James was a cousin of Sir Doug Nicholls and this reference states he was born in Wahgunyah, Victoria.
[3] In 1938, James kicked 115 goals for the Mooroopna in the Goulburn Valley Football Association,[4] including another 13 during the finals for a total of 128, in which he played Mooroopna's 1940 losing grand final side.
[6] James kicked five goals for Brocklesby in the 1939 Albury & District Football League premiership.
James, a left footer,[11] was the fourth Indigenous Australian to play for Fitzroy.
[13] In 1946, James was club secretary and coach of the All Blacks Football Club in the Central Goulburn Valley Football League and kicked nine goals in their grand final win against Toolamba.