Jimmy Fortune was one of a host of Irish signings by Leeds City during Frank Scott-Walford's time in charge at the club.

Fortune began his career with Shelbourne of Dublin and moved to Distillery in Belfast in 1910.

In the summer of 1911, he came to England when he signed for Leeds. He was given his debut in the third game of the season, a goalless draw at home to Chelsea, as stand in for Fred Croot, who was injured. Gauntlet reported in the Leeds Mercury: 'Fortune, who was promoted from the reserves to take the place of Croot, played a very promising game. He was a bit green, as was not to be wondered at, but he showed a good deal of intelligence, and he and Enright worked well together.' The Yorkshire Post noted that 'a fine centre by Fortune enabled Roberts to all but score from a position near the goal.'

Unfortunately, that was his only appearance for the Peacocks and the Irishman returned to Shelbourne at the end of the season.

He came back to England for reasonably successful spells at Barrow, Queens Park Rangers and Bristol Rovers, before returning to Shelbourne where he ended his playing days.