26 Facts About Jim Baxter

James Curran Baxter was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a left half.

Jim Baxter is generally regarded as one of the country's greatest ever players.

Jim Baxter was born, educated and started his career in Fife, but his peak playing years were in the early 1960s with the Glasgow club Rangers, whom he helped to win ten trophies between 1960 and 1965, and where he became known as "Slim Jim".

Jim Baxter broke with Glasgow tradition by becoming friendly with several members of their major Glasgow rivals, Celtic.

Jim Baxter was born in Hill of Beath, Fife, on 29 September 1939 and was educated and started his career there.

Jim Baxter went on to play for the Fife junior team, Crossgates Primrose.

Jim Baxter undertook National Service with the Black Watch from 1961 to 1963.

Jim Baxter said he found the idea of being given any sort of football education laughable, before then commenting on Willie McNaught.

This, Jim Baxter then stated, was his football education with Willie McNaught the provider.

Jim Baxter played for Rangers from 1960 to 1965, mainly as an attacking left half.

Jim Baxter played 98 games for Sunderland in England's First Division, scoring 12 goals.

Jim Baxter made his international debut in November 1960, when Scotland beat Northern Ireland.

Jim Baxter regarded his performance in 1963 as the better of the two.

Jim Baxter came on to the field in the second half, and his performance won the admiration of Ferenc Puskas.

Four years later Jim Baxter played in only two of the qualifying games, before breaking his leg in a club game in Vienna.

In 1983 Jim Baxter formed a relationship with Norma Morton, and the couple remained together until his death in 2001.

Jim Baxter was free of the sectarianism that marked the rivalry between Glasgow's two leading teams.

Jim Baxter often got falling-down drunk the night before a match, but this did not seem to hamper his play, and team managers took little notice of his drinking.

In February 2001, Jim Baxter was diagnosed as suffering from cancer of the pancreas, and he died at his home on Glasgow's South Side on 14 April 2001, with his partner Norma and his sons Alan and Steven at his bedside.

Jim Baxter's funeral was held in Glasgow Cathedral, where a reading was given by Gordon Brown, a long-time fan of Raith Rovers FC, where Baxter began his career.

Jim Baxter is generally regarded as one of Scotland's greatest ever players.

Jim Baxter was noted for accurate passes, for sending opponents the wrong way with a swivel of his hips, and for inspiring teammates with his confident approach.

Jim Baxter attracted attention by his stylish play, controlling the game with "unhurried artistry".

Jim Baxter refused to conform with the "efficient" style that dominated British football or the energetic, physical style that was typical of Rangers at the time.

Indeed, although Rangers insisted that players tuck their shirts completely into their shorts, Jim Baxter always let part of his dangle over his left hip.

Jim Baxter is a member of the Rangers supporters' Hall of Fame, and one of the first 50 added to the Scottish Sporting Hall of Fame when it was created in 2002.