Willie Nimmo

[Bollinger]

This is from one of the Letters pages in a paper this morning. Anyone have any recollections of this?

I checked the records and it must have been Willie Nimmo….records says this game ended 2-2. Not bad bearing in mind we’d have played with 10 men and without the ability to make a substitution and with an outfield player in goal…



SIR – With regard to goalkeeping techniques in football (Letters, February 15), I well remember attending a match in around 1960 at Accrington Stanley, then in the fourth division. They were playing Doncaster Rovers, and I was standing right behind the goal.

All through the match the Doncaster goalkeeper and the Accrington Stanley centre forward, both very large in stature, would have an enormous battle every time the ball was crossed into the penalty area. In about the 89th minute the ball came in and both players jumped for it. I could see that the goalkeeper was deliberately not watching the ball and focusing on the centre forward. He then punched the centre forward in the face, and the man fell like a cut tree to the ground. The goalkeeper immediately turned around, picked up his flat cap and walked towards the dressing room without waiting for the referee to give him his marching orders.

John Smith
Gloucester

[idler]

I wouldn’t have said that Willie Nimmo was large in stature though. I’d have thought that he was of average build. They did have a big centre forward, George Hudson I think who went to Coventry when they dropped out of the league. When Nimmo didn’t play we usually had Ken Mackintosh, Ted Burgin or Mitchel Downie in goal. None of those seemed very big, or very good to be honest.

[Avsuptem]

I recall Fred Potter always wore a flat cap but he only signed in 1962 I think.

[idler]

Yes he was an Oscar Hold signing from Aston Villa around the same time as we got Alfie Hale from Villa.

[scawsby steve]

I wouldn’t have said that Willie Nimmo was large in stature though. I’d have thought that he was of average build. They did have a big centre forward, George Hudson I think who went to Coventry when they dropped out of the league. When Nimmo didn’t play we usually had Ken Mackintosh, Ted Burgin or Mitchel Downie in goal. None of those seemed very big, or very good to be honest.

Dave McIntosh and Ted Burgin played before Nimmo was signed, Idler. Burgin was a replacement for Harry Gregg, when he joined Man Utd. Burgin then got injured and we signed McIntosh.

[idler]

I thought that I had seen both play for us Steve. My first game was August 1958. I’m sure Mackintosh played at least one game when Nimmo was injured and we lost. Dark hair and tash if I remember right. My memory isn’t what it was though.

[ForsolongaRover]

I thought that I had seen both play for us Steve. My first game was August 1958. I’m sure Mackintosh played at least one game when Nimmo was injured and we lost. Dark hair and tash if I remember right. My memory isn’t what it was though.

We got the slightly built Burgin from Sheffield U and Macintosh from Wednesday. Both seemed to have lost their confidence before they came and we suffered accordingly. Macintosh was not tall but well built, so it could have been him.

Didn't Coleman walk off after he punched the ref? Pickles?

[idler]

Yes he did, but after being sent off. He was walking off then turned and smacked Pickles before turning again and walking off.

[ForsolongaRover]

Yes, it prompts the memory that the ref seemingly made a deprecatory remark as he was walking off and there was a feeling that Coleman was justified. His “offence” as I remember it, was complaining to the ref that he was being persistently fouled and no free kicks were forthcoming; he took a hell of a lot of punishment from opposition defenders. I don’t think the ref ever officiated in a league game again.