The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". When he went to Wembley that day it was simply with a sense of excitement, and occasion, and his attitude to the English now - 'I just wanted to beat the shite out of them and have a good laugh; it was nothing personal' - is a long way from the resentful kind of half-surly, half-deferential culture which has since flavoured so many of the North's dealings with the South. Still some glimpses of his awesome talent though. His drinking was almost as accomplished as his football, the former finally overruled the latter as he attempted one last hurrah at Rangers after Forest freed him. the new-born riot of self-expression that bubbled freely from Baxter, (Dave) Mackay, (John) White and (Denis) Law, the all-important quadrilateral that formed the heart of the Scottish effort.". But Wembley in 1967 was a game just out of reach for a boy who had just turned 16. Apr 22, 2022. My, how those English boys did try I hear your dad's wee Jimmy Clitheroe?" What player would do keepy ups when moving dow the wing . . Its a pity he wasnt at his best at the City Ground. [8], Baxter joined Sunderland for a transfer fee of 72,500, the highest ever paid to a Scottish club at the time. Student dies after being told 'you sound like you're feeling a bit sorry for yourself' by NHS 111. The talk was of Slim Jim and hi, s magic left foot which he self-christened The Glove. North of the border skill was still king and there at Wembley, decades after those differences had stopped being relevant, was Baxter as their cipher. The Statue is a good likeness and sits in front of Hill of Beath Ex-Serviceman's Club. [17][7], In December 1967, English First Division club Nottingham Forest signed Baxter from Sunderland for a club record 100,000 fee, but his rapidly declining fitness and troubled personal life meant the move was unsuccessful. One of my team asked me once who my favourite player was. Boss Brown bristled. During this period the team won the Scottish League Championship in 1961, 1963 and 1964,[12] and were winners of three Scottish Cups and four League Cups from as many finals, Baxter playing in all seven ties. CaleyThistleOnline.com Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. I remember Slim Jim from Roker Park in the mid 1960s. He's on to his second transplant by now. Ciro Well-Known Member. That left foot was a stunning yet delicate tool. He also won 34 caps for Scotland and is fondly remembered by Scots for the way he guided them to. : Terms of Use : Guidelines : Privacy Policy, "The Parochial Kailyard That Is Central Scotland", 39Users were Online in the last 600 mins, most memorably in 1967 when he toyed with the English defence at Wembley. On a research study at my favourite watering hole The Woodlark at Lambley, (tours available), I nebbed in as they say in these parts, on a conversation between some worthies sitting in the bar who were talking of some sterling names from the local football fraternity. . But now I'd be done for professional misconduct. He laughed and giggled and, improbably, his eyes still danced when he spoke of his yesterdays. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Jim was very frustrating in some ways. In fact, I work out later, with a twitch of mournful, perverse nostalgia for my homeland and precisely what this says about it . Another Baxter story was of him addressing the apprentice boys in the Nottingham Forest dressing room, requesting them to, Jim was known to be fond of the odd Bacardi and Coke and found a terrific ally in Garfield Sobers, the greatest cricket player that ever lived and also a world class drinker. . As expected, I pretty much concentrated on Jim Baxter's performance for the whole match and by God was he good. I played for the British Army team against Aberdeen at Pittodrie " Bacardi Jim" was the captain of that team, the officer in charge of our team although I wasn't aware of it at the time, must've thought that I hadn't played as well as I could have. Baxter was such a majestic player, if you look at his ball control at that goal it gives you an idea of how goal he was. The next day I was in Glasgow and the girls were throwing themselves at me. Sure made them pay that day, With Jules Rimet stood watching In Denis Law, Jim Baxter and Billy Bremner, the team that took to the turf at Wembley for the Auld Enemy clash on April 11, 1967, boasted three players who would make it into any all-time Scotland XI. Hed beat one man, then turn around [18], Baxter moved back to Rangers. A colleague, I say to him, remembers a time at Sunderland, when the ref was accidentally laid low in a clash, and Baxter strode formally over, stood above him and started tapping his watch . Jim Baxter goes to hug centre forward Jim McCalliog as Scotland stars celebrate a stunning win against world champions England. There's no rancour at the pit closures which many Scots argue devastated Fife - 'Best thing they ever did, close those bloody places. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Hibs open Easter Road on Christmas Day for those less fortunate, Lowdham Festival (1) The Brian Clough Evening, Notts County Nott$watch: The Sad Incidence of Ian McParlands Departure, Scrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira. Not just a pastiche of other greats who have been consumed by their compulsions and vices, but a real and original immortal of Scottish football. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Were it not for a broken leg in Vienna, he and they might have won the European Cup in 1965. It was also symbolic. Remembering Red Star Belgrades European Cup winners, 29 years on from their greatest victory. Even conservative estimates pitched his winnings at 1,800. Jim will always be immortalised for that heroic display in 1967. Sun Apr 15 2001 - 01:00 Former Rangers and Scotland legend Jim Baxter has died at the age of 61, the Scottish Premiership club said today. After 49 appearances, he left Forest in May 1969 to return to Rangers. Baxter was from Hill of Beath, a small village in Fife which was built to the serve the mining community. Watching The Football Years a few weeks back, nothing was said about him sitting on the ball but footage of him doing keepy-ups for the crack was shown. Susan Aitken has written to John Swinney and Michael Gove to question why "a major investment is going entirely to one side of Scotland". Jim Baxter Baxter during his time at Nottingham Forest Personal information Full name James Curran Baxter[1] Date of birth (1939-09-29)29 September 1939 Place of birth Hill of Beath, Fife, Scotland Date of death 14 April 2001(2001-04-14)(aged 61) Place of death Glasgow, Scotland[2] Position(s) Left-half Youth career Halbeath Juveniles It was an order, barked to Bobby Lennox, then. He scored his first goal for the club in November 1960, against Clyde,[7] and in the same month scored an early goal in Rangers' 80 win over the German team Borussia Mnchengladbach. Its moving television. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. #7. So I'd trap the ball with my arse, or shy it off some boy's back at a throw-in, and we'd all have a smile.' Baxter was entertainment and flair. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Can anyone tell me - Did Jim Baxter actually sit on the ball during a International match against England? Scotland had a new manager, Bobby Brown, and a new goalkeeper the 36-year-old Ronnie Simpson and few gave Scotland much hope of winning. We finish our pub soup and he gets up slowly, painfully, refusing anything else to eat or drink, and a rare smile starts to cross his face. There was a problem. He was born, educated and started his career in Fife, but his peak playing years were in the early 1960s with the Glasgow club Rangers, whom he helped to win ten trophies between 1960 and 1965, and where he became known as "Slim Jim". As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Jimmy Johnstone, who played for Rangers' great rivals Celtic, said shortly after Baxter's death, "He was a great man and a genius on the ball. Free Online Library: My Story Jim Baxter: Day 3: YES, MY CAREER WAS A BALL; As these pictures show, there was always time for a laugh amid the highs and lows of football. Its a man who knows he hasnt got much time, who isnt afraid of his regrets, but who is comfortable with the effect hes had and how hell be remembered as a footballer. The Press Association arent known for breathless flair in their reporting, but they were captivated. Former Scotland captain Willie Cunningham was born there, too and Celtics Scott Brown also attended the villages primary school. Southwell Minster, Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Today, 19 years after his death, he remains a beguiling figure. In most cases, footballers are prisoners of their own era. [7][12] He played for Rangers from 1960 to 1965, mainly as an attacking left half. Son, the result? Jim Baxter is hugged by fans as Scotland beat England in 1967. And a broken leg. 1939 - 2001. No coincidence he mentions his record against the mentally challengeds either, as he completely owned them in a way no other Ranger has ever done. What a player! He would retire in 1970. Apr 14, 2018 . Now 50 years on I hope a Jim Baxter commemoration and celebration can serve a broader and noble purpose helping to raise money to nurture players of the future the next Jim Baxters. The football shirt worn by Jim Baxter during Scotland's famous victory over England in 1967 could fetch up to 60,000 when it goes up for auction next month. He could tease with the ball, twisting defenders into a knot. A year later, this time at Wembley, he was part of an even more unlikely 2-1 win the second tenet of his legacy. . Glasgow council leader attacks east coast bias after Clyde fails in freeport bid. He had been spotted by Rangers manager Scot Symon when he inspired Rovers to beat Rangers 3-2 at Ibrox in November, 1959. . His frequent brilliance in spite of a decadent, nocturnal lifestyle had convinced him of his talents invulnerability and, unfortunately, the club did little to dissuade him of that assumption. Its 50 years ago yet still we smile. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. When was Jim Baxter married and how many children did he have? In the last minute he went to 'nutmeg' an opponent, who was having none of it and broke Baxter's leg with his challenge. [40] Most famously, during Scotland's 32 win over England in 1967, he taunted his opponents by playing "keepie uppie" during the game. #8. whitburnwarrior said: Baxter was far from past his best when he came to Sunderland . "[16] Shortly before his own death, George Best named Baxter as one of the best eleven players he had played with or against in an interview with FourFourTwo magazine. The way that Job stroked the ball around was just inimitable. Todd Cantwell and Morgan Whittaker to Rangers transfer latest as Championship bosses reshuffle edges deals forward. In a game against Rapid Vienna in Austria, in the second round of the European Cup, Baxter suffered that broken leg at the end of a tie which was already won. Jim also joked: If I dont turn it on here you can kick me up the backside.. We always said when Baxter plays well, Sunderland play well. . His close friends included the Celtic players Billy McNeill, Pat Crerand and Mike Jackson, in defiance of the unwritten rule that rivals did not associate. Hi Tom. Young players like I was would simply tell them to get stuffed and take their talent elsewhere. When England saw him gliding oer the green Jim would read the game very well and see a pass where others wouldnt and slide it through with precision weight and accuracy. His football career would be over at just 31. Interestingly Iit seemed lost on these local men after the decades had passed on how Jim struggled in the Garibaldi Red of their beloved team, (mainly due to the wonderful social life James Curran Baxter had sought out in the Lace city). [7] He came on to the field in the second half, and his performance won the admiration of Ferenc Pusks. and he bats them all back by making it clear he doesn't know what I'm on about. Celtic squad revealed as 5 fringe players put on alert for St Mirren after Ange Postecoglou rotation pledge. [8] Scotland finished second in their qualifying group, behind Italy. A fully-fledged international, who would also appear for Rest of the World sides, he would regularly mix with players earning far in excess of his 35 a week. By far the most famous footage of Baxter comes from April 1967, and a European Championship qualifier that Scotland would win 3-2. [12] Scotland teammate Dave Mackay unsuccessfully advised him to train harder and live more sensibly. John Greig, who would captain Rangers and whose statue now stands outside Ibrox, recalled the times when (Baxter) came into training that he couldnt bite his fingers and he would just go through and lie in the bath trying to recover.. Together as the famed Drunk n Sobers, they toured the fleshpots of Nottingham in spirit-infused abandon and no little debauchery. You could hardly get a more sad, Scottish answer to my question about what happened next, after April '67. James Curran Baxter (29 September 1939 14 April 2001) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a left half. Slim Jim Baxter Rangers football team fame took over the licence in 1970. But I did a bit of keepie-uppie. In it, the author describes a chance encounter between Baxter and his father, who was then working as a barman in Nottingham. As a young man growing up in Hill O Beith he was a Hibernian fan, admiring the stellar forward play of the Hibees Famous Five. [29], Scotland did not qualify for the final stage of the FIFA World Cup during Baxter's playing career. THE football shirt worn by Jim Baxter during Scotland's famous victory over England in 1967 could fetch up to 60,000 when it goes up for auction next month. Cheers! Pancreatic cancer My heart says Scotland, but my head says England.'. He'll be sitting at home in Glasgow, watching the game on Sky. But the happiest day was at Wembley. The plaque has his birthdate 1939 to 2001 Jim Baxter/Living or Deceased. A Working Class Hero? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Twas Jim Baxter in a dark blue shirt.. finest ninety minutes! Used to see him all the time sitting in the Georgic telling stories. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. A town mourned. The Nottingham Panthers Memories from Lower Parliament Street, Market Square, Nottingham by Arthur Spencer, A Physiotherapist visitand the Running Streak endures, My Fourth Marathon The Nottingham Robin Hood Marathon, 2009, The Marathon Diaries: Cleaning up the Act, The Marathon Diaries: The First Fifteen Weeks, The Marathon Diaries: The Inspiration of Terry Fox, Hibs manager, Lee Johnson, at his post-match interview after the derby loss today had the look of a man who is meas. Beat the England team away, Well if memory serves me right On this occasion Jim had taken on one too many doormen and come off worst, so bad in fact that his teammates were not allowed to see the state of him for the next two weeks as he was ordered to train on his own. He made our dreams into a reality. But Baxter tantalized and sucked them in [7] Baxter, supported by Mackay, White and Law,[8] led Scotland to a 21 win, scoring both of the goals, the first being Baxter's first-ever penalty kick, for an English foul on Willie Henderson. Jim Baxter was born at Hill O'Beath in Fife in 1939 just as war was breaking out across Europe. The number six jersey was worn by This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. [7] In his time at the Kirkcaldy club he orchestrated a 32 win over Rangers at Ibrox Park; Scot Symon decided he wanted to sign him for Rangers from that performance. What kind of football player was Jim Baxter? [7][14][16] Baxter played 98 games for Sunderland in England's First Division (then the top tier), scoring 12 goals. Get the latest news from Record Sport with our daily newsletter. [14] By the end of his career with Rangers he had made 254 appearances for the club, including victories that led to three Scottish League Championships, three Scottish Cups and four League Cups. [7][11][12] Baxter regarded his performance in 1963 as the better of the two. At just 61 he was dead, succumbing to pancreatic cancer. [13] This was to be a watershed for Baxter. i remember when i was a young boy watching jim playing for rangers and scotland , he was my boyhood hero. [17] He was noted for accurate passes, for sending opponents the wrong way with a swivel of his hips, and for inspiring teammates with his confident approach. Next month, Baxter won't be there. But 1967, the year after England won the World Cup, was an even better platform upon which Baxter could stand tall and shine. 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