Jimmy Dunn's junior career began with St. Anthony's, then a Govan team. That is until in 1920 when he, an inside-right, was signed not by Celtic but Hibernian and made an immediate impact. In the lowest third of the table at the time they were mid-table the following season, in the top third by the next and in 1923 and 1924 would make but lose two Scottish Cup Finals. Moreover, Hibernian was in 1925 to achieve its highest league place of third and, whilst there was some drop off after that, perhaps due to Alex Maley moving on as manager, for the wee reddie it led not just to a first cap but also for the first time the Wizard combination of Alex Jackson outside and Hughie Gallacher to his left. 

Meanwhile Jimmy, recorded still as a Rivetters Holder-On, had married young in 1921 aged just twenty. His bride was Glasgow-girl, Sarah Symington, orphaned at seventeen, aged nineteen, and they were to have six surviving children, four born in Scotland and two in Liverpool. For immediately following the Wembley Wizards victory Everton had stepped in to take South both him, aged twenty-seven, and team-mate, Harry Ritchie, the other one of the Hibbie's right forward-pairing. Richie would remain at Goodison for two seasons with only partial success and when the club was actually relegated in 1930 he returned North for the rest of his career. Dunn on the other hand would stay, see the team immediately bounce back, win the First Division title the following season and the Cup the next.