| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Fred Olney | ||
| Date of birth | 1 August 1914 | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Date of death | 14 September 1944 (aged 30) | ||
| Place of death | Belgium | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Playing position | Centre half / Left half | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| – | Tyseley Rangers | ? | (?) |
| – | Newbridge Albion | ? | (?) |
| 1935–1936 | Redditch | ? | (?) |
| 1936–1938 | Birmingham | 3 | (0) |
| 1938–1944 | Swindon Town | 13 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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James Fred "Jim" Olney (1 August 1914 – 14 September 1944) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham and Swindon Town.[1][2]
Olney was born in Greet, Birmingham. He played local football before joining First Division club Birmingham in May 1936.[3] He made his debut in the last game of the 1935–36 season in a 3–1 home defeat against West Bromwich Albion.[4] He played two more games during the following season, standing in for Tom Fillingham at centre half,[5] but his playing style was considered too similar to that of Fillingham, and in December 1938 he moved to Third Division South club Swindon Town.[3] He played ten games at left half in what remained of the 1938–39 season,[6] and the first three of the next season, abandoned because of the Second World War.[7]
Olney was killed while serving as a Lance-Serjeant in the 5th Battalion, Coldstream Guards on 14 September 1944, at the age of 30. He is buried in Geel War Cemetery[8] and commemorated at Swindon Town's County Ground.[9]