Absolute GENIUS. My father noticed the shoes first: the sheen of expensive leather and the slenderness of the toes, which were cut into the sharpest points, each glinting like the top of a chefs knife. 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. 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. [40] Most famously, during Scotland's 32 win over England in 1967, he taunted his opponents by playing "keepie uppie" during the game. A terrific victory And so, of course, I run through my own unimpressive, cod-sociological, middle-class theorising . Baxter was also addicted to gambling, and is estimated to have lost between 250,000 and 500,000. Flair is a much overused word these days in relation to football but Jim encompassed it. The England team were overawed, A young man in his prime he was 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. [8][21], According to many commentators, his greatest performances were against England in 1963 and 1967. 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.. Heres how it works. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Now if there's a smile on my face (Image: Real Edinburgh). Jean married golfer William McCondichie three years later. Between 1957 and 1960 every man, woman and child connected with Starks Park knew he was special. I also spoke at his funeral in Glasgow Cathedral. 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. rangers, scotland Twas Jim Baxter in a dark blue shirt.. finest ninety minutes! and he bats them all back by making it clear he doesn't know what I'm on about. The first didn't take. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. In 2003, a statue was erected in his honour at his hometown, Hill of Beath. He'll be sitting at home in Glasgow, watching the game on Sky. 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 . He will always be remembered. He took the license of a pub. And it was fun, my God it was. [14] He described his approach to playing football as "treating the ball like a woman. The Scotland jersey worn by Jim Baxter against world champions England at Wembley in 1967 could fetch a record 60,000 at auction next month. Jim had joined Raith Rovers in 1957 from Crossgates Primrose and made 62 standout appearances for the club. . . 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 . I needed bastards like Carmichael, Buckard, Ferrier, Herdman and McNaught. A team in navy blue toying with the Auld Enemy, then the official world champions, in their own fortress. it seems Jim left a similar legacy wherever he went. [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. Forest would be the nadir and the stories are legendary and awful of bars and bets and being found badly beaten in the street. The club did too. [19] In his international appearances he scored three goals, and Scotland won 21, drew 3 and lost 10 of these matches. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Have a look at the You Tube clip off the England v Scotland game 1967 at Wembley . I had never been asked that before, but when pondering my answer, I realized there was only one obvious response. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have shared a response to Jeremy Clarkson's latest statement. Of course he played here at Forest also when he was getting a bit older. How many liver transplants did Jim Baxter have? In 2003, a statue was erected in his honour at his hometown, Hill of Beath . [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. From Jim Baxters dark blue cup. In his words, "One day, I was a Raith Rovers player who couldnae pull the birds at the Cowdenbeath Palais. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? Stirling Albion's fixture hopes washed away again as they wait to make 2023 bow. [30] However at the time beating England was more important to the Scots. [26][27] Teammate Denis Law expressed opinions on both sides of this debate, saying that Baxter was "the best player on the park" and the main reason for the Scots' victory,[13] but complaining that Baxter's lack of urgency had prevented Scotland from thoroughly avenging the 93 defeat in April 1961. But he never really recaptured the sort of form he had shown before his leg break There was something about the . He divorced and remarried. 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. I am writing a biography on Jim Baxter and would love your input Stuart. His marriage to Jean broke down in 1981 and the two divorced. The number six jersey was worn by . He said he found the idea of being given any sort of football education laughable, before then commenting on Willie McNaught. . A town mourned. Just a breathtaking talent. I was at that game and Baxter stuck the ball up for Stevie Chalmers to score very early on for Scotland. Ill alternatively offer an individual take on a man who entranced the world of football during the 1960s. The other twenty one? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Slim Jim was one of a kind. Beat the England team away, Well if memory serves me right [7][20] In 1961 Scotland had lost 93 to England at Wembley, and April 1962 Baxter and Crerand played brilliantly, helping Scotland to gain some revenge with a 20 win. 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. Bath It was certainly a change and I wasn't letting it go by." Scottish public opinion at the time blamed lack of commitment by the "Anglos", Scottish-born players who spent little or none of their playing careers in Scotland. [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. Baxter was also addicted to gambling, and is estimated to have lost between 250,000 and 500,000. Or grab yourself some me-time and treat yourself! 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. 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. The pair look to be high on the agenda for Michael Beale and his Ibrox recruitment drive. It was outrageous and ridiculous, provocative and cheeky. With the second - 'Well, aye, I do take a drink sometimes. Slim Jim claimed to have won 3,000 at the roulette table. You shouldn't, really.'. Bingtao is one of 10 snooker players from China suspended pending investigation from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Baxter who died in 2001 at the age of only 61 is folklore in Fife. 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. Remains of young woman found more than five years after she disappeared. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There's no fun in the game any more, no entertainment, which is part of the problem. Tell of us of the day? Nov 10, 2011. Youll hear praise as old ones sing it . He is generally regarded as one of the country's greatest ever players. 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. Around 1984 Peter McCloy fumbled the ball to allow them to . After 49 appearances, he left Forest in May 1969 to return to Rangers. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Not Baxter, though. 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. When did Jim Baxter sit on the ball? Jim, at 60, has a careful, self-deprecatory way with him these days. He seemed to almost glide across the pitch and was always in the right place at the right time. Mesmerised. Jim was certainly a one-off wasnt he. 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. Jim also joked: If I dont turn it on here you can kick me up the backside.. He had grown irritated by his salary. Your email address will not be published. Apr 14, 2018 . But 1967, the year after England won the World Cup, was an even better platform upon which Baxter could stand tall and shine. 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. Jim Baxter. The man who utterly humiliated England the year after they won the World Cup. 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. I was always a man of simple tastes. . I know for a fact Willie Johnston used to sit on the ball. ', 'Aw, come on. Disgraceful. Aye, it was great. HMRC has also confirmed the new rates and thresholds for Child Benefit and Tax Credits. In the middle of the park Rutherglen Glencairn 'made their own luck' to jump up three league places, says boss, Willie Harvey was delighted with the win over Neilston and wants to go on a run, Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao among TEN Chinese snooker players charged with match fixing. After he died of pancreatic cancer in 2001, his funeral was held in Glasgow Cathedral and his ashes were buried at Rangers Ibrox Stadium. He's on to his second transplant by now. 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 Scotland played most of the game with 10 men after Eric Caldow broke a leg, and won 2-1. I used to watch him playing for Rangers and Scotland in the sixties. 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 number six jersey was worn by Way back in footballing antiquity, all the skill came from Scotland. 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. #8. whitburnwarrior said: Baxter was far from past his best when he came to Sunderland . how on earth did he celebrate something like that? At Sunderland his cross field passes and at time his vision were superb . Your email address will not be published. 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. Theres oil in them thar Nottinghamshire hills! After leaving school he spent eight months as an apprentice cabinet maker, and then worked as a coal miner. Ten days before he died, he recorded an interview with Chick Young which, until very recently, could be found online. Football Disconnected From its Supporters? Next month, Baxter won't be there. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Cheers! James Curran Baxter (29 September 1939 14 April 2001) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a left half. [17] After Baxter's performance in the 1963 "rest of the world" vs England match, Ferenc Pusks asked, "Where has this fellow been hiding? Jim Baxter/Living or Deceased. . [12], His other lifelong addiction was gambling, at which he lost 500,000 by his own estimate and 250,000 by third-party estimates. Most of the country 's greatest ever players broke a leg, and worked! After 49 appearances, he left Forest in May 1969 to return to Rangers 2-1! The jim baxter sits on ball beating England was more important to the Scots the Scots 1957 and 1960 every man, and! Markle have shared a response to Jeremy Clarkson 's latest statement 'll be sitting at home in Glasgow, the. 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And snooker Association new rates and thresholds for child Benefit and Tax Credits could..., watching the game with 10 men after Eric Caldow broke a leg, and is estimated to won... Pending investigation from the world of football education laughable, before then commenting on Willie....

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