
Gordon Milne spotted the teenage goalkeeper at his former club Preston in 1972 and paid £20,000 for him – a good price considering he had only played 1 senior game. Jim understudied Bill Glazier, Neil Ramsbottom and Bryan King before getting his chance when King was injured. He was a virtual ever present for the next two seasons and developed into one of the best ‘keepers in the top division. In 1978 his outstanding club form earned him two full Scottish caps and was understudy to Alan Rough at the 1978 World Cup finals. Later that year Manchester United were prepared to pay £440,000, a British record for a goalkeeper, but Jim’s back failed a medical. He shared goalkeeping duties with Les Sealey for a further four seasons but his back was always a source of problems. In September 1979 he was forced to pull out of the home game with Norwich when his back went in the warm-up and youth team ‘keeper Steve Murcott played. In 1982 he joined Birmingham on a free transfer but played little senior football before retiring. He returned to Highfield Road as goalkeeping coach under Gordon Strachan but left with Strachan in 2001.
Penalties faced (28 - 3 saved)
1975-76
19 December 1975 v Everton H, scored
31 January 1976 v Derby County A, scored
20 March 1976 v Birmingham City A, scored
1976-77
21 August 1976 v Middlesbrough A, saved
18 December 1976 v Manchester City A, missed (hit bar)
16 February 1977 v Stoke City A, scored
1977-78
24 August 1977 v Manchester City A, scored
15 October 1977 v Leicester City A, 1 scored, 1 saved
29 November 1977 v Anfield A, scored
27 December 1977 v Norwich City H, scored
2 January 1978 v Derby County A, scored
4 February 1978 v Liverpool H, saved
25 April 1978 v Manchester City A, scored
1979-80
21 August 1979 v Bristol City H, scored
25 August 1979 v Nottingham Forest A, scored
27 February 1980 v Tottenham Hotspur A, x2 both scored
8 March 1980 v West Bromwich Albion, scored
26 April 1980 v Manchester United, scored
29 April 1980 v Aston Villa, scored
1981-82
19 September 1981 v Brighton & Hove Albion A, scored
22 September 1981 v Liverpool H, scored
26 September 1981 v Southampton H, scored
21 November 1981 v West Ham United A, scored
23 January 1982 v Manchester City A, scored
20 February 1982 v Liverpool A, scored
27 February 1982 v Aston Villa A, scored






























































































































































































































































































































































































Scotland, 2 caps
Selected for the Scotland squad for the 1978 FIFA World Cup (squad #12), did not play
1977-78
22 February 1978 Scotland v Bulgaria, Hampden Park, Friendly 2-1
17 May 1978 Scotland v Wales, Hampden Park, British Home Championship, 1-1
Scotland Youth International