Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust

An unfortunate accident occurred during the progress of the football match between Dundee and Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday afternoon. James Muir, the inside left forward of the Aberdeen team, had just scored a goal and was turning round on his left leg, when his foot being blocked by Chaplin, one of the Dundee backs, Muir fell over Chaplin's leg, fracturing the fibula bone a few inches above the ankle. Muir dropped like a log, and Dr. Ellis Milne, the clubs medical attendant, ran across the pitch, and after examination ordered the players to be taken to the pavilion, and several of the Dundee and Aberdeen players carried Muir there. Dr. Milne temporarily dressed the injured limb. The police ambulance was then summoned, and Muir was removed to the Royal Infirmary. The accident was deeply regretted by players and spectators alike. The match, which was a league fixture, created tremendous interest, and was witnessed by a crowd of spectators estimated at about 15,000. A number of special trains were run from the north, and two came from Dundee with 500 excursionists. A stubbornly contested game ended in a draw each team securing a goal.
When inquiry at the infirmary it was ascertained that Muir had sustained a simple fracture of the fibula, the injury not being so serious as was first supposed.

Source: Aberdeen Daily Journal, 26th October 1908

It was announced in August 1909 that Muir had decided to retire from the game because of his injury. He did try to make a comeback with Aberdeen in 1913 but it did not work out.

On military service by April 1915.