Croston came from Wigan and had begun playing rugby at Castleford around 1932 after leaving the army, where he had played for United Services and won a cap for Hampshire.
In November 1938, he put in a transfer request to the Castleford board and, although selected, did not turn up for the club's match with Hull. He was not named for the team that played Barrow on 26 November and said that he would retire from the sport unless his request was granted.[5] Despite this, he was available to play for the club at the start of the 1938-39 season.[6]
Jim Croston won caps for England while at Castleford in 1936 against Wales, in 1938 against Wales (2 matches), and France, in 1939 against France, and Wales, and won a cap for Great Britain while at Castleford in 1937 against Australia.
Jim Croston won caps for Lancashire while at Castleford; he played at centre in Lancashire's 5-5 draw with Yorkshire at Leeds' stadium on 9 January 1935, played in the 7-4 victory over Cumberland at Whitehaven's stadium on 21 September 1935, scored a try in the 28-6 victory over Yorkshire at Castleford's stadium on 21 October 1936, scored two tries in the 18-10 victory over Cumberland at St. Helens' stadium on 31 October 1936, played in the 23-17 victory over Cumberland at Workington Town's stadium on 18 September 1937, played at centre and scored a try in the 7-5 victory over Australia in the 1937–38 Kangaroo tour match at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Wednesday 29 September 1937, in front of a crowd of 16,250.[8] played in the 8-7 victory over Cumberland at Wigan's stadium on 14 September 38, and played in the 10-10 draw with Yorkshire at Leeds' stadium on 26 October 1938.[9]