Jimmy Rimmer: Tales of a Goalkeeper
Andy Greeves speaks to former Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester United goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer
The tale of Lancashire-born goalkeeper John James 'Jimmy' Rimmer is certainly one for fans of football trivia. During a 21-year professional career, the goalkeeper became the first and currently only English player ever to win a European Cup winners medal with two different clubs - Manchester United in 1968 and Aston Villa in 1982.
That despite the fact he was an unused sub in United's 4-1 extra-time final win over Benfica at the old Wembley Stadium on May 29, 1968 and played only nine minutes of Villa's 1982 final against Bayern Munich on May 26, 1982, being replaced by Nigel Spink due to injury.
Rimmer's medal wins being spaced 14 years apart means he also holds the record for the most spread out trophy successes in the competition's history.
"Winning those medals was magnificent... it was a real highlight," he smiles. "Thinking especially about Aston Villa.... when we played Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup Final, I don't think there was anyone who gave us a chance really, bar the players in the dressing room.
"We hadn't been given a chance en route to the final either though, against the likes of Dynamo Kyiv or Anderlecht. It was funny with Villa, because people talk about ‘having your name on the cup' and I guess that was the feeling we started to get as we progressed through the competition."
Born in Southport on February 10, 1948, Rimmer joined Manchester United as a schoolboy in 1963 and made his debut for the first team just two years later. Between 1965 and 1974, he made just 34 appearances for the Red Devils, as understudy to the club's number one at the time, Alex Stepney. It was a former United goal keeping legend that offered him the chance to play regularly, with then-Swansea City manager Harry Gregg swooping to sign the player on loan in October 1973.
"I was 23 when I was at Swansea City on loan," he recalls. "Before that, I'd only known life at Manchester United where I'd been since I was 15."
Rimmer excelled at Swansea, making 17 starts in the old Division Four (now League Two) and producing a host of fine displays. Such was his form in South Wales that Bertie Mee paid United £40,000 to take him to Highbury just five months on from him joining the Swans on loan.
"I learnt a lot at Arsenal and what a team they had. I thought the world of George Armstrong and the great players included Pat Rice, Bob McNab, Peter Simpson with (John) Radford and (Peter) Kennedy up front. The only member of the 1971 double team I didn't get to play with was Frank McLintock, who left just before I had joined. Charlie George was there of course too and later, Liam Brady signed for us.... two magical players. We also signed David O'Leary.... the list goes on."
Rimmer was viewed by Arsenal as a long term replacement for the legendary Bob Wilson and during his three years in North London between 1974 and 1977, started a total of 124 league games for the Gunners. It was during his Arsenal days that he made his one and only appearance for England in a friendly against Italy in the United States on May 28, 1976.
His move to Aston Villa saw him play a further 229 top division matches, as he became a league champion for the first time as the West Midlanders won the old First Division (now Barclays Premier League) title in 1980-81. He was also present as they shared the Charity Shield with Tottenham Hotspur in 1981 and won the European Super Cup a year later beating Barcelona over two legs.
"People call me a legend but I don't see it like that," says Rimmer bashfully. "I played with legends though that's for sure. Dennis Law, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Nobby Stiles at Manchester United, Liam Brady, John Radford, Ray Kennedy, Charlie George at Arsenal. Peter Withe, Tony Morley, Denis Mortimer and Gordon Cowans at Aston Villa. The list is endless."
Following the success of his time at Aston Villa, Rimmer returned to Swansea to sign for the Swans in 1983. It was a tough time on and off the field as financial problems meant the club had to sell many of its best players. "Bob Latchford left, Harry Curtis was sold, Jeremy Charles (departed) etc," recalls Rimmer. "John Toshack told me we had a great chance of going back to the top flight when I originally signed and I believed that with those calibre of players. But of course as more kept getting sold, it was no surprise that we struggled as badly as we did. We only had a very young team in the end."
In the three years that Rimmer was back at the old Vetch Field, Swansea dropped from the old Second to the Third Division. A season after he departed (1985/86), they were relegated to the bottom division of English football, despite having played in its top flight as recently as the 1982-83 season.
"Even with all the problems, I was happy," smiles Rimmer. "I had a real affiliation for the club, loved living in South Wales and my teammates were fantastic."
Rimmer retired from playing in 1986 following brief spells with Hamrun Spartans and Luton Town, returning once again to Swansea to take up a post as the club's goalkeeping coach. He briefly managed the club in the mid 1990s on a caretaker basis following the departures of managers Bobby Smith (ex-Manchester United) and football novice Kevin Cullis.
"I'm lucky, because in my opinion, I played for the biggest club in the North West (of England) in Manchester United, the biggest club in London in Arsenal , the biggest club in the Midlands in Aston Villa and the biggest club in Wales in Swansea City," says Rimmer, who nowadays lives in Swansea and works on the after-dinner speaking circuit. He is a regular at the Liberty Stadium on Swansea City match days.
"The run that Swansea City have been on goes back to that dramatic last day of the season ten years ago when the Swans beat Hull City (May 3, 2003) to stay in the Football League," he says. "From there, it has been progress at that club season-on-season. The last couple of years especially have been remarkable... not only in terms of the ease in which they have shown in establishing themselves in the top division, but also the football they have been playing. I go and watch them play on a regular basis, because you always see a good game at the Liberty Stadium. The philosophy on the way the game should be played mirrors what we were doing at Manchester United all those years ago. You play football with your feet and nothing else."
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