Although born in Manchester, England, Jimmy Borland's family had emigrated to Canada and he learned to play ice hockey in Montreal.

Borland returned to the United Kingdom in 1933 when he joined the Grosvenor House Canadians where he helped the team to win the English League in 1933–34.

In 1934 he was selected to play for the Great Britain national ice hockey team for the World Championships which were held in Milan that year.

Borland played in three games during the tournament helping the team to win gold medal.

Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jimmy Borland".