He had owned it, as requested, and Scotland owned their old rivals. His football career would be over at just 31. Gordon Brown, the former Prime Minister remembers our wonderful Wembley Wizards of 1967 and his memories of one of Fife's favourite sons. Hall of Fame inductees, List of Scotland national football team captains, "Matches played by Jim Baxter for Scotland Under-23", "Matches played by James Curran Baxter for Scottish Football League XI", "Rangers legend Slim Jim Baxter would have been a crack shot in the army too, says his former Major", "Slim Jim Baxter 1939 - 2001: Death of a Legend", "Baxter 'best to play in Scottish football', "Baxter a self-confident master of sublime skills", "Baxter the shooting star | Nottingham Forest chapter started the rapid decline of a glittering career", "Jim Baxter - Scotland Football Record from 09 Nov 1960 to 22 Nov 1967", "Cry for Us, Argentina: Sport and national identity in late twentieth-century Scotland", "England v Rest of World, 23 October 1963", "World Cup 1966: The Qualification Rounds", "Scottish Sports Hall of Fame: Jim Baxter", "Scottish Football Hall of Fame - Jim Baxter", "World Soccer Players of the Century (2001)", "Baxter vs Moore - Costing you money in Parliament", "SNP MP's motion backs Jim Baxter bridge at Wembley", "Celtic bag Brown from under Rangers' nose", "Matches played by Jim Baxter for Scotland", "Matches played by Jim Baxter for Rangers, 196061", "Matches played by Jim Baxter for Rangers, 196263", "Matches played by Jim Baxter for Rangers, 196364", "Matches played by Jim Baxter for Rangers, 196162", "Matches played by Jim Baxter for Rangers, 196465", "European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1965", Jim Baxter's Funeral Images @ Glasgow Guide, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jim_Baxter&oldid=1099018231, Scottish Football League representative players, Scotland under-23 international footballers, Scottish Junior Football Association players, Scottish expatriate sportspeople in Canada, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, *Club domestic league appearances and goals, This page was last edited on 18 July 2022, at 16:10. Southwell Minster, Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Get the latest news from Record Sport with our daily newsletter. It wasn't a plea. Although he was given most of the credit for the 32 win, some commentators wished he had made an effort to run up a bigger score. [24], The following year Scotland, again inspired by Baxter and Law, beat England 10, and only poor finishing prevented them from scoring a bigger win. Now if there's a smile on my face (Image: Real Edinburgh). 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". Between 1957 and 1960 every man, woman and child connected with Starks Park knew he was special. Some of the guys were saying that they were raging at him as they wanted to score more goals! how on earth did he celebrate something like that? A team in navy blue toying with the Auld Enemy, then the official world champions, in their own fortress. [33] In 196869 he was not selected to play in any of the qualifiers for the 1970 World Cup. For Jim, a one-time-miner who learnt his football on the ash-pitches of Fife, is and always has been staunchly apolitical. Just give the ball to me, said Jim Baxter. He will always be remembered. Where was Jim Baxter buried in his hometown? Jim Baxter: remembering an immortal of Scottish football By Seb Stafford-Bloor published April 14, 2020 'Slim' Jim Baxter died 19 years ago today, but the Scottish icon's legacy as a player. In 1966, sixteen months after his leg had been broken, Baxter was not able to inspire his teammates, and Scotland lost 43 to England. [8] Scotland finished second in their qualifying group, behind Italy. [15], In December 1964, Baxter played brilliantly to set up a 20 win for Rangers in an away game against Rapid Vienna in the European Cup. 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. Ill alternatively offer an individual take on a man who entranced the world of football during the 1960s. He started doing keepie-uppies in the middle of the park. James Curran Baxter (29 September 1939 14 April 2001) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a left half. My, how those English boys did try Baxter, like all great players do, played at his own. Jim Baxter. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A year later, this time at Wembley, he was part of an even more unlikely 2-1 win the second tenet of his legacy. 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. His marriage to Jean broke down in 1981 and the two divorced. [24][31] In 196061, when Baxter played in all the qualifying matches for the 1962 World Cup, they finished first equal in their qualifying group but lost the play-off against Czechoslovakia,[20] who were runners-up to Brazil in the Final. 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. [38], Baxter played most of his best football in his early twenties, before the leg fracture against Rapid Vienna in December 1964 and the start of his heavy drinking that made his nickname "Slim Jim" less appropriate. 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. . 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. 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. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Ciro Well-Known Member. The England team were overawed, A young man in his prime he was By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, The Swiss frontman struggled for form during his two year spell in the Scottish Premiership. He is generally regarded as one of the country's greatest ever players. Hed beat one man, then turn around Baxter scored both goals in the 2-1 win over England in 1963, despite Scotland playing the bulk of the game . Irvine Welsh thinks this man is God. ', 'Aw, come on. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . By the end of the game of his life, 'Slim Jim' Baxter, left-midfield architect of the Scots' victory, was openly toying with the furious, frustrated deities in white. A Fatal Accident Inquiry will examine how Derek Roan, 71, died at his family farm near Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway, in June last year. The victory was complete when Baxter showed Scotlands dominance by casually playing keepie-uppie as the clock ticked down. [17] After Baxter's performance in the 1963 "rest of the world" vs England match, Ferenc Pusks asked, "Where has this fellow been hiding? After retiring from football he became manager of a pub, and his continued heavy drinking damaged his liver so badly that he needed two transplants at the age of 55, after which he swore off alcohol. 1939 - 2001. How could we not love him? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. [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. The Binos have been one of the few sides not to play in the last couple of weeks. 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. 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. [12] His funeral was held in Glasgow Cathedral, where a reading was given by Gordon Brown, a long-time fan of Raith Rovers F.C., where Baxter began his career. We had the support of Sir Alex Ferguson and even former England players such as the late Alan Ball. Slim Jim Baxter Rangers football team fame took over the licence in 1970. . He was earning 7 a week sorting the stone from the coal at Fordel Colliary and 3 a week in Raiths reserves. Its 50 years ago yet still we smile. Had it not been for a Fiorentina side managed by Nandor Hidegkuti - Englands tormentor from 1953 - Rangers and Baxter might also have won the Cup Winners Cup in 1961. In 2003, a statue was erected in his honour at his hometown, Hill of Beath. [7] He came on to the field in the second half, and his performance won the admiration of Ferenc Pusks. Can anyone tell me - Did Jim Baxter actually sit on the ball during a International match against England? 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. 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. We always said when Baxter plays well, Sunderland play well. I loved the big occasion . The night before the second game, Jim Baxter didnt sleep. Almost all of the first-hand accounts describe a uniquely flippant person, completely unaffected by the games pressure, and that seems evident in the way he played. Nonchalant, cocky and deeply reassuring. A very brilliant star at that. He divorced and remarried. The teams emerge at Wembley in 1967 before Scotland's crowning as the 'Unofficial World Champions', Baxter holds up the Scottish Cup for Rangers. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Slim Jim was one of a kind. . I know for a fact Willie Johnston used to sit on the ball. Just a breathtaking talent. DEALThree ways to (safely) get FourFourTwo magazine right now with special offers, Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription, Get daily World Cup 2022 news, updates and other football frolics to your inbox. Slim Jim claimed to have won 3,000 at the roulette table. Jean married golfer William McCondichie three years later. One who passed through that decades football folklore like a shooting star. But before then 'Slim Jim' was instrumental not only for Rangers - where . . . Forest had a team on the wane when Jim arrived and his football brain, though let down by his physical condition, was still razor sharp. And Now For Something Completely Different, Lowdham Book Festival (2) Blog-talk with Mike Atkinson. After he died of pancreatic cancer in 2001, his funeral was held in Glasgow Cathedral and his ashes were buried at Rangers Ibrox Stadium. i remember when i was a young boy watching jim playing for rangers and scotland , he was my boyhood hero. Subscribe to the Worlds #1 football magazine. Hugh Drysdale, 67, said changing his medical status was the last thing on his mind when he booked the emergency trip from Aberdeen to Florida earlier this year. what a loss football when he retired at 31, R.I.P JIM. TO say Jim Baxter had enjoyed his first trip to Wembley is more than an understatement. [25] Some commentators accepted that humiliating the opposition was a valid objective, while others regarded it as childish and thought Scotland should have won a more convincing victory than the actual 32 scoreline. 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. Right along the Wemberly touchline [12] Scotland teammate Dave Mackay unsuccessfully advised him to train harder and live more sensibly. Baxter joined Raith Rovers as a part-timer in 1957. history. till i die. Jim Baxter keepie uppie against England, 1967 Scotland National Team 80.2K subscribers 299 96K views 9 years ago Scotland became the unofficial world champions after an epic 3-2 victory against. Gascoigne had that sense of fun, but he did something like that and they gave him a yellow card for it. Unbeatable? They hardly agreed on anything, except they all said Jim Baxter was the best footballer any of them had ever seen in Scotland. He took the license of a pub. And it was fun, my God it was. Possessed with ball at feet The first didn't take. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. "He was arguably the best player to play in Scottish football and the greatest player I ever played with.he had touch, balance, vision and just this wonderful aura" (Alex Ferguson about Jim. The other twenty one? 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. SCOTLANDHow Graeme Souness kick-started a Rangers revolution. Totally ignoring my partner of course, I listened in with glee as the names of Jim Baxter and Joe Baker dutifully came to bear upon proceedings. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. On this occasion Jim had taken on one too many doormen and come off worst, so bad in fact that his team. But they're just repeating the myth. Maybe have a few mates round. Jim, of course, went on to play regularly for Scotland scoring both goals in the 2-1 win over England in 1963 despite Scotland playing the bulk of the game with only 10 men after Rangers full-back Eric Caldow broke his leg. James Curran Baxter was born in Hill of Beath on 29 September 1939. 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. The Lionesses produced a fine second-half display against Ayr United on their return from the winter break - and are set for a crucial clash away to Rossvale this weekend. Son, the result? I remember seeing it in 1963, walking out on the Friday, looking at that pitch, and saying to a mate, "If I don't turn it on here tomorrow, you can kick my arse." Legacy benefit claimants will not receive 20 weekly uplift back payments following new appeal outcome. He was indulged in ways that other players werent and had an aversion to nurturing his gifts that was never properly challenged. When did Jim Baxter sit on the ball? You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. The memory of him is already kept alive by the statue erected in his home village of Hill of Beath near where he lived, went to school and first played football and I am proud to have worked with so many locally to raise funds for this memorial. He caressed it, he passed it, he laid on a goal and even found time late in the game to showboat much to the annoyance of his manager. Tis hard to say 'Aye, that stuff. What a match! But I did a bit of keepie-uppie. Paper Subscription to the Daily Record and Sunday Mail, Paper Subscription to the Paisley Daily Express, 2023 Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd, Rangers legend Dave Smith reveals he blames giantkilling defeat by Berwick for loss to Bayern Munich in 1967 European final, Oh Hyeon gyu to Celtic transfer gathers pace as Parkhead side put forward 'improved' Suwon striker offer, The Scottish Premiership leaders are looking to add a new frontman this month, Transfer news LIVE as Celtic and Rangers plus Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs eye signings. Now 2017 offers a golden chance to celebrate him 50 years on from that Wembley triumph and I can think of no better tribute than creating funds and the means to find the next Jim Baxter. Beat the England team away, Well if memory serves me right He ordered a bottle of Bacardi and a jug of Coke, and asked for a small bottle of ice. Thats particularly true prior to the 1970s, before which the heavy balls, thick boots and boggy pitches often conspired to reduce players, obscuring their true technical merits. In it, the author describes a chance encounter between Baxter and his father, who was then working as a barman in Nottingham. Boss Brown bristled. [34] He attracted attention by his stylish play, controlling the game with "unhurried artistry". Then nonchalantly knocked it wide, That game you boys play in the street After leaving school he spent eight months as an apprentice cabinet maker, and then worked as a coal miner. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. ', Scotland's talisman on football's most intense rivalry, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? I cried the day he was transferred to Forest and shortly after Baxter and martins departures well Sunderland were relegated. The legal appeal over the 20 Universal Credit uplift during the pandemic has been dismissed. . He was thicker, his jowls were heavier. Of course orchestrating two Scotland victories over England at Wembley in 1963 and 1967 (and humiliating them in the process in the latter game) elevated Jims standing in our house to astronomic status. That would become a guaranteed 9 a week when he made Bert Herdmans first team and, with his pit days behind him, Baxters professional career was underway. A return to Ibrox, almost on compassionate grounds, ended his misery in England, but his second verse would last just a few short and unhappy lines. today I'd be booked for that kind of stuff. . 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.. Anas Sarwar warns UK Government has taken 'wrong approach' by blocking Holyrood gender reforms. The idea had been to talk to this icon of Anglo-Scots rivalry about the forthcoming games, and try to work out quite why the two nations love to hate each other so. Way back in footballing antiquity, all the skill came from Scotland. CaleyThistleOnline.com they'll be good games, maybe, but not great games. [18], Baxter moved back to Rangers. [7][12] He played for Rangers from 1960 to 1965, mainly as an attacking left half. Baxter won 34 caps for Scotland, but three of them stand above the rest. I also spoke at his funeral in Glasgow Cathedral. Baxter was also addicted to gambling, and is estimated to have lost between 250,000 and 500,000. I remember Denis [Law] backheeling to me at one bit, and I just started tapping it up . 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 . The Left Lion and Nottinghams Old Market Square, The Nags Head, Woodborough, Nottinghamshire, The Nottingham Robin Hood Beer Festival 2009. 'It's not really hatred, though, is it? England 2, Scotland 3 never to be forgotten. Scotland won 3-2 and could, by every account, have knocked in several more with ease. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. And it's clear, when he talks about that big game, that there's no anti-English bitterness. A proper centre forward youll not find many Hibbies with anything bad to say about Neil Martin either. 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. Never missed a penalty for us and was an absolute joy to watch. Meghan and Harry release statement after Jeremy Clarkson's latest public apology. Brought cheers that echoed loud, Jim Baxter sat upon the ball Baxter was also addicted to gambling, and is estimated to have lost between 250,000 and 500,000. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. [34], Baxter is generally regarded as one of Scotland's greatest ever players. [17] After retiring from football Baxter became a pub licensee, an unsuitable career for a problem drinker. "[8], In June 1960,[11] Baxter joined the Glasgow team Rangers for a transfer fee of 17,500, a Scottish record at the time. There's no rancour at the pit closures which many Scots argue devastated Fife - 'Best thing they ever did, close those bloody places. Its 50 years ago yet still we smile. 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. Jim had joined Raith Rovers in 1957 from Crossgates Primrose and made 62 standout appearances for the club. What kind of football player was Jim Baxter? He was. I needed bastards like Carmichael, Buckard, Ferrier, Herdman and McNaught. Full list of new DWP weekly payment rates from April for PIP, Universal Credit and other benefits. . By [40] Most famously, during Scotland's 32 win over England in 1967, he taunted his opponents by playing "keepie uppie" during the game. 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. Much of Jim Baxters story as a player with Glasgow Rangers, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Scotland is fabled stuff. He chose the shirt God wore that day as the one object which should sum up the twentieth century. oh, it went down a storm, so it did. I owe them. It was Baxter at his most charming. Aye my bonnie wee lad, they did try that And I was so thrilled when the Daily Record asked me to present him with the Midfielder of the Century award in Glasgow only a few months before his death. It was outrageous and ridiculous, provocative and cheeky. Something went wrong, please try again later. Who else is goin' tae eat the biscuits? Thanks very much, Alan. Jim will always be immortalised for that heroic display in 1967. When you drank the heavenly elixir Family of dog walker tragically mauled to death break silence on shock death. . Scots man hit with $1m medical bill after stroke on US trip to see sick granddaughter. Bath Tony Blair and Gordon Brown flew across the room to shake his hand. . Scotland had Tommy Gemmell, Willie Wallace and Bobby Lennox from Celtic, Ronnie McKinnon and John Greig from Rangers and the anglos Billy Bremner, Denis Law, Eddie McCreadie and Jim McCalliog. But reducing him to his medals misses the point. At just 61 he was dead, succumbing to pancreatic cancer. But Wembley in 1967 was a game just out of reach for a boy who had just turned 16. And, sadly, I know where I'd put my money this time. . Simply the Best. Slim Jim Baxter was .. Mesmerised. [7][14][16] Baxter played 98 games for Sunderland in England's First Division (then the top tier), scoring 12 goals. 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. There was the wee heart problem a couple of years ago. It's your one stop shop for all the latest signings news, rumours and done deals as the January window ramps up. Jim Baxter was like no other football player Ive seen. He was formerly a regularly columnist for the FourFourTwo website, covering all aspects of the game, including tactical analysis, reaction pieces, longer-term trends and critiquing the increasingly shady business of football's financial side and authorities' decision-making. Jim Baxter, the legendary Scottish footballer, who humbled England at Wembley. The visitors had the lead and the command of the game in the second half and Baxter, framed on the far touchline, juggled the ball towards a phalanx of England defenders, before sending an impudent flick over their heads and into the stride of Denis Law. Baxter was entertainment and flair. The former Ibrox idol, affectionately known as 'Slim. As Stevie says, wee Bud Johnston did make a habit of things like that. Football Player; A Fife lad 'Slim' Jim Baxter was born in Hill of Beath in 1939. He was mischief. 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. His passing, movement, positioning and first touch was absolutely exceptional. W hen Charlie Adam's thrillingly opportunistic 66-yard shot found its way into the Chelsea net last Saturday, the image of Jim Baxter sprang immediately to mind. James Curran Baxter (29 September 1939 14 April 2001) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a left half. Great article here,he say's he didn't sit on the ball "in that game anyway" played keepy up and generally took the proverbial,sure i remember footage of him standing on the ball and surveying the horizon looking for a team mate to pass too,great stuff, Not in that game (I watched the whole game a couple of years ago on DVD). . [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. The end of Nottinghams German Christmas market? He didn't sit on the ball. There was a problem. The pair look to be high on the agenda for Michael Beale and his Ibrox recruitment drive. Nottingham Evening Post reporter Tony Pritchett described the signing of Baxter as "probably the worst transfer in Forest's history".
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jim baxter sits on ball