See you, Jimmy: Glencairn legend Obi passes at 75
THERE was a time not so long ago when Rutherglen Glencairn were grabbing the headlines and making Junior footballing history yet without coming close to getting their hands on a silverware prize.
A forward line containing three footballing brothers – left winger Jim, right winger Andy and inside right Hughie O’Brien starred in the halcyon days of the 1967/68 season.
Andy and Hughie moved away within a couple of seasons with Hughie initially joining Vale of Leven before moving to Irvine Meadow, and he was paid the accolade of “the best player I ever saw in 40 years at Meadow Park” by legendary Medda trainer and physio Dunky Black.
A fourth brother, Gerry, would likely top any sibling rivalry stakes following a chequered career that saw him step up from Drumchapel Amateurs to Clydebank where his wing displays earned him a big-money move to Southampton.
He initially figured in the 1976 side that was to go on and win the FA Cup under Lawrie McMenemy with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United but as luck would have it Gerry obtained a transfer in March that season to Swindon Town where he stayed seven seasons before coming back to Scotland to play for Clydebank and Hibs.
Yet both he and Junior internationalist Hughie (who died in Canada in 2012) would admit to getting their fair share of the breaks denied eldest brother Jim who was a key component in the Glens side that agonisingly lost out 3-2 in the 1967 replayed Scottish Final to Kilsyth Rangers as well as being someone worthy of appreciation for his 16 years of Southcroft Park service as a player and coach.
Memories of Obi ,so nicknamed because of his resemblance to Yugoslavian midfield star Branko Oblak of 1974 World Cup fame – though not so much for the balding pate as his wand of a left foot, came flooding back after his family broke the news of Jim’s sad passing last weekend at the age of 75 following a long illness.
His unique wing talents first came to the fore turning out for Juvenile outfit Milton of Campsie and earned him a signing offer from Johnstone Burgh in 1962 but just a handful of Junior games had scouts from Middlesbrough, Kilmarnock and St Mirren among others queuing up for the teenager’s signature and he duly put pen to paper for St Johnstone where he was tasked with providing the crosses for Sir Alex Ferguson.
An unfortunate cruciate ligament injury cut short his promising Muirton Park career and a long time on the sidelines ensued before Jim opted to play for Clyde prior to his reinstatement to the Junior ranks in 1966 – moving just along the road and making the first of 269 appearances for the Glens.
Obi briefly turned out with Kilbirnie Ladeside and St Anthony’s before former team-mate Billy Sutherland was appointed as manager and brought him back in a player/ coach capacity in 1976.
A funeral mass will be held for Obi on Saturday morning (9.30am) in St Catherine’s Laboure Chapel in Lamont Road ,Balornock, G21 3PP.