Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
138	58	80	9	1	0	38

James Houston was an active Featherstone Rovers supporter at a young age and played his junior rugby in the same Travellers Saints team as James Ford. He moved across to the Millpond Stadium when the Travs merged with The Jubilee to form the new Featherstone Lions. Houston’s form in junior rugby attracted attention from a few clubs but he accepted an offer from Featherstone after a meeting with Barry Evans and the then Head Coach Kevin Hobbs. 

He was part of the 2001 Academy Grand Final team which beat a heavily fancied Leigh side at Hilton Park, and achieve promotion to the Academy Super League. He then made his first team debut in 2003 and was a regular member of the side until the end of the 2009 season, apart from 2004 when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury. His first team career reflected the ups and downs of Rovers’ form during this period. After missing out on the play-offs in 2003, and coming close a Grand final in 2004, 2005 ended in relegation. Rovers were able to fight their way out of National League 2 via a Play-Off Final win against Oldham in 2007, a match which Houston described as the best day of his rugby career at Featherstone. He also gained representative honours with Scotland and played in the 2003 Emerging Nations tournament.

In 2009, he was granted a testimonial for 10 years’ service to the Rovers, a rare achievement in the modern game. A grafter with a great attitude he served the club well and was popular with fans. He went onto to give good service to the Hunslet club for four seasons, as well as playing a season at York.