Footballers who have played league football for PNE & Luton Town since 1888
A-K
852) ALEXANDER Graham (PNE signed Mar 99 322 apps 47 gls) (Luton 150 apps 15 gls)
747) ALLPRESS Tim (PNE signed Nov 91 9 apps 0 gls) (Luton 1 app 0 gls)
548) ASHWORTH Alec (PNE signed June 63 43 apps 14 gls) (Luton 63 apps 20 gls)
408) BERESFORD Frank (PNE signed 1933/34 36 apps 4 gls) (Luton 12 apps 1 goal)
630) ELLIOTT Steve (PNE signed Mar 79 208 apps 70 gls) (Luton 12 apps 3 gls)
743) JACKSON Matt (PNE signed Mar 91 4 apps 0 gls) (Luton 9 apps 0 gls)
745) JAMES Julian (PNE signed Sept 91 6 apps 0 gls) (Luton 282 apps 13 gls)
Player Profile JULIAN JAMES
Julian Colin James was born in Tring on 22nd March 1970. After being spotted by Luton coach John Moore playing local football with Tring Tornadoes, the 18 year old defender signed professionally for the Hatters in July 1997.
James made his debut for Luton coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton towards the end of the 1987/88 season. James made two further substitute appearances in the season that Luton won the League Cup after beating Arsenal 3-2.
James made his full debut for Luton in the League Cup in the 1988/89 season against Leeds at Elland Road . Although the Hatters won 2-0 James was sent off midway in the second half. He only made one other appearance during that season as again Luton reached the League Cup Final but this time they were defeated by Nottingham Forest .
The following season saw James start 22 games and scored his first league goal in a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday. His performances earned him two England under 21 caps.
Les Chapman the Preston Manager signed James on loan for a month, making the first of six appearances for PNE in a 2-2 draw at Swansea on September 14 1991. His next two matches were also draws away at Leyton Orient and a home debut against Stoke. He tasted defeat for the first and only time in a PNE shirt at Birmingham in a 3-1 reverse. His final two games for PNE, James ended up on the winning side in a 2-0 victory at Deepdale against West Brom and a 3-2 win at Bury on October 12 1991.
James returned to the Hatters earning rave reviews and made a further 25 appearances that season scoring his only goal in a home defeat against Southampton .
Luton last season in the top division before it became the Premier League saw James make 30 appearances scoring two goals. His first, the winner at home to Forest in a 2-1 win. His second was in a match they had to win at Notts County . James opening the scoring in the first half but two second half goals from Rob Matthews, who later played for Luton consigned Luton to relegation in a season they didn't win an away league match.
The next few seasons saw James become a central figure in the Hatters defence missing only a handful of games. James also played at Wembley in a 2-0 FA Cup Semi-Final defeat against Chelsea in 1994.
In 1995/96 James suffered his second relegation and was on the verge of leaving Luton as he was being left out of the starting eleven by the manager Terry Westley. Following the departure of Westley after a 4-0 defeat against Portsmouth , new boss Lennie Lawrence put him back in the team and made 31 appearances that season.
Prior to the start of the 1996/97 season James was awarded a Testimonial marking ten years at the club in a 4-2 victory against West Ham. James made 56 appearances for Luton that season and played a major role in keeping Luton on course for promotion. Although the season ended in disappointment as he was sent off in the first leg of the play off Semi-Final at Crewe and Luton lost the tie.
The 1997/98 saw Luton struggle in the lower reaches of Division Two and after making 26 appearances for the club that season James suffered a broken leg in a 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers. His leg was broken in two places from a challenge by Barry Hayles and was forced to retire after scoring 14 goals in 334 games in all competitions for the Hatters.
James did make a comeback in non-league football and after a brief spell with Aylesbury United, he returned to his home town to play for Tring Athletic in a local league.