James Anthony McNichol (born 9 June 1958) is a Scottish former professional footballer who is most noted for his career at Torquay United and Exeter City. He was capped by Scotland at U21 level.[3]
An apprentice at Ipswich Town, McNichol joined Luton Town in July 1976.[1] He later played for Brentford (his transfer setting a new club record incoming fee of £33,000),[4] before moving on to Exeter City.[1] In July 1986 he joined Torquay United.[1] On 9 May 1987 Torquay were heading out of the Football League, 2–0, down to Crewe Alexandra at half-time in the last game of the season, they needed two more goals to ensure survival—McNichol, Paul Dobson and a German shepherd called Bryn saved the day for Torquay.[5] McNichol scored from a free-kick, then in the dying moments ran to the corner flag to whip in a cross, little realizing his run would confuse the police dog into thinking he was about to attack his handler.[5] The dog bit McNichol on the leg and the player had to be treated; during the minutes added on due to the injury, Dobson scored and Lincoln City were the ones to lose their league status on goal difference.[5] The story of McNichol's injury was featured in the Netflix documentary series Losers.[6]
McNichol was appointed captain and led the club to the Football League Trophy final in 1989, before returning to Exeter in August 1989.[1] He helped City take the Football League Fourth Division title in 1989–90, before he made the switch from Exeter to Torquay a second time in July 1991.[1] After leaving the Gulls he later played for Torrington. An ankle ligament injury ended his career.[7]
After his retirement from football, McNichol settled in Exeter and became a publican, operating The Exeter Inn in Ashburton.[8] He sold the pub just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, after 33 years running in.[9]
