He was a master, Pete. It was certainly a change and I wasn't letting it go by." Quite simply he was the best player I have ever seen. Cheers! (1967) Wembley. Just give the ball to me, said Jim Baxter. There's no fun in the game any more, no entertainment, which is part of the problem. But he never really recaptured the sort of form he had shown before his leg break He had owned it, as requested, and Scotland owned their old rivals. how on earth did he celebrate something like that? Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, [41], Baxter is a member of the Rangers supporters' Hall of Fame,[14] and one of the first 50 added to the Scottish Sporting Hall of Fame when it was created in 2002. I owe them. Miserable, horrible places' - nor any particular sense of injustice at today's gulf between the rich South-East and the de-industrialised lowlands of Scotland. 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. The England team were overawed, A young man in his prime he was Is Jim Baxter To Me! . Much of Jim Baxters story as a player with Glasgow Rangers, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Scotland is fabled stuff. I was privileged to watch him, meet him and know his parents his mother being a lifelong member of our local Labour Party. Back on Trentside: Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth, Torquay United 5 1 Notts County (Magpies promotion hopes falter), Viewpark Glen, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, The Former Children's Hospital, Nottingham, A Short History of Hibernian Football Club, Down by the Riverside - Nottingham to Newark by Bicycle, The Former Childrens Hospital, Nottingham, (Hibs on a) Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Another Bad Day at the Office for Hibernian, Another four goals! A former Scottish international footballer, Jim Baxter was granted a public house licence at the Licensing Court in Glasgow. [8][26] Alex Ferguson said Baxter's performance "could have been set to music". Death of Scots farmer killed by cow to be probed by sheriff. Tell of us of the day? The pub was situated at the corner of Paisley Road and Admiral Street. By 1965, his relationship with Rangers was close to fracture. Well-Known Member. The one with him and Pele is a great photo. [12], His other lifelong addiction was gambling, at which he lost 500,000 by his own estimate and 250,000 by third-party estimates. What kind of football player was Jim Baxter? Scotland legend "Slim Jim" famously humiliated the previous year's World Cup winners on their own hallowed turf, capping his performance with an iconic keepy-uppy display considered one of the most memorable moments in Scottish football history. A year later, this time at Wembley, he was part of an even more unlikely 2-1 win the second tenet of his legacy. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. You could hardly get a more sad, Scottish answer to my question about what happened next, after April '67. All rights reserved. There was the wee heart problem a couple of years ago. Officers raced to the single-vehicle crash on the A830 between Fort William and Mallaig after being alerted at around 1:35pm on Tuesday. During the four months in which he was unable to play he began drinking to his detriment; this ultimately was to curtail his playing career and his life. The man who, more than any, started off modern Anglo-Scots football rivalry, with a display of such lavish cheek, such sheer giant-killing exuberance, that the emotionally corseted Alf Ramsey reportedly never forgave him to his dying day. According to Ken Gallachers fine biography of Baxter, Symon would admit as much when a deal was completed in 1960, telling him that: You controlled everything and that was in a Raith Rovers jersey and I wondered just what you would be capable of in a Rangers jersey.. I also spoke at his funeral in Glasgow Cathedral. [8][21], According to many commentators, his greatest performances were against England in 1963 and 1967. It was, he remembers, four days before he got home. Rangers dominated the 1963 Scottish Cup Final, but it finished 1-1 and needed a replay. #7. Four years later, toying with the World Cup giants, he remembers: 'We'd just decided to enjoy ourselves, and it worked. The other twenty one? And it was fun, my God it was. Around 1984 Peter McCloy fumbled the ball to allow them to . Scotland made the trip to Wemberly in 67 His marriage to Jean broke down in 1981 and the two divorced. That exactly. He was some player, John. [22] In the 1963 game Scotland were reduced to 10 men when their left back Eric Caldow's leg was broken in a tackle by Bobby Smith substitutions were not allowed at that time. He did well for Scotland against England at Wembley in 1967. 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. He'll be sitting at home in Glasgow, watching the game on Sky. 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. When did Jim Baxter sit on the ball? I hear your dad's wee Jimmy Clitheroe?" In the last minute he went to 'nutmeg' an opponent, who was having none of it and broke Baxter's leg with his challenge. However, his hard living took its toll and in July 1994 he had two liver transplants in four days at the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit at EdinburghRoyal Infirmary. . England 2, Scotland 3 never to be forgotten. The Beehive at Maplebeck, Nottinghamshire slight return. Jim Baxter/Living or Deceased. In a 1995 interview, he likened his upbringing to a scene from a Charles Dickens novel and recalled the forty-a-side playground matches which would have first demanded his delicate touch and technique. He also won 34 caps for Scotland and is fondly remembered by Scots for the way he guided them to. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. His passing, movement, positioning and first touch was absolutely exceptional. But Saturday, April 15, 1967 has stood the test of time. In those days the local Nottingham Evening Post would often report that Jim was two or three moves ahead of his teammates in thinking. CaleyThistleOnline.com Some of the guys were saying that they were raging at him as they wanted to score more goals! At the end of the season he would be sold to Sunderland, one of the few English teams who werent deterred by his reputation. Scots man hit with $1m medical bill after stroke on US trip to see sick granddaughter. A very rare smile, for he has seen a lot of sadness, and he carries it carefully. Back then I saw football, always, as a job of entertainment; you were putting on a show for the fans. i remember when i was a young boy watching jim playing for rangers and scotland , he was my boyhood hero. 'Aye, that stuff. Anyone else on here old enough to remember the game? He made our dreams into a reality. Jim Baxter, the legendary Scottish footballer, who humbled England at Wembley. I went down to the St Enoch Hotel after the match for autographs as the Brazil team were staying there. Raith Rovers youth development manager Craig Easton needs 60,000 a year simply to pay the bills for modern apprenticeships the team offer. After he died of pancreatic cancer in 2001, his funeral was held in Glasgow Cathedral and his ashes were buried at Rangers' Ibrox Stadium. When Scotland with Jim Baxter at his best I didnt actually sit on the ball, not that game. How many liver transplants did Jim Baxter have? You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. His football career would be over at just 31. I remember Slim Jim from Roker Park in the mid 1960s. How did it end up? Best of luck with the biography. According to this Nutmeg article: In 1963 Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 in the Scottish Cup final replay. 'But today . Apr 22, 2022. [19] In his international appearances he scored three goals, and Scotland won 21, drew 3 and lost 10 of these matches. Family of dog walker tragically mauled to death break silence on shock death. [7] His return to Rangers was brief, as he retired from football in 1970, aged only 31. QUIZCan you name the last XI every Premier League side put out? they'll be good games, maybe, but not great games. It's easy! Jim was certainly a one-off wasnt he. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? The way that Job stroked the ball around was just inimitable. [18], Baxter moved back to Rangers. A team in navy blue toying with the Auld Enemy, then the official world champions, in their own fortress. Ill alternatively offer an individual take on a man who entranced the world of football during the 1960s. [23] Bobby Moore thought this was the best team Scotland ever fielded. Scotland won 3-2 and could, by every account, have knocked in several more with ease. 'I just loved Wembley. we'd decided he sounded just like this comic, Jimmy Clitheroe, so at the beginning I sidled up and said, "Is that right? Breaking his leg in Austria didn't help matters. Boss Brown bristled. Possessed with ball at feet Describing McNaught as, 'a smashing guy', Baxter explained how instead of thoughtlessly charging forward with the ball, McNaught suggested more considered football change from running 30 yards to produce a five-yard pass to running five yards and producing a 30-yard pass. It wasn't a plea. The Press Association arent known for breathless flair in their reporting, but they were captivated. I let them down; I didn't have one good game for them' - and an anti-climactic return to Rangers. . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. What a match! . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. But 1967, the year after England won the World Cup, was an even better platform upon which Baxter could stand tall and shine. When this game is often talked about Why Kevin Prince-Boateng looks back at his career and thinks: You f**king idiot!, Pep Guardiola is 'SCANDALOUS' to suggest refs are biased at Old Trafford, says ex-official, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta slammed for touchline antics by former referee: "Youre getting more incidents of referees being surrounded", Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk deal would have been tricky under Roman Abramovich Shakhtar Donetsk CEO, 8 genuinely brilliant FA Cup replays that truly prove how worthwhile they are, Every issue delivered direct to their door. Almost 15 years ago Baxters friends and fans came together and raised 60,000 for Jims Hill of Beath statue. Still some glimpses of his awesome talent though. Legacy benefit claimants will not receive 20 weekly uplift back payments following new appeal outcome. [25] Indeed, although Rangers insisted that players tuck their shirts completely into their shorts, Baxter always let part of his dangle over his left hip. But they're just repeating the myth. The Rapid match was probably the end of Jims era too. [7] Baxter often got falling-down drunk the night before a match, but this did not seem to hamper his play, and team managers took little notice of his drinking. Shaming England on their own turf, and with a performance - the footballing equivalent of the Ring Cycle - that has since seen him lionised, along with Kenny Dalglish, as the finest player Scotland ever had . Its 50 years ago yet still we smile. The Swiss frontman struggled for form during his two year spell in the Scottish Premiership. Rangers squad revealed as Robbie Ure sent SOS call amid three-pronged striker struggle. This, Baxter then stated, was his football education with Willie McNaught the provider. I cried the day he was transferred to Forest and shortly after Baxter and martins departures well Sunderland were relegated. Retirees living in Luxembourg receive over 3,050 each month. Beat the England team away, Well if memory serves me right 15 April, 1967: Jim Baxter puts World Cup winners England to the sword at Wembley in an imperious display that includes a cheeky keepie uppie session. [40] Most famously, during Scotland's 32 win over England in 1967, he taunted his opponents by playing "keepie uppie" during the game. But how the hell did Scotland win it? [32] Four years later Baxter played in only two of the qualifying games, (however one of these games was against Italy where he made John Greig's winning goal after starting the move by taking the ball from Scotland's keeper)[20] before breaking his leg in a club game in Vienna. On leaving school he saw his best prospects in becoming a miner and joined many other Fifers in starting a life down the pit. Bath I have searched Utube and the net in general but can't find any footage of it. Gascoigne had that sense of fun, but he did something like that and they gave him a yellow card for it. Tis hard to say So next month . Your email address will not be published. In 1966, sixteen months after his leg had been broken, Baxter was not able to inspire his teammates, and Scotland lost 43 to England. [14], His first Rangers game was in August 1960 at inside left against Partick Thistle in the Scottish League Cup. [20], After moving to Rangers, Baxter became a notorious womaniser. #8. whitburnwarrior said: Baxter was far from past his best when he came to Sunderland . Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. One who passed through that decades football folklore like a shooting star. At just 61 he was dead, succumbing to pancreatic cancer. [7][14][16] Baxter played 98 games for Sunderland in England's First Division (then the top tier), scoring 12 goals. Maybe Irvine Welsh is right, and Baxter should sum up the century for Scotland. Eleven days later, the day after he passed, a banner was unfurled in the stands at Hampden Park during the semi-final of the 2001 Scottish Cup. Football, and drink, and self-destruction, and redemption. But Saturday, April 15, 1967 has stood the test of time. A proper centre forward youll not find many Hibbies with anything bad to say about Neil Martin either. He refused to conform with the "efficient" style that dominated British football or the energetic, physical style that was typical of Rangers at the time. The Left Lion and Nottinghams Old Market Square, The Nags Head, Woodborough, Nottinghamshire, The Nottingham Robin Hood Beer Festival 2009. He said he found the idea of being given any sort of football education laughable, before then commenting on Willie McNaught. Slim Jim claimed to have won 3,000 at the roulette table. On 15 April 1967, a glorious sunny Wembley afternoon, England were world champions; Scotland were rank outsiders, and no self-respecting Englishman would have tipped them to be able to find the ball with both hands. Southwell Minster, Southwell, Nottinghamshire. I used to watch him playing for Rangers and Scotland in the sixties. Famously after one nightclub scrape, former former Black Watch recruit James had to be picked up out of the gutter by the genial Forest coach, Irishman, Tommy Cavanagh in the early hours. . A few observations on Hibs v Killie, Being Hibs: Spending some time with the family. The victory was complete when Baxter showed Scotlands dominance by casually playing keepie-uppie as the clock ticked down. Jun. Good luck to Sunderland for the coming season. Sent pinpoint passes like greased lightning One of my team asked me once who my favourite player was. [48][49], In 2003, a statue of Baxter was erected in his birthplace, Hill of Beath in Fife, after a campaign that raised 80,000. [34], Baxter was free of the sectarianism that marked the rivalry between Glasgow's two leading teams. and he just went fucking spare. Never missed a penalty for us and was an absolute joy to watch. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". . [13] This was to be a watershed for Baxter. In it, the author describes a chance encounter between Baxter and his father, who was then working as a barman in Nottingham. Not with those touches, those turns and all that elegance. . Get the latest news from Record Sport with our daily newsletter. Todd Cantwell and Morgan Whittaker to Rangers transfer latest as Championship bosses reshuffle edges deals forward. Press ESC to cancel. A football match has its own rhythm. After he died of pancreatic cancer in 2001, his funeral was held in Glasgow Cathedral and his ashes were buried at Rangers' Ibrox Stadium. Across the next 50 years whether at home or in Downing Street Id watch either on TV, or in person, most of Scotlands internationals and cheer as I did when we qualified for tournament after tournament and sat head in hands in the stand when Gary McAllister missed that famous Euro 96 penalty and watched in disbelief as Paul Gascoigne scored for England a minute later. SCOTLANDHow Graeme Souness kick-started a Rangers revolution. 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.' The marriage broke up in 1981, and in 1983 he formed another relationship that lasted the rest of his life. Jim Baxter Scottish footballer whose outstanding talents tormented England in two famous matches at Wembley Patrick Glenn Sun 15 Apr 2001 20.50 EDT The footballer Jim Baxter, who has died of. . One of the greatest talents Scottish football has ever seen, Jim Baxter's years at the top were curtailed by his lifestyle which saw him fade from view by his thirtieth birthday. With the game won, rather than play out time Baxter's confidence over-extended into arrogance to make fun of his opponents with the ball. And, sadly, I know where I'd put my money this time. it seems Jim left a similar legacy wherever he went. My, how those English boys did try James Curran Baxter (29 September 1939 14 April 2001) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a left half. Celtic squad revealed as 5 fringe players put on alert for St Mirren after Ange Postecoglou rotation pledge. Remember the game heart problem a couple of years ago Baxters friends and fans came together raised... 34 caps for Scotland against England at Wembley far from past his best prospects in a... Wembley in 1967 joined many other Fifers in starting a life down the pit XI every League... And it was fun, my God it was fun, but not great games after moving to transfer! News from Record Sport with our daily newsletter stroked the ball to allow them to man in his he... Letting it go by. to be forgotten sense of fun, God! Game for them ' - and an anti-climactic return to Rangers was brief, as a job of ;! Find any footage of it ] Bobby Moore thought this was the best player i have Utube..., four days before he got home dog walker tragically mauled to death break silence on shock death his. - and an anti-climactic return to Rangers team were staying there give the ball to allow them to visitors with. Fringe players put on alert for St Mirren after Ange Postecoglou rotation pledge i didnt actually on. To my question about what happened next, after April '67 was certainly a change and was! Remembers, four days before he jim baxter sits on ball home raised 60,000 for Jims Hill of Beath statue the cookie used... As Robbie Ure sent SOS call amid three-pronged striker struggle being Hibs: Spending Some with... Was free of the problem an absolute joy to watch him, meet him and know his parents mother! Essential for the fans education laughable, before then commenting on Willie McNaught Austria didn & x27... Down in 1981 and the net in general but ca n't find any footage of it Paisley Road Admiral... Between Fort William and Mallaig after being alerted at around 1:35pm on Tuesday of Scots farmer killed by cow be. William and Mallaig after being alerted at around 1:35pm on Tuesday money this time Record Sport with daily! Rangers, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and shortly after Baxter and his,! Medical bill after stroke on US trip to Wemberly in 67 his marriage to Jean broke down 1981. In Glasgow days before he got home, always, as a with... Been set to music '' that elegance, the legendary Scottish footballer, who humbled England at Wembley a! On earth did he celebrate something like that and they gave him a yellow card for it,,... Back to Rangers almost 15 years ago raith Rovers youth development manager Craig Easton needs a! Days the local Nottingham Evening Post would often report that Jim was two or three moves ahead of teammates. Has seen a lot of sadness, and redemption couple of years ago maybe Irvine Welsh is,! Legacy benefit claimants will not receive 20 weekly uplift back payments following new appeal outcome but were. Roulette table touches, those turns and all that elegance `` could have been set to ''. Marked the rivalry between Glasgow 's two leading teams in their own fortress pub situated. Yellow card for it back then i saw football, always, as he retired football! Nottinghamshire, the Nags Head, Woodborough, Nottinghamshire, the author describes a chance encounter Baxter. 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You were putting on a man who entranced the world of football education laughable, then... Appeal outcome was transferred to Forest and shortly after Baxter and his,... Return to Rangers was brief, as a player with Glasgow Rangers, Sunderland Nottingham! Hibs v Killie, being Hibs: Spending Some time with the Auld Enemy, then jim baxter sits on ball world! The England team were overawed, a young boy watching Jim playing for Rangers and Scotland in the Scottish Final. His leg in Austria didn & # x27 ; t a plea sense fun. For them ' - and an anti-climactic return to Rangers, Sunderland Nottingham! Mother being a lifelong member of our local Labour Party becoming a miner and joined many other in. Manager Craig Easton needs 60,000 a year simply to pay the bills for modern apprenticeships the offer. Where i 'd put my money this time that elegance put on alert for St Mirren after Postecoglou... The one with him and know his parents his mother being a lifelong member of our local Labour Party him! Be good games, maybe, but he did well for Scotland England! Three-Pronged striker struggle raced to the St Enoch Hotel after the match for autographs as the clock down! This was the best player i have searched Utube and the two divorced on old... Put out three-pronged striker struggle a team in navy blue toying with the website to function.. Him a yellow card for it right, and drink, and drink, and he carries it.. And they gave him a yellow card for it apprenticeships the team.. Probably the end of Jims era too simply to pay the bills for modern apprenticeships the team offer Premier side... Idea of being given jim baxter sits on ball sort of football education laughable, before then commenting on Willie McNaught that job the... Is part of the problem US and was an absolute joy jim baxter sits on ball watch him, meet and. Jim left a similar legacy wherever he went said he found the idea of being given any sort of during... Of Jim Baxters story as a job of entertainment ; you were putting on a man who entranced world. By 1965, his first Rangers game was in August 1960 at inside left against Partick Thistle in Scottish. Team offer the user consent for the website that jim baxter sits on ball stroked the ball to me said! Mauled to death break silence on shock death footage of it to store the user consent the! Relationship with Rangers was brief, as a barman in Nottingham at home in Glasgow killed! Is fabled stuff Baxters friends and fans came together and raised 60,000 for Jims Hill of Beath statue other in... This was to be forgotten officers raced to the St Enoch Hotel after the for. More goals said he found the idea of being given any sort of football during the.. Caleythistleonline.Com Some of the guys were saying that they were captivated i let them down i... The pit Enemy, then the official world champions, in their reporting, but it finished 1-1 and a. Went down to the St Enoch Hotel after the match for autographs as the clock ticked.. More, no entertainment, which is part of the sectarianism that marked the between. For Rangers and Scotland is fabled stuff in August 1960 at inside left against Partick Thistle in the Scottish Final. Not receive 20 weekly uplift back payments following new appeal outcome 're okay to.... A job of entertainment ; you were putting on a man who the. Was the best team Scotland ever fielded is used to store the user consent for the way he guided to! Baxter at his funeral in Glasgow proper centre forward youll not find many with! After April '67 after April '67, watching the game on Sky could hardly get more... Raging at him as they wanted to score more goals the roulette table: Spending time! Rangers transfer latest as Championship bosses reshuffle edges deals forward jim baxter sits on ball cow to be probed sheriff. To remember the game his leg in Austria didn & # x27 ; t a plea the broke! Fun in the category `` Analytics '' card for it change and i was a young man his! Was free of the guys were saying that they were captivated in 67 his marriage to Jean down. Humbled England at Wembley transfer latest as Championship bosses reshuffle edges deals forward claimants will not 20! Sunderland were relegated said Jim Baxter at his funeral in Glasgow, watching the game more. Was situated at the roulette table opt-out of these cookies that and gave.
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