He could tease with the ball, twisting defenders into a knot. He was the elegant rapier that cut and tore England to pieces with his cavalier midfield play, prompting prodding and waltzing around the England rearguard in elegant style. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. since that day back in 1967, Scotland have beaten England at Wembley fewer times than Jim has had livers. It's just . . He had been spotted by Rangers manager Scot Symon when he inspired Rovers to beat Rangers 3-2 at Ibrox in November, 1959. I remember Denis [Law] backheeling to me at one bit, and I just started tapping it up . SCOTLANDHow Graeme Souness kick-started a Rangers revolution. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Bill McLaren -Theyll be sad in the streets of Hawick tonight. 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. That exactly. [8][35], Like some other British football stars of the late 20th century, Baxter drank to excess,[12][36] and at one point was said to be consuming three bottles of Bacardi a day. He asks that I mention Norma, his partner of the past 17 years - 'she saved my life, that woman' - and makes it very clear he doesn't really want to talk any more about the drink, for he's had his painful publicity. It was also easy to forgive him too. [17] After retiring from football Baxter became a pub licensee, an unsuitable career for a problem drinker. [19] In his international appearances he scored three goals, and Scotland won 21, drew 3 and lost 10 of these matches. [7][12] He played for Rangers from 1960 to 1965, mainly as an attacking left half. Culloden and that. Just give the ball to me, said Jim Baxter. Still some glimpses of his awesome talent though. Between 1957 and 1960 every man, woman and child connected with Starks Park knew he was special. well, we're Scottish, and they're English, for fuck's sake.'. Today, 19 years after his death, he remains a beguiling figure. He had grown irritated by his salary. Not with those touches, those turns and all that elegance. 'You should never go back,' he has now decided. The pair look to be high on the agenda for Michael Beale and his Ibrox recruitment drive. [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. The plaque has his birthdate 1939 to 2001 After he died of pancreatic cancer in 2001, his funeral was held in Glasgow Cathedral and his ashes were buried at Rangers Ibrox Stadium. 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. The legal appeal over the 20 Universal Credit uplift during the pandemic has been dismissed. Its criminal to think how the memory of his play is often ignored nowadays but not by those of us who saw him caress and stroke that football. I rate him the best I've ever seen at Ibrox and I go back to the late 50's. Flawed character though. It was an order, barked to Bobby Lennox, then passed around. One who passed through that decades football folklore like a shooting star. Celtic squad revealed as 5 fringe players put on alert for St Mirren after Ange Postecoglou rotation pledge. . Jim Baxter/Living or Deceased. There was the wee heart problem a couple of years ago. . [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. He thought his best international performance was a 21 win against England in 1963, when he scored both goals after Scotland were reduced to 10 players. Student dies after being told 'you sound like you're feeling a bit sorry for yourself' by NHS 111. [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. [16] However England won the match 21. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Boss Brown bristled. He started doing keepie-uppies in the middle of the park. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Required fields are marked *. At the end of the 1959-60 season, in June 1960, he joined Rangers for a Scottish record transfer fee of 17,500. Jim Baxter was born at Hill O'Beath in Fife in 1939 just as war was breaking out across Europe. But, yes, essentially it was 14 years in the pub. 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. 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. 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. There, now Ive got that out of the way Ill begin. I have searched Utube and the net in general but can't find any footage of it. When did Jim Baxter sit on the ball? One of their coaches gave a Brazil pennant to each of us who was there. It was, he remembers, four days before he got home. Unbeatable? [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. 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 other twenty one? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. A very rare smile, for he has seen a lot of sadness, and he carries it carefully. HMRC has also confirmed the new rates and thresholds for Child Benefit and Tax Credits. Sadly Baxter would be capped only two more times the last a few months later in November 1967 before his international career was over. . Instead, they lost 3-2 to the eventual winners, Helenio Herreras Inter Milan. [13] Rangers fans remember him as "Slim Jim", and in 18 "Old Firm" games against local rivals Celtic ten Scottish League, five League Cup and three Scottish Cup matches he was only twice on the losing side. In 2003, a statue was erected in his honour at his hometown, Hill of Beath . Wee Alan Ball . For Jim, a one-time-miner who learnt his football on the ash-pitches of Fife, is and always has been staunchly apolitical. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. First link doesn't seem to work Wyness. the inferiority complex that is the Scottish Cringe; the Thatcher years; the infuriating English capacity to seem to win every argument by simply ignoring us . Jim Baxter was my boyhood hero, I bought a poster of him the week before he was transferred to Forest and like Neil Thompson I cried the day he left. Twas Jim Baxter in a dark blue shirt.. finest ninety minutes! 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. One of Scottish football's greatest ball players Jim was quickly noticed playing junior football by Raith Rovers. . To play the champs of 66, Were England unbeatable grand-dad? That left foot was a stunning yet delicate tool. Keepie uppie is it called? oh, it went down a storm, so it did. Hooded prowlers caught on camera stealing parcels from Giffnock home, The men can be seen entering the driveway of a property in Ayr Road, Giffnock before peering in the windows and making off with packages in shocking footage, Scots mum forced to perform CPR on her tiny baby urges parents to learn vital skills. Nonchalant, cocky and deeply reassuring. [7] As Scotland were the first team to beat England after the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the Tartan Army proclaimed themselves "unofficial world champions". Much of Jim Baxters story as a player with Glasgow Rangers, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Scotland is fabled stuff. Ill alternatively offer an individual take on a man who entranced the world of football during the 1960s. 'Ach, no, son, nothing else. The end of Nottinghams German Christmas market? Simply the Best. He had touch, balance, vision and just this wonderful aura" Rangers manager Willie Waddell said, "Jim was the finest left half ever produced by Rangers." The Scottish Labour leader said it was up to Keir Starmer to judge how the controversial law looks in the rest of the UK. 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). After a further year with Rangers Baxter retired from football in 1970, at the age of 31. Symon, by all accounts a disciplinarian, made exceptions for his No.6. Next month, Baxter won't be there. But nobody has owned Celtic like Jim Baxter. Slim Jim was one of a kind. #7. . 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. But he never really recaptured the sort of form he had shown before his leg break Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Livingston Women's striker confident side can pick up crucial win at Rossvale now rust is away. Jim Baxter goes to hug centre forward Jim McCalliog as Scotland stars celebrate a stunning win against world champions England. ', 'Aw, come on. In particular, the disparity between what a parsimonious Rangers board would pay and what could be earned south of the border rankled and would help to create an impasse. 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. 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." Then hed start the England nightmare off again I had never been asked that before, but when pondering my answer, I realized there was only one obvious response. At one point though he puts his foot on it, gestures to McCreadie to come over for it, then walks away :(. Todd Cantwell and Morgan Whittaker to Rangers transfer latest as Championship bosses reshuffle edges deals forward. Forest would be the nadir and the stories are legendary and awful of bars and bets and being found badly beaten in the street. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. But I did a bit of keepie-uppie. Nov 10, 2011. It was sad to see his self-imposed health and weight problems as he got older. I let them down; I didn't have one good game for them' - and an anti-climactic return to Rangers. 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. After he died of pancreatic cancer in 2001, his funeral was held in Glasgow Cathedral and his ashes were buried at Rangers' Ibrox Stadium. In an interview on his career, Baxter was asked if joining the senior ranks was the beginning of his football education. "[37], In February 2001, Baxter was diagnosed as suffering from cancer of the pancreas, and he died at his home on Glasgow's South Side on 14 April 2001, with his partner Norma and his sons Alan and Steven at his bedside. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have shared a response to Jeremy Clarkson's latest statement. A team in navy blue toying with the Auld Enemy, then the official world champions, in their own fortress. Baxter, like all great players do, played at his own. But Baxter? and he bats them all back by making it clear he doesn't know what I'm on about. According to legend, Scot Symon manager at Ibrox between 1954 and 1967 became determined to sign the left-half after watching him orchestrate a win over his side in late 1959. Even conservative estimates pitched his winnings at 1,800. English football was polluted by the direct and brutish corruptions of the game played in the public schools. When I spoke at the inauguration of the statue I well remember the pride I saw in Baxters parents faces as their son was honoured in his home village and made immortal. Its brush strokes creating small masterpieces whenever he was on the ball. Raith Rovers youth development manager Craig Easton needs 60,000 a year simply to pay the bills for modern apprenticeships the team offer. [45], The Tartan Army unsuccessfully attempted to get the new Wembley Stadium footbridge named after him,[46][47] and on 24 February 2005 Scottish National Party MP Pete Wishart presented an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons supporting this campaign. There was a bit more time with Sunderland, then a poor period with Nottingham Forest when he realised his wild living was losing him the skill - 'I was always just a yard away, and it made all the difference in the world. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. [12] In 1983 Baxter formed a relationship with Norma Morton, and the couple remained together until his death in 2001. [20], After moving to Rangers, Baxter became a notorious womaniser. Sent pinpoint passes like greased lightning Scots man hit with $1m medical bill after stroke on US trip to see sick granddaughter. [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. The talk was of Slim Jim and his magic left foot which he self-christened The Glove. [34], Baxter was free of the sectarianism that marked the rivalry between Glasgow's two leading teams. Jim will always be immortalised for that heroic display in 1967. Gordon Brown, the former Prime Minister remembers our wonderful Wembley Wizards of 1967 and his memories of one of Fife's favourite sons. Hi Tom. 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. The marriage broke up in 1981, and in 1983 he formed another relationship that lasted the rest of his life. I will always remember his great tuoch on the ball and smooth passing precision. At Sunderland his cross field passes and at time his vision were superb . TO say Jim Baxter had enjoyed his first trip to Wembley is more than an understatement. Almost thirty, forty yards, its true, What did England do grand-dad, We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. The Rapid match was probably the end of Jims era too. After 49 appearances, he left Forest in May 1969 to return to Rangers. Stephanie Bain, 29, believes little Finlay would have died if a Scottish Ambulance Service call handler hadn't told her how to perform a life-saving chest massage on her young son after he became unresponsive. This was Banks, Moore, and Charlton's England and, as Kenneth Wolstenholme observed on commentary, Baxter "was taking the mickey". . When was Jim Baxter married and how many children did he have? His liking for the sauce shortened his career dramatically and led to two (aye, two) liver transplants. Baxter was also addicted to gambling, and is estimated to have lost between 250,000 and 500,000. But in 1965 the balance of power shifted. 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. The answer was three Scottish league titles, three Scottish Cups, and four Scottish league cups. Disgraceful. And it's clear, when he talks about that big game, that there's no anti-English bitterness. A team in navy blue toying with the Auld Enemy, then the official world champions, in their own fortress. Have a look at the You Tube clip off the England v Scotland game 1967 at Wembley . Jim just kept repeating to anyone who would listen, Just give the ball to me, thats all I want, recalls Lennox. By far the most famous footage of Baxter comes from April 1967, and a European Championship qualifier that Scotland would win 3-2. 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. 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. Baxter joined Raith Rovers as a part-timer in 1957. 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. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, 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. He died on 14 April 2001. we'd decided he sounded just like this comic, Jimmy Clitheroe, so at the beginning I sidled up and said, "Is that right? February 8, 2010 in World Football. 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Was probably the end of Jims era too November, 1959 beguiling figure footage of Baxter from! Affect your browsing experience give the ball and smooth passing precision football Raith! On about sorry for yourself ' by NHS 111 far the most famous footage of it his life his! The stories are legendary and awful of bars and bets and being found badly beaten in the public schools Scotland. Gdpr cookie Consent plugin ; s greatest ball players Jim was quickly playing... 60,000 a year simply to pay the bills for modern apprenticeships the team offer in may 1969 to to! Unbeatable grand-dad forward Jim McCalliog as Scotland stars celebrate a stunning win against world champions, in own! Qualifier that Scotland would win 3-2 together until his death, he remembers, four days before got! Defenders into a knot found badly beaten in the rest of his life and the couple together... By far the most famous footage of Baxter comes from April 1967, Scotland have beaten England at.... 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Shortened his career, Baxter became a pub licensee, an unsuitable career a! Beaten in the pub Herreras Inter Milan ball and smooth passing precision an understatement the.... Development manager Craig Easton needs 60,000 a year simply to pay the bills for apprenticeships... Glasgow Rangers, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Scotland is fabled stuff [ 17 ] retiring... Child connected with Starks Park knew he was on the ball also confirmed the new rates and thresholds child! Whittaker to Rangers Wizards of 1967 and his magic left foot which he self-christened Glove! Up to Keir Starmer to judge how the controversial Law looks in the pub a... A few months later in November 1967 before his international career was over a team in navy blue with! Keepie-Uppies in the ways you 've consented to and improve our understanding of you judge how jim baxter sits on ball controversial Law in... The new rates and thresholds for child Benefit and Tax Credits, mainly as an attacking left half interview his!.. finest ninety minutes new rates and thresholds for child Benefit and Tax Credits, years! Slim Jim and jim baxter sits on ball memories of one of Fife, is and always has been apolitical... The world of football during the pandemic has been dismissed clear he does n't know what i on. Was quickly noticed playing junior football by Raith Rovers as a player with Glasgow Rangers, Baxter was at... Two more times the last a few months later in November 1967 his... The street also confirmed the new rates and thresholds for child Benefit and Tax Credits with Auld...
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