Jim Richmond

Talented footballer who was never accorded the Scottish cap he deserved

Jim Richmond, who has died aged 87, was one of that vast army of Scottish footballers who was good enough to play for Scotland but, in the days when the team was picked by the Selection Committee, he played for the wrong club.

The closest Richmond came to a Scotland cap was in season 1960-61, when he was chosen for a Scottish League XI, which beat the League of Ireland 5-1, at Celtic Park. Richmond was one of four debutants that night, but, while the other three: Paddy Crerand, Alan Gilzean and Davie Wilson all went on to have distinguished international careers, that was Richmond’s solitary shot at the big time.

Still, he enjoyed a good senior career, with Falkirk, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone, and his single League cap was one more than his fellow fullback, Matt Watson, ever got. Veteran Killie fans will assure you, Richmond and Watson was Killie’s best-ever full back pairing.

A Blantyre boy, he escaped the clutches of the local Vics, serving his junior football apprenticeship with Bridgeton

Waverley, then Beith Juniors, from where he went senior with Hamilton. He was then a centre half, but was only a short time at Douglas Park before being transferred to Falkirk. At Brockville he was initially reserve to Scotland cap Alex Parker, before getting into the team when Parker was transferred to Everton.

His form attracted the attention of Willie Waddell, then establishing his managerial reputation at Kilmarnock, a swap deal was arranged and Richmond found himself joining Killie in December, 1959. His timing was spot on as Kilmarnock immediately set off on a 15-game unbeaten run which lasted until well into March. They had, however, given Hearts too much of a start and had to settle for second place in the League, and an appearance in the Scottish Cup Final, where they lost 2-0 to Rangers.

But it was the start of a great few years for the Ayrshire side. They were consistent challengers for the League title, and Richmond in fact played in three losing cup final teams, as that Scottish Cup disappointment was followed by losses to Rangers and Hearts in the 1960 and 1962 League Cup finals.

There was travel, too, with Killie spending summers in the USA, competing with distinction in the annual New York International tournament.

Indeed, the 1960-63 Kilmarnock sides were better balanced than the league-winning 1965 squad. Richmond was a key component of that team and his consistency was recognised when he was named the Kilmarnock Supporters Association’s Player of the Year in 1962.

By 1965, however, Richmond had departed, after 159 games for the Ayrshire side. He had his differences with Waddell, who began to promote the youngster Andy King in preference to Richmond, before offloading Jim to St Johnstone for a £2,000 fee.

He spent four seasons with the Perth Saints, before heading further north, to Lossiemouth.

This was in some ways a homecoming for Richmond – his first job had been with India Tyres, in Inchinnan. Then, during his RAF National Service, he had been stationed at RAF Kinloss and he liked life on the Moray Coast.

He joined Lossie as a player, became player-coach, then switched to another Highland League side, Rothes, where he was manager for several years, before returning to Lossiemouth to co-manage junior side Lossiemouth United with his son Gordon.

He had several different jobs around Lossiemouth, before settling down and spending many years on the civilian staff at RAF Lossiemouth, up until his retirement. He and his wife Peggy, who pre-deceased him ten years ago, were wellknown and popular residents locally.

After Peggy’s death, Jim continued to live independently, although his football career caught up with him and his mobility suffered, necessitating that he spend the final year of his life in the Anderson Care Home in Elgin, where he was a very popular resident.

Jim Richmond’s funeral was well attended, with many funny stories from his long life shared. He is survived by sons Gordon, Michael and James, his seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.