Jim Herriot Explained

Jim Herriot
Fullname:James Herriot
Birth Date:20 December 1939
Birth Place:Chapelhall, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthyears1:
Years1:1957–1958
Clubs1:Douglasdale
Years2:1958–1965
Caps2:94
Goals2:0
Years3:1965–1971
Clubs3:Birmingham City
Caps3:181
Goals3:0
Years4:1970
Clubs4:Mansfield Town (loan)
Caps4:5
Goals4:0
Years5:1971
Clubs5:Aston Villa (loan)
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:1971
Clubs6:Durban City
Years7:1971–1973
Clubs7:Hibernian
Caps7:57
Goals7:0
Years8:1973–1975
Clubs8:St Mirren
Caps8:31
Goals8:0
Years9:1975–1976
Clubs9:Partick Thistle
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Years10:1975
Clubs10:Morton (loan)
Caps10:1
Goals10:0
Years11:1976
Clubs11:Dunfermline Athletic (loan)
Caps11:0
Goals11:0
Years12:1976–1977
Clubs12:Morton
Caps12:3
Goals12:0
Nationalyears1:1962–1963
Nationalteam1:Scottish League XI
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1968–1969
Nationalteam2:Scotland
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:0

James Herriot (born 20 December 1939) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for clubs in Scotland, England and South Africa. Herriot represented both Scotland and the Scottish League XI.

Career

Herriot was an apprentice bricklayer playing part-time for Junior club Douglasdale[1] before he joined Dunfermline Athletic in 1958. He became the Pars established number 1 when Eddie Connachan left for Middlesbrough in 1963.[2] Herriot adopted the American Football technique of applying boot polish under and around his eyes to reduce the effects of glare from the sun.[3] Herriot helped Dunfermline reach the 1965 Scottish Cup Final, which they lost 3–2 to Celtic.[2] [4]

Herriot was transferred to Birmingham City for £18,000 in 1965.[2] He was a fixture in the City side during the next four and a half years[5] and eventually gained international recognition. He made his Scotland debut in October 1968, in a 1–0 defeat by Denmark in a friendly in Copenhagen, and played a further seven times for the national side. His last cap came just a year after his first, in a 3–2 defeat by West Germany in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in Hamburg.[6]

By 1970 Herriot had fallen from favour at St Andrew's and, following loan spells with Mansfield Town and Aston Villa, he left for South African club Durban City.[3] [7] He returned to Britain in 1971, joining Eddie Turnbull's developing Hibernian side. With Hibs he won his first career honour, the 1972–73 Scottish League Cup, as well as the fledgling Drybrough Cup on two occasions.[8]

He left the Edinburgh side to join St Mirren in 1973, then moved to Partick Thistle in 1975. After a spell on loan with Morton in October 1975 he returned to Dunfermline Athletic in early 1976 before joining Morton permanently for the 1976–77 season.[9] He retired from the game in the summer of 1977.[8]

Literary alter ego

Herriot is probably best known today for giving his name to the writer James Herriot, a Yorkshire vet whose real name was Alf Wight. Wight needed a pen-name to comply with professional rules banning advertising and chose Jim Herriot's name after seeing him play for Birmingham City in a televised match against Manchester United.[10]

International

Scottish International Appearances [11]
Year Apps Goals
1968 2 0
1969 6 0
Total 8 0

Notes and References

  1. http://www.spanglefish.com/douglasdalefootball/index.asp?pageid=13136 More Douglas Players | Jim Herriot
  2. Web site: Jim Herriot . Dunfermline Athletic F.C. . https://web.archive.org/web/20080301231453/http://www.dafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FSquadDetail/0,,10288~982178,00.html . 1 March 2008.
  3. Book: Matthews, Tony . Birmingham City: A Complete Record . 1995 . Breedon Books . Derby . 97 . 978-1-85983-010-9.
  4. News: Determination wins out . Glasgow Herald . 26 April 1965 . 6.
  5. Book: Matthews, Tony . Birmingham City: A Complete Record . 1995 . Breedon Books . Derby . 201–05 . 978-1-85983-010-9.
  6. Web site: James Herriot . Scottish Football Association . 20 April 2018.
  7. Web site: Herriot, James (Jim) . Aston Villa Player Database . Jörn Mårtensson . 20 April 2018.
  8. Web site: Jim Herriot . Hibernian Historical Trust . 20 April 2018.
  9. Web site: Appearance records: H . DOC . Rab . Hosie . Scottish Football Historical Archive . https://web.archive.org/web/20161127214814/http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.uk/Appearance%20Records%20-%20H.doc . 27 November 2016.
  10. News: World of James Herriot in Thirsk re-opens with new collection . Stephen . Lewis . The Press . York . 2 February 2013 . 20 April 2018.
  11. Web site: James Herriot International Appearances . eu-football.info . 29 April 2023.