Jim Baxter

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Lore & Background

From 1960 to 1967, he was a leading member of a strong Scottish international team that lost only once to England, in 1966, shortly after he recovered from the leg fracture. He thought his best international performance was a 2–1 win against England in 1963, when he scored both goals after Scotland were reduced to 10 players. In the 1967 match against England, who had won the 1966 World Cup, he taunted the opposition by ball juggling while waiting for his teammates to find good positions. Although he was given most of the credit for the 3–2 win, some commentators wished he had made an effort to run up a bigger score. In his prime, Baxter was known for his ability to raise a team's morale, his good tactical vision, precise passing and ability to send opponents the wrong way – and for being a joker on the pitch. He also broke with Glasgow tradition by becoming friendly with several members of their major Glasgow rivals, Celtic. Although he gained a reputation as a womaniser when he moved to Glasgow, he married in 1965 and had two sons. The marriage broke up in 1981, and in 1983 he formed another relationship that lasted the rest of his life. After retiring from football he became manager of a pub, and his continued heavy drinking damaged his liver so badly that he needed two transplants at the age of 55, after which he swore off alcohol. Baxter was also addicted to gambling, and is estimated to have lost between £250,000 and £500,000. After he died of pancreatic cancer in 2001, his funeral was held in Glasgow Cathedral and his ashes were buried at Rangers' Ibrox Stadium. In 2003, a statue was erected in his honour at his hometown, Hill of Beath.

In Their Own Story

Baxter's education in football did not come from formal coaching but from the practical wisdom of mentors like Willie McNaught at his early clubs. McNaught taught him to replace thoughtless charges with considered play, shifting from running 30 yards for a five-yard pass to moving just five yards to deliver a 30-yard ball. This philosophy defined his style: he was known as a joker on the pitch and broke Glasgow tradition by befriending members of rivals Celtic. His move to Sunderland in summer 1965 followed his injury-induced decline, where he played 98 games and scored 12 goals. Despite gaining a reputation for drinking himself unconscious the night before matches, he often performed well the next day. The narrative of his life took a darker turn after retiring; as a pub manager, his heavy drinking damaged his liver, requiring two transplants at age 55. He passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2001, with his ashes buried at Rangers' Ibrox Stadium.

Reader's Guide

Baxter was born in Hill of Beath, Fife, on 29 September 1939 and was educated and started his career there. After leaving school he spent eight months as an apprentice cabinet maker, and then worked as a coal miner. His former headmaster James Carmichael took an interest in ex-pupils and encouraged Baxter to join local football team Halbeath Juveniles instead of one of the glamour clubs. Baxter went on to play for the Fife junior team, Crossgates Primrose. He undertook National Service with the Black Watch from 1961 to 1963. Baxter joined Raith Rovers as a part-timer in 1957. In his time at the Kirkcaldy club he orchestrated a 3–2 win over Rangers at Ibrox Park; Scot Symon decided he wanted to sign him for Rangers from that performance. In an interview on his career, Baxter was asked if joining the senior ranks was the beginning of his football education. He said he found the idea of being given any sort of football education laughable, before then commenting on Willie McNaught. Describing McNaught as, 'a smashing guy', Baxter explained how instead of thoughtlessly charging forward with the ball, McNaught suggested more considered football – change from running 30 yards to produce a five-yard pass to running five yards and producing a 30-yard pass. This, Baxter then stated, was his football education with Willie McNaught the provider. He later said of his time with the two Fife clubs, "I would never have made it in today's circumstances. I needed bastards like Carmichael, Buckard, Ferrier, Herdman and McNaught. Young players like I was would simply tell them to get stuffed and take their talent elsewhere. I owe them." In June 1960, Baxter joined the Glasgow team Rangers for a transfer fee of £17,500, a Scottish record at the time. He played for Rangers from 1960 to 1965, mainly as an attacking left half. During this period the team won the Scottish League Championship in 1961, 1963 and 1964, and were winners of three Scottish Cups and four League Cups from as many finals, Baxter playing in all seven ties. Rangers fans remember him as "Slim Jim", and in 18 "Old Firm" games against local rivals Celtic – ten Scottish League, five League Cup and three Scottish Cup matches – he was only twice on the losing side. His first Rangers game was in August 1960 at inside left against Partick Thistle in the Scottish League Cup. He scored his first goal for the club in Nov

Did You Know?

• Baxter scored both goals in Scotland's 2–1 victory over England in 1963 after Scotland were reduced to 10 players.
• He was known as 'Slim Jim' during his time at Rangers.
• Baxter needed two liver transplants at age 55 after years of heavy drinking.
• A statue in his honour was erected in his hometown, Hill of Beath, in 2003.