Maybe Irvine Welsh is right, and Baxter should sum up the century for Scotland. Boy, did he get the ball. One of my team asked me once who my favourite player was. Seb Stafford-Bloor is a football writer at Tifo Football and member of the Football Writers' Association. 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. Its moving television. 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Wembley this is the London Palladium, Baxter said according to Tom Miller in a marvellous book Slim Jim: Simply The Best. 'It's not really hatred, though, is it? How did it end up? It was also symbolic. well, we're Scottish, and they're English, for fuck's sake.'. [8][21], According to many commentators, his greatest performances were against England in 1963 and 1967. [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. . In most cases, footballers are prisoners of their own era. He was thicker, his jowls were heavier. Slim Jim was one of a kind. 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. So next month . [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. 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. Another reason was simply because Jim was absolutely brilliant. 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. [23] Bobby Moore thought this was the best team Scotland ever fielded. Officers raced to the single-vehicle crash on the A830 between Fort William and Mallaig after being alerted at around 1:35pm on Tuesday. Now years on I hope we can celebrate Jims genius by supporting the next generation of Fife footballers who will carry his legacy forward. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. [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. He was earning 7 a week sorting the stone from the coal at Fordel Colliary and 3 a week in Raiths reserves. He could tease with the ball, twisting defenders into a knot. And all of us who knew and admired him were so sad to learn that heavy drinking for which he never blamed anyone but himself cut short his career, destroyed his health and forced two liver transplants. 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? I had never been asked that before, but when pondering my answer, I realized there was only one obvious response. Instead, they lost 3-2 to the eventual winners, Helenio Herreras Inter Milan. But Saturday, April 15, 1967 has stood the test of time. Postecoglou has promised to shake his team up but who could come in to his starting XI as they look to avenge their defeat in Paisley? He was also noted as a joker on the pitch. French nun Lucile Randon, who was also known as Sister Andr, passed away in her sleep at a nursing home in Toulouse yesterday. He laughed and giggled and, improbably, his eyes still danced when he spoke of his yesterdays. Please refresh the page and try again. . When was Jim Baxter married and how many children did he have? [51], Raith Rovers F.C. But now I'd be done for professional misconduct. Tis hard to say Almost 15 years ago Baxters friends and fans came together and raised 60,000 for Jims Hill of Beath statue. What a match! . Jim Baxter played that in front of ninety thousand fans, Right along the Wemberly touchline The England team were overawed A young man in his prime he was Possessed with ball at feet When England saw him gliding o'er the green Yon blonde cap'n called "retreat" Baxter walked about the pitch A God amongst mere men He'd beat one man, then turn around . Jim Baxter. . Aye, it was great. I rate him the best I've ever seen at Ibrox and I go back to the late 50's. Flawed character though. [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. The Swiss frontman struggled for form during his two year spell in the Scottish Premiership. He divorced and remarried. On this occasion Jim had taken on one too many doormen and come off worst, so bad in fact that his team. [14] He described his approach to playing football as "treating the ball like a woman. Subscribe to the Worlds #1 football magazine. Jim Baxter goes to hug centre forward Jim McCalliog as Scotland stars celebrate a stunning win against world champions England. 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. Brought cheers that echoed loud, Jim Baxter sat upon the ball 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. By 1965, his relationship with Rangers was close to fracture. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". There was something about the . Jim Baxter, the legendary Scottish footballer, who humbled England at Wembley. In two and a half years at Sunderland he played 98 games and scored 12 goals, becoming known for drinking himself unconscious the night before a match and playing well the next day. Baxter scored both goals in the 2-1 win over England in 1963, despite Scotland playing the bulk of the game . TO say Jim Baxter had enjoyed his first trip to Wembley is more than an understatement. His passing, movement, positioning and first touch was absolutely exceptional. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 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. [8] In this game Baxter also conspired with Billy Bremner against Alan Ball, sending Bremner a "50-50" pass, which allowed Bremner to "hit Ball like a train" when Ball contested possession. [19] In his international appearances he scored three goals, and Scotland won 21, drew 3 and lost 10 of these matches. Its one of the anecdotes which sustains Baxters legend. My heart says Scotland, but my head says England.'. HMRC has also confirmed the new rates and thresholds for Child Benefit and Tax Credits. The broken leg had reduced him as an athlete, he already knew that, but the long recovery had allowed alcohol to really tighten its grip. Nonchalant, cocky and deeply reassuring. One of their coaches gave a Brazil pennant to each of us who was there. 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. "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. It's just . Are sadly part of history son Maybe have a few mates round. A very brilliant star at that. You just wanted him to play football forever but that was never his style. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. [7] He undertook National Service with the Black Watch from 1961 to 1963.[9]. . Symon, by all accounts a disciplinarian, made exceptions for his No.6. [30] However at the time beating England was more important to the Scots. [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. All rights reserved. today I'd be booked for that kind of stuff. After 49 appearances, he left Forest in May 1969 to return to Rangers. . Today, 19 years after his death, he remains a beguiling figure. The Rapid match was probably the end of Jims era too. 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. My, how those English boys did try 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. 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