The Thistle Archive

Inexplicably nicknamed — in the way that only Scottish people do — “big Boab”, fans of a certain vintage will recall Jim's darkened under-eye, usually created with mud, the idea being that it stopped the glare of the floodlights bouncing off his cheek - what a pro! Jim was an apprentice bricklayer playing part-time for Junior club Douglasdale before he joined Dunfermline Athletic in 1958. He became the Pars established number 1 when Eddie Connachan left for Middlesbrough in 1963. Jim helped Dunfermline reach the 1965 Scottish Cup Final, which they lost 3–2 to Celtic. Jim was transferred to Birmingham City for £18,000 in 1965, where he was a real standout for the rest of that decade. After frustrating Man Utd at St Andrews in one particular game, George Best stated: “Jim Herriot was safer than the Bank of England”. So inspiring was Jim's jaw-dropping performance that day that Alf Wight (would-be author of 'All Creatures Great and Small') adopted 'James Herriot' as his forever pen name!

The Scotland #1 jersey was up for grabs in the late 1960s, with the likes of Ronnie Simpson, Bobby Clark and Tommy Lawrence vying for the role. For around a year, Scotland manager Bobby Brown favoured Jim Herriot who had been doing so well with Birmingham City and was deserving of his chance. Aiming for Mexico '70, Scotland were drawn in a tough qualifying group against West Germany and Austria as well as outsiders Cyprus. Scotland finished 2nd, but it wasn't enough. Jim played in 3 of the 6 games, keeping clean-sheets away (5-0, Dec '68) and home (8-0, May '69) to the minnows, but the trip to Hamburg in October '69 was a bridge too far; West Germany 3 Scotland 2. Sepp Maier, Berti Vogts, Franz Beckenbauer, Wolfgang Overath, Gerd Muller, Uwe Seeler… they were a bit tasty!

By 1970, Jim had run his race at St Andrew's and, following loan spells with Mansfield Town and Aston Villa, he left for South African club Durban City. 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. He left the Edinburgh side to join St Mirren in 1973, before Bertie Auld brought the 35-year-old Jim to Firhill in February 1975 to compensate for leg-break victim John Arrol. Bertie knew of Jim's strengths from his Hibs days and wanted his experience to cover for Alan Rough as Thistle eyed the crucial Top 10 cut-off spot in the 1974-75 First Division, not wanting to heap pressure on young reserve, Billy Thomson. In the end, Jim played only twice for Thistle in competitive action, losing narrowly on both occasions to Celtic (0-1, Glasgow Cup, March '75) and Dumbarton (0-1, Scottish Cup, February '76). After a spell on loan with Morton in October 1975, Jim returned to Dunfermline Athletic in early 1976 before joining Morton permanently for the 1976–77 season. He retired from the game in the summer of 1977.

Jim is included in our feature piece, The Definitive Who's Who Of The Partick Thistle Internationalists →