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HEROES OF THE STEELMEN
David Tilley14 Apr 2020 - 06:57
NUMBER ONE - JIM STRATHIE
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/2/13.
James William Strathie was an imposing Scottish centre half from Beancross, Falkirk who stated out playing at right half for SCWS Amateurs in the Stirlingshire Amateur League at the age of 17 in 1930. He then had a spell with Camelon Juniors before signing provisional forms with Falkirk in March 1934 after impressing manager William Orr in Tuesday evening trial matches. At the time it was reported that Preston North End and Bolton Wanderers were also closely monitoring his progress.
Jimmy made a "highly creditable" first team debut for Falkirk at right back against Queens Park at Hampden in April 1934 and appeared twice more during what remained of the 1933/34 season.
He was re-signed at the start of 1934/35 and was in impressive form in the club's pre-season trial matches. The Falkirk Herald reported that he had: "come on apace" and that "It seems as though the club has the makings of a grand centre half in this local lad who has improved out of all recognition".
He appeared in the first team early that season and, describing him as a "keen-as-mustard young un" the local newspaper praised him for his "work rate" but stated that he was let down by his "raw tactics". Jimmy made 16 Scottish League appearances in 1934/35 and in May 1935 he appeared in Falkirk's Stirlingshire Cup Final victory over Kings Park.
In November 1935 Jimmy stepped down a division when he was transferred to KIngs Park in exchange for Andrew Young and he then spent the 1936/37 season with St Bernards, from where he was transferred to Luton Town in the summer of 1937. Jimmy's first team opportunities at Luton were few and far between and he played most of his football in the club's 'A' and reserve teams. He first opposed a Corby team when he played for Luton Town 'A' against Stewarts & Lloyds FC in a goalless United Counties League draw in September 1938.
Jimmy made his Football League debut at right back in a 1-0 Division Two defeat away to Nottingham Forest in April 1938 and played his second game in a 1-1 draw at home to Coventry City on the final day of the following season in May 1939. He was on Luton's transfer list at the time and it was felt that he was included at centre half to allow a scout from Watford to run the rule over him.
At that time Jim was described as: "an honest player in the fullest sense of the word" and it was stated that: "He has always given his utmost to the club; no man has kept himself more rigidly to the terms of his contract". But that wasn't enough to earn him an extended stay at Luton.
During the summer of 1939 Jimmy joined Northampton Town on a free transfer and played in the opening three games of 1939/40, one of which was at left back in a 10-0 home defeat by Bournemouth. The outbreak of World War Two then caused his football career to be put on hold for seven years.
He left the area during the hostilities but returned to Northampton in 1946 and made his first post war appearance in a 2-0 Division Three (South) defeat by Cardiff City in September of that year. Jim's six appearances for the Cobblers in 1946/47 also included an 8-0 thrashing by Walsall at the County Ground in April 1947.
During the summer of 1947 Jim joined Kettering Town and played for them in a memorable F.A Cup tie against Peterborough United in November of that year which Peterborough won 4-3 in front of a crowd of 11,526. In March 1949 Jim was in the Kettering team which beat Corby Town 4-1 at Occupation Road in the Northants Senior Cup Final.
Jim signed for Corby Town in the summer of 1949 at the age of 35 and made his debut at centre half in a modest 2-1 home win over Desborough Town on the opening day of the 1949/50 United Counties League season. But the achievements of the uncompromising stopper during the next three years were anything but modest.
He captained the Steelmen to a famous 1-0 F.A Cup Third Qualifying Round win over Peterborough United in October 1949 and only missed one game all season as Corby finished third in the U.C.L. Always in the thick of the action, Jim suffered a cut face in a 2-1 defeat at home to Desborough Town in the second game of 1950/51 and had an eventful Boxing Day 1950 when he blasted a penalty wide; went in goal after 'keeper Jackie Elder cut his head and was finally helped off the pitch at the end of the goalless draw after being injured himself. He played in all but two of the Steelmen's games that season as the United Counties League championship, Northants Senior Cup and Wellingborough Charity Cup were all won.
The League title was retained in 1951/52 when Jim made a further 41 appearances. It was said in the local press that he: "played the game of his life" in an F.A Cup tie against Kettering Town in October 1951 but he was unable to prevent the Poppies from winning 2-1 in front of an Occupation Road crowd of 7,593.
Jim had missed only twelve games whilst captaining Corby to three seasons of almost total success but in May 1952 he was released by the Steelmen. At the age of 38 he might have been expected to retire gracefully from the game but instead he joined Rothwell Town and helped them win the U.C.L Division Two championship in 1952/53.
Stories about Jim Strathie were recounted for many years. Like the time he blasted a penalty so hard against the crossbar that it rebounded back over the half way line! Or the time when he took some terrible sectarian abuse whilst playing for Rothwell Town. The fan in question obviously thought he was safe sitting in the Cecil Street stand but Jim knew different. When Rothwell were awarded a free kick right in front of the grandstand he turned his back on the play to belt the set-piece straight into the face of his abuser - knocking him senseless. Well worth conceding a throw in for.
Jim was residing at 61 Northdown Road in Hatfield, Hertfordshire when he passed away on June 23rd 1976 at the age of 63.
James William Strathie was an imposing Scottish centre half from Beancross, Falkirk who stated out playing at right half for SCWS Amateurs in the Stirlingshire Amateur League at the age of 17 in 1930. He then had a spell with Camelon Juniors before signing provisional forms with Falkirk in March 1934 after impressing manager William Orr in Tuesday evening trial matches. At the time it was reported that Preston North End and Bolton Wanderers were also closely monitoring his progress.
Jimmy made a "highly creditable" first team debut for Falkirk at right back against Queens Park at Hampden in April 1934 and appeared twice more during what remained of the 1933/34 season.
He was re-signed at the start of 1934/35 and was in impressive form in the club's pre-season trial matches. The Falkirk Herald reported that he had: "come on apace" and that "It seems as though the club has the makings of a grand centre half in this local lad who has improved out of all recognition".
He appeared in the first team early that season and, describing him as a "keen-as-mustard young un" the local newspaper praised him for his "work rate" but stated that he was let down by his "raw tactics". Jimmy made 16 Scottish League appearances in 1934/35 and in May 1935 he appeared in Falkirk's Stirlingshire Cup Final victory over Kings Park.
In November 1935 Jimmy stepped down a division when he was transferred to KIngs Park in exchange for Andrew Young and he then spent the 1936/37 season with St Bernards, from where he was transferred to Luton Town in the summer of 1937. Jimmy's first team opportunities at Luton were few and far between and he played most of his football in the club's 'A' and reserve teams. He first opposed a Corby team when he played for Luton Town 'A' against Stewarts & Lloyds FC in a goalless United Counties League draw in September 1938.
Jimmy made his Football League debut at right back in a 1-0 Division Two defeat away to Nottingham Forest in April 1938 and played his second game in a 1-1 draw at home to Coventry City on the final day of the following season in May 1939. He was on Luton's transfer list at the time and it was felt that he was included at centre half to allow a scout from Watford to run the rule over him.
At that time Jim was described as: "an honest player in the fullest sense of the word" and it was stated that: "He has always given his utmost to the club; no man has kept himself more rigidly to the terms of his contract". But that wasn't enough to earn him an extended stay at Luton.
During the summer of 1939 Jimmy joined Northampton Town on a free transfer and played in the opening three games of 1939/40, one of which was at left back in a 10-0 home defeat by Bournemouth. The outbreak of World War Two then caused his football career to be put on hold for seven years.
He left the area during the hostilities but returned to Northampton in 1946 and made his first post war appearance in a 2-0 Division Three (South) defeat by Cardiff City in September of that year. Jim's six appearances for the Cobblers in 1946/47 also included an 8-0 thrashing by Walsall at the County Ground in April 1947.
During the summer of 1947 Jim joined Kettering Town and played for them in a memorable F.A Cup tie against Peterborough United in November of that year which Peterborough won 4-3 in front of a crowd of 11,526. In March 1949 Jim was in the Kettering team which beat Corby Town 4-1 at Occupation Road in the Northants Senior Cup Final.
Jim signed for Corby Town in the summer of 1949 at the age of 35 and made his debut at centre half in a modest 2-1 home win over Desborough Town on the opening day of the 1949/50 United Counties League season. But the achievements of the uncompromising stopper during the next three years were anything but modest.
He captained the Steelmen to a famous 1-0 F.A Cup Third Qualifying Round win over Peterborough United in October 1949 and only missed one game all season as Corby finished third in the U.C.L. Always in the thick of the action, Jim suffered a cut face in a 2-1 defeat at home to Desborough Town in the second game of 1950/51 and had an eventful Boxing Day 1950 when he blasted a penalty wide; went in goal after 'keeper Jackie Elder cut his head and was finally helped off the pitch at the end of the goalless draw after being injured himself. He played in all but two of the Steelmen's games that season as the United Counties League championship, Northants Senior Cup and Wellingborough Charity Cup were all won.
The League title was retained in 1951/52 when Jim made a further 41 appearances. It was said in the local press that he: "played the game of his life" in an F.A Cup tie against Kettering Town in October 1951 but he was unable to prevent the Poppies from winning 2-1 in front of an Occupation Road crowd of 7,593.
Jim had missed only twelve games whilst captaining Corby to three seasons of almost total success but in May 1952 he was released by the Steelmen. At the age of 38 he might have been expected to retire gracefully from the game but instead he joined Rothwell Town and helped them win the U.C.L Division Two championship in 1952/53.
Stories about Jim Strathie were recounted for many years. Like the time he blasted a penalty so hard against the crossbar that it rebounded back over the half way line! Or the time when he took some terrible sectarian abuse whilst playing for Rothwell Town. The fan in question obviously thought he was safe sitting in the Cecil Street stand but Jim knew different. When Rothwell were awarded a free kick right in front of the grandstand he turned his back on the play to belt the set-piece straight into the face of his abuser - knocking him senseless. Well worth conceding a throw in for.
Jim was residing at 61 Northdown Road in Hatfield, Hertfordshire when he passed away on June 23rd 1976 at the age of 63.
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