James Riordan (1936–2012) was an English novelist, broadcaster, sports historian, and scholar of Russian studies. He made significant contributions to the academic study of sport in the Soviet Union with his work "Sport in Soviet Society." Additionally, he authored numerous children's novels and was known for his expertise in Russian culture.

Riordan's academic career included lectureships at Bradford University and the University of Surrey, where he headed the Russian Department. He also served as an Olympic attaché for the British Olympic Association at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. His personal life included an avowed communist stance and studies in Moscow. He claimed to have been the first Briton to play football in the USSR for FC Spartak Moscow in 1963, a claim for which supporting documentation is reportedly absent.

His prolific writing career extended to children's literature, with novels such as "Match of Death" and "The Sniper." He also edited collections on sport and politics and translated Russian literature. Riordan's work on "The Death Match," a historical football game between Soviet POWs and Wehrmacht soldiers, resulted in both a scholarly article and a children's novel.

Born in Portsmouth in 1936, James Riordan developed his proficiency in Russian during his National Service in the Royal Air Force between 1955 and 1957. He pursued his academic interests by graduating in Russian Studies from the University of Birmingham in 1960, followed by teacher training at the London Institute of Education. His commitment to Russian studies deepened when he studied at a higher education institution affiliated with the Communist Party in Moscow in 1963, identifying as one of the few English students there and as an avowed Communist. His academic career saw him lecturing at Bradford University before moving to the University of Surrey, where he led the Russian Department and was granted a personal professorship. He also held an honorary doctorate from Grenoble University and was actively involved in the European Committee for Sports History, serving as President from 2003 to 2005 and later as a Fellow.

James Riordan is recognized for his pioneering academic work "Sport in Soviet Society," which offered the first scholarly examination of athletic activities within the Soviet Union. Beyond his academic pursuits, he was a prolific author of children's novels, including "The Secret Castle," "Sweet Clarinet," and "Match of Death." His novel "The Sniper" (2008) was based on interviews with its subject, Soviet sniper Tania Chernova. Riordan also dedicated research to "The Death Match," a notable unofficial football game played in 1943 between Soviet prisoners of war and German soldiers, leading to both a scholarly article and a children's novel on the subject. He also served as an Olympic attaché for the British Olympic Association during the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

In his autobiography, "Comrade Jim: The Spy Who Played for Spartak" (published in 2008), Riordan recounts his experiences playing football for FC Spartak Moscow in 1963. He claimed to be the first British individual to play in the USSR. However, the source notes the absence of supporting documentation, such as match reports or eyewitness accounts, for this particular claim. Furthermore, it is indicated that certain details within his narrative have been identified as inaccurate by Russian commentators, who have also expressed skepticism regarding his Spartak Moscow affiliation.