PLAYER PROFILE : JAMES RICHARD NAYLOR. BORN: 6/2/74 BIRTHPLACE: Halifax HEIGHT: 5’11" WEIGHT: 15st 1lb POSITION: Wing

Jim Naylor has shared the two wing positions with Tony Underwood and Vainga Tuigamala during his time at the club. Newcastle were lucky to sign Jim, as if not injured he would have been likely to join Leicester with mates Austin Healey and Will Greenwood who were devastated in having to leave him behind in the North East.

Educated at Crossley Heath School and Wigan & Leith Technical College he has played in eight sides, not including the Falcons. Starting at Old Crossleyans he soon became part of the North, Under 21s, colts (in 1993), England A (6 times), England Colts (four tries in four games), England Students, England 21s, England A, Orrell - P. club and all by the age of 25!

After Naylor’s debut v’s Canada in March 1994 he was invited to tour against Australia and Fiji.

During the 1998/9 season he was first choice wing with Tuigamala at centre, at Inga's move to the wing Tony Underwood's injury gave Jim the chance to carry on impressing us all in his favoured position.

He impressed the Premiership as he was picked to play on the wing for the Premiership All Stars to play a match against England on the 7th of September 1999, as part of England's warm up to the World Cup.

Not only impressing the fans Jim was given the nick name "Pretty Polly" by the rest of the team as he runs faster than a cheap pair of tights. It was his speed and agility that lead to his signing (on loan) by Halifax Blue Sox in February 2000 following the footsteps of another Falcons former winger John Bentley.