Jim bagged a Christmas hat-trick against the Celts
Most of Scotland’s footballers will be able to put their feet up on Christmas Day.
Aside from the Dundee- Celtic clash on Boxing Day, there aren’t festive games taking place until December 27 this year.
Forty years ago, the players of Queen’s Park had a very brief seasonal break.
The amateur side were in action against Berwick Rangers on Christmas Eve – a game they lost 1-0 – and then faced Celtic on Boxing Day.
It was a strange schedule for men like Jim Rooney, but one that proved to be an ideal Christmas present for the midfielder.
He scored a memorable hat-trick against the Hoops, got to play in his favourite position and took another step towards Scotland’s top flight.
Jim recalled: “I’d been with Queen’s Park as a youth player since 1972,and was then signed as a full-timer by their committee.
“In 1974, I started playing in the Second Division. I had always wanted to become a full- time professional but I had a good job with the National Savings Bank, so it was a big decision to make.
“The Christmas game against Celtic in 1977 was definitely something of a turning point.
“There had been quite a few games postponed, and Jock Stein was keen for a friendly to help some of his fringe men, and others returning from injury.
“Our manager, Joe Gilroy, was keen to help and Hampden Park was playable.
“I was the captain of the team, but Joe told me they were keen to do something to attract a bit of media attention. So the idea was to have two brothers captaining the sides.
“So Ronnie Glavin was to skipper Celtic, and we had Tony Glavin leading our side.
“I said I was quite happy to stand aside, but I would appreciate the chance to play in the midfield.
“I’d gone through a spell where I’d been playing at the back because we’d had a few injuries.”
Jim got his wish and opened the scoring with one of the finest strikes seen at the stadium.
He went on: “It was a move we’d worked on where Jamie Paton sent a corner in my direction, and I ran in late to volley the ball past Roy Baines from 25 yards.
“It was one of those I just caught perfectly. On another day it might have gone flying into the Rangers End!
“My second goal came from the penalty spot and the third was a left-foot shot. We won 3-2 and it was certainly a memorable Christmas for me.”
And it wasn’t long before Jim was moving up in the football world.
He said: “Jim McLean called me about moving to Dundee United, but he insisted that I would have to move up there and that didn’t really suit me.
“But Mike Jackson had watched me at Hampden when he was Queen of the South manager, and recommended me to Benny Rooney when he became his assistant at Morton.
“I had a great time at Cappielow. We had a tremendous group of players, with Andy Ritchie being the one everyone remembers.
“There was a season where we were up challenging at the top of the Premier Division for a long spell.
“Alex Ferguson said that his Aberdeen team could beat Real Madrid, but they couldn’t get the better of Morton!”
Jim later joined St Mirren from Morton and admits moving between the two rivals was tricky.
He did, however, skipper Scotland’s B team in a tournament in Italy, and relished the chance to work under Jock Stein.
He went on to have spells with Dumbarton, Clyde and East Stirling during an 18-year career.
After football, Jim was involved in social work before spending a few years living in Portugal.
He’s now back in Glasgow and celebrates his 62nd birthday on New Year’s Day.