacity.
“About a of the absolute most practical moments I had with Wales and the targets I scored had been on account of Leighton. He became as soon as some skill.”
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James played 399 games for Burnley in three spells and spent two years at Derby County.
James also represented Swansea City, Sunderland, Bury and Newport County in a 19-year taking half in profession sooner than turning to management with loads of clubs and forging a profession as an basically outspoken pundit.
Toshack played with James and likewise managed the like a flash winger at Swansea, with James scoring a unbelievable goal in a accumulate at Preston that clinched a first-ever promotion to the tip-flight for the Swans in 1981.
“We all take into accout the final game at Preston where we needed to accumulate to gather promoted and Leighton scored that enticing goal, it became as soon as classic instance of the flexibility he had,” Toshack told BBC Radio Wales Sport.
“The out and out winger lately is a dying breed in football, but Leighton James became as soon as one in all the absolute most practical wingers that British football has ever produced and we had been very very fortunate at the truth he became as soon as a Welshman.”
Creator and political strategist Alastair Campbell, a Burnley supporter, described James as his “hero.”
“They are saying you should even soundless by no way meet your heroes,” he wrote. “But I met mine many instances and he became a proper buddy.
“Leighton James became as soon as a unbelievable footballer, per chance Burnley’s simplest ever. I know he had been in heart-broken health but soundless an colossal shock to gather the news he has died.”
Campbell talked about James became as soon as a “particular footballer.”
“He became as soon as a mode of avid gamers, like George Most bright, that when the ball went in direction of him, you merely had that pleasure spherical what he became as soon as going to elevate out,” he told BBC Wales.
“He became as soon as particular like that. There became as soon as something about him that became as soon as merely particular.
“I became as soon as shocked he by no way played for one in all the the truth is large clubs, because he became as soon as that proper… he became as soon as a unbelievable footballer.”
Toshack says James will be remembered as fondly in Burnley as Wales after three spells with the Clarets.
“The success Leighton had there with them and the targets that he scored, I’m obvious that the supporters will be remembering these targets for a lengthy very lengthy time to come,” Toshack added.
“There’ll be loads of disappointment in that dwelling of Lancashire because he became as soon as a fanciful skill.”
Swansea and Wales story Alan Curtis talked about James “became as soon as a huge player”.
Curtis added: “That observe is largely given to proper avid gamers, now not huge ones, but Leighton became as soon as a if fact be told huge player.
“Even to lately I do now not know if he became as soon as proper or left-footed. He became as soon as a necessary player.”
Wales forward Ian Walsh says James is an colossal loss to Welsh football.
“Other than being a wonderfully technical footballer, he became as soon as a majestic personality,” he talked about.
“I had some the truth is funny moments and some huge instances with him as a bunch-mate.
“His kind of wing-play is a skill that has gone out of the game.”
BBC Radio Wales and Sport editor Carolyn Hitt also paid tribute, saying: “Leighton became as soon as a neatly-recognized and popular contributor to the BBC Sport Wales.
“Our exact condolences slip out to his family and friends right this moment.”
Supply:BBC Sport
