The Thistle Archive

The son of Thomas Muir (engine fitter) and Jessie Muir (née Thomson) who were married in 1867 in Wishaw.

Jimmy, an inside forward, did well at Maryhill, where a number of medals were gained. 800 were at Shawfield to see him play a end-of-season trial game for Partick Thistle in May 1906, a 2-0 win away to Clyde in the Glasgow League. No deal was forthcoming, but Jimmy did return to Meadowside - home to Partick Thistle - the following season. He played a key role in the Maryhill side which had a herculean tilt at the Scottish Junior Cup of 1906-07. In the end, it took 3 games to settle the final in favour of Strathclyde, with all three tussles taking place at Meadowside. 8,000 were there for the 2nd replay (1st June 1907) as the Hill went down by a solitary goal to nil. It was Jimmy's final act for the club and, aged 24, he made his first proper senior move to Aberdeen just a few days later.

At Pittodrie, Jimmy continued to do well, scoring 9 goals in 35 competitive outings in just over a year before an unfortunate accident ended his playing career. With thanks to Aberdeen Heritage for the transcription, the incident was reported in the Aberdeen Daily Journal of 26th October 1908:

An unfortunate accident occurred during the progress of the football match between Dundee and Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday afternoon. James Muir, the inside left forward of the Aberdeen team, had just scored a goal and was turning round on his left leg, when his foot being blocked by Chaplin, one of the Dundee backs, Muir fell over Chaplin's leg, fracturing the fibula bone a few inches above the ankle. Muir dropped like a log, and Dr. Ellis Milne, the clubs medical attendant, ran across the pitch, and after examination ordered the players to be taken to the pavilion, and several of the Dundee and Aberdeen players carried Muir there. Dr. Milne temporarily dressed the injured limb. The police ambulance was then summoned, and Muir was removed to the Royal Infirmary. The accident was deeply regretted by players and spectators alike. The match, which was a league fixture, created tremendous interest, and was witnessed by a crowd of spectators estimated at about 15,000. A number of special trains were run from the north, and two came from Dundee with 500 excursionists. A stubbornly contested game ended in a draw each team securing a goal. After inquiry at the infirmary it was ascertained that Muir had sustained a simple fracture of the fibula, the injury not being so serious as was first supposed.

Despite the promising tone towards the end of that report, it was announced in August 1909 that Jimmy had decided to retire from the game because of his injury. He did try to make a comeback with Aberdeen in 1913 but it did not work out. Jimmy was on military service by April 1915. Away from the football, Jimmy followed in his father's footsteps by working as an engine fitter. He married Nellie Todd in 1922, but sadly became a widower in 1942. Myocardial degeneration / chronic bronchitis led to Jimmy's demise at home in his sleep in the early hours of a January morning in 1952. His son, James, signed the death register entry.

On account of his service during WWI, Jimmy is included in our feature piece, The Partick Thistle returned →.