Welsh star Leighton James, who has died at the age of 71, had a glittering playing career – but he also managed in Cumbria.
James was manager of Netherfield – now Kendal Town – in the 1994-95 season where he kept the side in the top half of the Northern Premier League.
He had followed former Liverpool star Alan Kennedy and Tony Hesketh into the Parkside Road hot seat.
In his playing career James made over 600 League appearances and won 54 caps for Wales.
He was generally regarded as the best player that Swansea ever had and one of the best to represent his country.
Most of his League games were played for Burnley (334) in three spells and he also played for Derby, QPR, Swansea, Sunderland, Buty and Newport.
His managerial career started at Gainsborough Trinity and via Morecambe, Netherfield and Ilkeston he landed his biggest job with Accrington Stanley – still then in non-league.
More low-key roles followed in Welsh football before he retired in 2012 and he has been a radio pundit for a number of years.
