He played with them in the second competition for the FA Cup when Oxford reached the Cup Final, played at Lillie Bridge ground, West Brompton, on 29 March 1873, only to lose to the Wanderers by 2 goals to nil.
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The match was refereed by cup founder C. W. Alcock of Wanderers F.C. It finished as a 1–1 draw, with goals from Henry Renny-Tailyour for Royal Engineers and Alexander Bonsor for Old Etonians, which meant that there would have to be a replay.
After school, he played as full-back in association football with the Old Etonians F.C. and took part in the first match (score 1-1 draw) of the 1876 FA Cup Final at Kennington Oval, which they ultimately lost after a replay to Wanderers when his place in team was taken by Edgar Lubbock.
Sir James Kirkpatrick, 8th Baronet was a keen amateur footballer in his youth and appeared in goal for the Wanderers in the 1878 FA Cup Final.
His football career included appearances for Oxford University (when he played against Cambridge University in March 1874), Swifts and Old Wykehamists, but he achieved notability for his exploits with the Wanderers amateur club, who won five of he first seven FA Cup finals.