Jimmy Paterson


James Alexander Paterson MC was a Scottish doctor and footballer who played as an outside left.

Life and career

Born in London but brought up in Glasgow, Paterson was on the books of both Rangers and Queen's Park as an amateur, whilst training as a doctor. He won the Scottish Football League championship with Rangers in 1912–13 and a Glasgow Cup the following season and played regularly until graduating in 1916. With World War I in full effect, he joined the London Scottish Regiment and served as a medical officer, winning the Military Cross for his bravery in action in France in 1917. After the war ended, Paterson was posted to a Scottish hospital and played one further season with Rangers in 1919–20, winning the championship for a second time.
He moved to London to share a medical practice in Clapton with his brother-in-law, John L. Scott, who was also the Arsenal team doctor. Paterson was persuaded to sign for Arsenal as an amateur and made his debut on the left wing against Derby County on 30 October 1920. Paterson became a regular fixture in the Arsenal side that season, and even played for the English Football League XI against the Scottish League XI and Swansea Town. In all he made 77 appearances for Arsenal, scoring two goals.
Paterson continued to work in medical practice until his retirement in the 1950s. He died of a heart attack in 1959, aged 68.