Alex James (14 September 1901 – 1 June 1953) was a Scottish striker, nicknamed 'Wee Alex',  and was the outstanding player of the great Arsenal side of the 1930s.    Born in Mossend, Lanarkshire, James was probably the most complete player of his generation.  He began his career with Raith Rovers in 1922 before joining  Preston North End three years later.  James was brought to Arsenal by Herbert Chapman who paid Preston £8750 for his services in 1929.  Although only five and a half feet tall and less than ten and a half stone, James was the outstanding  figure in a side which won four championships and two FA Cup victories.  He played as an inside forward, as a supporting player for the main strikers. James was famed for the excellent quality of his passing and supreme ball control. In order to circumvent the maximum wage rules, Arsenal arranged it so that his employment at the club was supplemented by a £250-a-year "sports demonstrator" job at Selfridges, one of London's most famous department stores.   In common with other players playing south of the border, James opportunities of playing for Scotland were limited.  It was not helped by the fact that Preston refused to release him for international matches.  This allied to his brash personality ensured that he won only eight caps for his country.  He was, however, one of the Wembley Wizards, scoring twice in Scotland's 5-1 victory over England at Wembley in March 1928.   Instantly recognisable in old photographs for wearing extra-long shorts that emphasized his short stature (he said they kept his knees warm), James retired as a player in 1937.