TRIBUTES & OBITUARIES
(The Laughing Cavalier)
Jim Storrie - The Laughing Cavalier
By Dave Tomlinson (The Mighty Mighty Whites)
Jim Storrie - The laughing cavalier
Don Revie signed Jim Storrie for Leeds United in June 1962 as a foil for the returning Welsh
superstar John Charles. When it became clear that the Charles experiment was a dismal failure,
it was Storrie who provided the solution to United's goalscoring difficulties. The bustling Scot
repaid his £15,650 fee tenfold as he led the West Yorkshire club back to the First Division and
beyond. Diamond Jim Storrie was one of the shorter centre-forwards in the British game - he was
less than five feet nine - and never looked the most composed or accomplished of footballers.
He made up for his shortcomings with a hard running style that unsettled defenders, creating
goalscoring opportunities for himself and his colleagues. He was a very popular guy with
players and fans alike for his genial good humour and fondness for a laugh. The young Scottish
starlet Eddie Gray was the butt of Storrie's humour on more than one occasion. Gray: "One of my
most embarrassing experiences at Leeds was when, at fifteen or sixteen, I was in Bobby Collins'
team for pre-season training. As I was regarded as one of the best runners at the club, Bobby
felt that victory for the team in the cross-country race was virtually a foregone conclusion.
The only threat came from Jim Storrie … Sure enough, half a mile from the end, Jim and I were
at the front; it was between him and me. I felt I had loads of power in reserve but as I was
thinking of unleashing it, Jim said, 'Eddie, we don't need to race. If we stay together, we
will both get ten points.' I fell for it hook, line and sinker - how naïve can you get? About
100 yards from the line, Jim, a real character with a tremendous sense of humour, sprinted
flat out to win." On another occasion, Storrie good naturedly chided the inexperienced Gray,
"I hear you've been saying that it won't be long before you're in the team."
Jim Storrie was a wonderful clubman, who played a major part in Leeds United's rise to fame
under Don Revie and adapted admirably to the target man role. Defenders were never able to
relax when the thick set Scot was around. He was prepared to go in where it hurt and tell
defenders where to get off. Two United fans recall Storrie for the Leedsfans.org.uk website:
"Alan Farrar: "He never quit and gave everything. I have a vague memory of him crashing
heavily into the goal posts at Blackpool in the early Sixties while trying to get on the end
of a cross." Mike Gill: "Anybody remember an away game in 1965/66 when Jim baited Adam
Blacklaw, the Burnley keeper, throughout the match? How they both weren't sent off I don't
know. But they both went off with their arms around each other … Different days."
Leeds fans have always appreciated the willing trier and Storrie won himself a fan club on
the Lowfields for his sterling performances. One minute he would be converting the most
difficult of chances and the next he would be missing the biggest sitter in the world. But he
was adored by the fans for the effort he put in at a crucial time in the club's history.
Members of WACCOE.com remembered him this way: "Storrie chased down almost every back pass to
the keeper no matter how much of a lost cause it was and where he had to run from to do it."
"He was such a frustrating player to watch at times, the only way to relieve the stress was
to count the goals he scored, not the many, many misses." "The biggest plus about Diamond Jim
was that he played with a big smile on his face, without malice and ALWAYS played for the
shirt. More technically gifted players have been both before and since but no Leeds fan can
ask for more than what he gave us." "One memory I have is of a West Riding Cup game against
Halifax when I seem to remember Jim missing 10 to 15 pretty easy chances. One of these
chances he was stood very near the goal line, certainly inside the goal area, and still
managed to get it up and over the bar." "Another Storrie moment was in front of the
Scratching Shed (against Burnley in October 1965). Jim beat the left-back and came in on the
byline. The keeper expected him to cross, their defence expected him to cross, our other
strikers expected him to cross. Perhaps even Jim himself expected to cross it - instead of
which he absolutely hammered it inside the keeper and in off the back post and then he
turned round and trotted back to the half way line as if it were the most natural thing in
the world."
Tony Hill: "I would call Diamond Jim splay-footed and often wondered at his ability to
beat a defender, they were probably mesmerised by his feet! He was also the first player I
saw do the trick of centring with any force by bringing one foot behind the other to deliver
the cross, something that Harry Kewell later did quite often, although with his left as
opposed to Storrie's right. Many happy memories of the 'Pillock from Kirkintilloch' as a
friend of mine used to endearingly call him, jokingly rather than with malice."
Jim Storrie was born on 31 March 1940 in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, in the West of
Scotland. He became well known locally with nursery outfit Kilsyth Rangers, one of the most
successful junior clubs of the 1950s, and attracted the interest of First Division club
Airdrieonians. In December 1957 Storrie signed for them as a part timer. At an early age,
Jim married local girl Nancy, whose father, Tony Weldon, played for Airdrie, Everton, Hull,
West Ham, Lovells Athletic and Rochdale. His debut for Kilsyth came in a friendly at
Doncaster on 15 February 1958. He was allowed to come on as a substitute at half time after
an Airdrie player suffered a broken nose during the first half. He scored the third goal in
a 3-3 draw. Storrie's first start came in a Lanarkshire Cup tie at home to Albion Rovers on
7th April, when he scored in a 3-1 win and he made his League debut away to Third Lanark.
Airdrie lost 3-1 and finished the season 16th out of 18. Storrie established himself in the
first team thereafter and built a decent reputation, scoring 48 goals in 89 appearances over
the next four and a half years. The Diamonds climbed to a hugely impressive fifth spot in
1959, before finishing 16th again the following year. In 1961 they made it to the Scottish
Cup semi final where Celtic thrashed them 4-0.
Storrie's performances brought him to the attention of Leeds United's Scottish scouts,
who recommended him to the club's young player manager, Don Revie. Leeds were struggling
against relegation from the Second Division at the time (the winter of 1961/62) and when
Revie made his initial approach, Storrie was not terribly impressed. He said later: "The
first time Don came for me, I virtually turned him down out of hand. I didn't fancy Leeds
at all at first ... I thought they were heading for the Third Division."
Revie was desperately seeking recruits to help dig United out of a hole and by transfer
deadline day he had signed Burnley reserve forward Ian Lawson, along with veteran Sheffield
United full-back Cliff Mason and Everton's former Scottish international schemer Bobby
Collins. Revie's transfer market dealing paid off and United secured their survival with a
decent unbeaten run. Buoyed by survival and a transfer kitty, Revie set out to build a new
team, ditching players like Billy McAdams, Derek Mayers, Peter McConnell and Bobby Cameron.
Undeterred by Storrie's earlier rejection, Revie chanced his arm again. This time he was
successful, partly due to the signing of Collins and the promise of John Charles' imminent
arrival. The overriding factor, though, was Revie himself, with his high ambition and
persuasiveness.
Storrie: "Don Revie and Harry Reynolds came up to our house. My wife said I was at work,
so they came to the works. They were very persuasive. I listened to what (Revie) had to
say and was immediately impressed by his sincerity. He laid his cards on the table. I
remember his telling me: 'The sky's the limit - we're going to be like Real Madrid.' Well,
I did feel that was a bit ludicrous; Leeds weren't even the best team in Yorkshire then.
"I had no particular desire to go to Leeds because they were in the Second Division but
Revie told me they had got Bobby Collins and John Charles and all of a sudden the package
looked pretty impressive." Revie earned a reputation in the early Sixties for getting his
man, whether it was a much sought after schoolboy international, such as Eddie Gray and
Peter Lorimer, or a seasoned professional, like Collins and Charles. His silver tongue
and persistence did the trick on Storrie.
The 22-year-old Scot signed for United on 19 June 1962, and John Charles followed suit
shortly afterwards for a club record £53,000. The United approach and training methods
came as a shock to both men, as recalled by Storrie: "When I joined Leeds, it was like
going into a different world. I found them so much more professional than clubs in
Scotland - everything was so well-organised that it made you WANT to work hard at your
game. One cannot help getting caught up in an atmosphere like this. All managers like to
think that their players are prepared to run through a brick wall for them, but this was
true as far as Don was concerned. He treated us as men, as individuals. "His attention
to detail is remarkable: one morning I happened to mention that my son wasn't well, and
he immediately arranged for the club doctor to give him a thorough check-up. He knew
that if I was going on to the field worrying about my little fellow, I couldn't give of
my best. All this might seem trivial to outsiders, but you'd be surprised how much these
little kindnesses help to establish a good team spirit and player-manager relationship."
As remembered by Storrie, Charles was not as receptive to his new surroundings. "John
just didn't fancy it at Leeds when he came back from Italy. He and Les Cocker didn't
get on. He wouldn't train as rigorously as they wanted - in Italy he was used to
flicking the ball about and wandering about the park. Italian teams don't train as hard
as those in England, and Charles did not possess sufficient speed and stamina for
League football in this country. "In this respect, I will always remember a match he
played at Huddersfield. They cleared the ball upfield following a Leeds attack, and our
forwards made their way back into covering positions. After about ten seconds, the ball
was booted into Huddersfield's area again - and John was still struggling up to the
halfway line. He and Huddersfield's goalkeeper were the only players in that half of
the field! "We were a very physical, hard working and hard running side. It was
high-pressure football. We put the opposition's players under pressure all over the
park. We harassed and chased. Revie was one of the first managers to introduce that
way of playing. I was a forward and my first job was to defend. That was the mentality.
John was like a duck out of water playing that way. Had he been younger he might have
adapted. He wanted to play one touch football and flick the ball here and there. At
the time that wasn't Leeds' style. Long balls were played to the corner flag and John
was expected to chase after them. At half time in one game, I remember John saying,
'I'm not running my pants off for long balls.' And wee Billy Bremner said, 'You're
making that f***ing obvious!'"
Charles and Storrie were signed to address United's problems in front of goal.
Billy Bremner had top scored with 11 as the Peacocks managed just 50 goals in 1961/62.
Revie had tried six different players at No 9, including big Jack Charlton and even
himself. The two recruits appeared together in the August 1962 opener at Stoke City,
in a side that included Bremner, Charlton, Tommy Younger, Grenville Hair and Albert
Johanneson. Storrie: "On the eve of my first match for Leeds I was wandering around
the hotel looking for the other players, and bumped into Don in the foyer. 'If you're
looking for the other lads, they're in the bar,' he said. 'Go in and have a drink son.'
I thought he was trying me out to see whether I drank; you know, managers in
Scotland frowned on that sort of thing. But sure enough, they were in the bar,
knocking back beer. Don trusted his players not to overdo it - his attitude was:
'If they want to drink, I prefer them to do it in front of me rather than behind my
back.'" While the headlines before the game were all about the Welshman, it was Jim
Storrie who earned the plaudits, netting the only goal of the game five minutes
before the interval to get United off to a winning start. He had a storming match
and capped it with his score, a rising drive from ten yards.
Storrie settled in quickly at Elland Road, helped by the presence of a number of
countrymen, including Collins, Bremner, Younger, Eric Smith and Tommy Henderson. He
featured again during the week in the second match, at Elland Road against Rotherham
United. Leeds were three goals behind after 50 minutes and treading water
desperately as Don Weston led their defence a merry dance. Then Storrie headed home
a Bremner free kick to give some hope of a revival. An Albert Johanneson penalty
brought a second and then Charles played a one-two with Storrie on the edge of the
Rotherham box before driving home the equaliser. The move was about the only example
of Storrie and Charles clicking as a partnership in their time together. The Millers
were not to be denied and got a winner ten minutes from the end of a gripping
struggle. It quickly became painfully apparent that John Charles had made a big
mistake in returning to Elland Road, and after just three goals in eleven
appearances he was on his way back to Italy. Don Revie used some of the £70,000 fee
to buy the fleet footed Don Weston, who had made United's life so difficult against
Rotherham. Weston and Storrie formed a twin spearhead for most of the season as
United recovered from a mediocre opening to launch a promotion challenge. Weston
never lived up to the sparkling promise of his debut day hat trick against Stoke
City in December, and Storrie carried the attacking burden for most of the season,
as recalled by Norman Hunter: "The youngsters … had repaid the faith (Revie) had
shown in them and his signings had played their parts to the full, none more so
than Jim Storrie. He had the goalscoring knack although the ball didn't always go
in off his head or his boots. It would fly in off his knees, his thighs, almost
any part of his body - but in it went, which was the main thing. During that
1962/63 season, Jim netted 25 goals in 38 League appearances."
Hunter had good reason to remember Storrie fondly, for it was partly down to the
Scot that he was converted from an inside-forward to earn himself a world wide
reputation as a tough tackling defender: "I was playing for the juniors when Revie
took me to one side for a chat. He told me that Jim Storrie had remarked what an
awkward 'so and so' I was to play against. Apparently, Jim had told the Gaffer that
every time he played against me I always managed to get the ball off him and that I
seemed to be able to get a foot in and do this, that and the other and come away
with the ball."
If Storrie was an outstanding success as a target man that season, he wasn't
altogether enamoured with the role, as he recalled later: "Really, I was an old
fashioned inside-forward carrying the ball through, playing one-twos. In Scotland,
no one bothered how you played and I always seemed to be looking for people to
play off. But when I was the target man, I had the goalkeeper behind me.
Individually, I think I became a worse player. My wife Nancy told Revie this at a
function one night, but he just laughed and said, 'you may be right but they are
a very successful team.' That was true. The success glossed over a million
deficiencies. I adapted because I was caught up in all the enthusiasm." In fact,
so engaged was Storrie with the Leeds cause that he even went in goal for an
injured Gary Sprake, after he was injured at home to Portsmouth in December. He
wasn't an outstanding success, succeeding a goal in the five-minute spell he
served between the sticks.
Storrie netted hat tricks against Plymouth and Cardiff and, after two more in
a 3-0 win against Luton at the beginning of May, Eric Stanger remarked in the
Yorkshire Post, "Storrie's two goals would have graced any game. There is no doubt
that Storrie is becoming one of the most dangerous leaders in the Football League.
From the way in which he worries the opposition, seeks to exploit the slimmest of
chances and bangs away at goal at every opportunity, he reminds me more and more
of that other Scot of yesteryear who got so many goals for Leeds - Tom Jennings."
Ultimately, United's promotion chase was unsuccessful, but they had a memorable
season, building the foundations for the success of the next decade, as recalled
by Storrie. "We were a ball winning side, free of injuries, and champing at the
bit to go. We played a method game, high-pressure football. Bobby Collins would
get hold of the ball and spray passes all over the park for people to chase after.
The forwards would hustle, cutting off the supply of back passes to the goalkeeper.
I reckon we scored about 10-15 goals a season through forced errors that way."
United finally achieved the promotion that Revie sought in 1964, though
Storrie only enjoyed a cameo role, with 3 goals in 15 Second Division appearances.
Storrie: "I scored quite a few goals the first season I was there, but the next
season hit a bad patch. It seemed the harder I tried to get out of it, the worse
it became. Don called me into his office and told me he appreciated my problem
and would support me to the hilt. 'Get your wife and kiddie and have a
fortnight's holiday in Scotland,' he said. 'You can do anything you like - as
long as it's not connected with football.' When I came back, I would have done
anything for him. He was never too busy to spare a few minutes asking you how the
wife and family were. Most managers do it out of politeness, they don't really
mean it. But with Don, you felt he really was interested." As well as a loss of
form, Storrie had a lengthy lay off with damaged knee ligaments. He was carried
off during an ill-tempered Christmas confrontation with promotion rivals
Sunderland and missed the rest of the season, playing just two more games.
Storrie recalls the spiteful clash at Roker: "Johnny Crossan was antagonising
Billy Bremner from the beginning, but both were having a dunk at each other off
the ball. Crossan said, 'You're mad, you Leeds.' When I was carried off, the
fans were spitting at me. But Bobby Collins went out and sought retribution -
later Len Ashurst was carried off, too." Storrie had only just returned to the
team after injuring an ankle against Norwich at the end of September. Deprived
of his first choice centre-forward, Don Revie signed Middlesbrough's former
England front man Alan Peacock to give a fillip to United's promotion challenge.
The move was a success and Leeds outdistanced Sunderland and Preston to win the
title, returning to the First Division after a four-year absence.
Jim Storrie returned fully fit at the start of the 1964/65 campaign and was a
mainstay as United came close to a League and Cup double. The Scot top scored
with 16 goals in 37 League games, managing another couple on the way to the
Wembley Cup final. It was feared that Storrie had broken his leg during a 4-0
defeat at Blackpool in September, but the fears proved groundless. An X ray
showed that he had merely trapped a nerve and sustained a bad bruise. The Leeds
way unsettled sophisticated First Division opponents, as remembered by Storrie.
"Revie used to say: 'Anyone who beats you at home must know they've been in a
game.' We tended to take this a bit too literally; it became an offence for an
opponent to encroach our eighteen-yard line! I think we were over-exuberant more
than anything. But Revie must take part of the blame because when we were
getting all that bad publicity, he told us: 'Don't worry about the Press ...
what matters is the fact that they are talking about you.' I am sure he later
regretted this attitude."
Andrew Mourant: "Jim Storrie recalls how Revie's ambition and enthusiasm
infected the players. 'After winning promotion, most managers would talk in
terms of consolidation. He spoke in terms of finishing in the top four. He
said, "We will come up against some world class players but we will be the best
team in the League." So he had the optimists among the lads thinking we would
win the League and even the pessimists thought we might finish halfway up.'
"The club had never before been run as Revie ran it. He was the most driven
manager in Leeds United's history. At the outset, he set impossible targets for
the squad, of whom only a handful had First Division experience. The psychology
was unsophisticated but effective. "Victories in the first three games … gave
Leeds more confidence than could ever have come from Revie's words alone. They
badly needed the points as injuries to Bell, Giles and Weston, and the prolonged
absence of Alan Peacock caused their form to falter. They lost four of the next
eight games. The striker's burden was once more thrust upon Jim Storrie: Leeds
had not taken the opportunity to strengthen the squad during the close season.
"By mid April, as Chelsea's form wavered, the title became a two horse race
involving the Uniteds of Leeds and Manchester. The Yorkshire team, which had
won nothing save for a couple of Second Division championships, was on the
threshold of winning the League and Cup double, a far cry from their Second
Division days. On 17 April, 52,368 people packed Elland Road for the most
momentous League match in Leeds' history. But with Bremner replacing the
injured Storrie at inside-right and Jimmy Greenhoff drafted in at Number 4,
Leeds' swaggering home form (four successive wins with 14 goals scored)
deserted them when it mattered most. "For Jim Storrie, watching in the stand,
the frustration was enormous. 'We lost 1-0 to a daisy cutter from outside the box.
It was a dour game but enough to give Manchester the championship,' he said. With
four matches and eight points still to play for, the morale of Revie's men had
been shot to pieces, and they still appeared in shock two days later, losing 3-0
at Sheffield Wednesday. Their defiance in fighting back from 3-0 down at
Birmingham to draw the final match of the season 3-3 was not enough. Both Uniteds
finished with 61 points, but Manchester's goal average was far superior." Storrie
was recalled from injury to face Liverpool at Wembley in the final. Bobby Collins
recalls that Storrie "was injured but never told anybody because he was desperate
to play and get a medal." United were badly outplayed on the day, with Albert
Johanneson a timid shadow of himself, and Storrie a limping passenger on the
flanks. The Reds won the game 2-1 after extra time to leave United with nothing
to show for a wonderful campaign. Storrie: "At the finish, the Leeds players felt
sorrier for Revie than themselves. We were sitting with our heads bowed when he
came into the dressing room, and someone said: 'We're sorry boss....' He replied:
'You've run your guts out all season, have nothing to show for it, and you're
sorry for ME? Don't be so bloody daft. Get dressed, we're going back to the hotel
for a booze up.'" Whether it was simply due to a loss of form, or a case of Revie
feeling that Storrie had let him down by not coming clean about his injury, the
Scot was never quite the same player for Leeds again. In 1965/66 he managed 13
goals in 30 League games and featured in 9 Inter Cities Fairs Cup-ties, but spent
most of the season consigned to the wings, out of sorts and out of position. He
was not a natural wide man and it showed. As Eric Stanger observed after a home
defeat to Liverpool in December, "Storrie tries hard on the right wing but that
will never be his best position." He would often beat three or four men out wide
but then spoon his cross out of play. It was something of a mystery that Revie
persisted with Storrie as a winger, but he had few alternatives with Johnny
Giles moving inside to replace Bobby Collins when the Scottish veteran broke a
thigh. Storrie had a thankless task, but played his part with courage and
tenacity. After the injury prone Alan Peacock broke down once more at the end of
January, Storrie led the United attack through the last months of the season.
Storrie's play and the team's results improved but they were outplayed and beaten
in a Fairs Cup semi final against Spain's Real Zaragoza. Storrie put his apparent
loss of form down to the Giles-Collins switch: "My game was based on speed off
the mark - the ability to lose a defender for a split second or so. Bobby's style
of play suited me because as I ran into an open space, I knew he would immediately
put the ball into my path, no matter what position he was in. Johnny, however,
liked to hold the ball more, so I was often caught in two minds, whether to run
forward to receive a pass or move to the side so he could play a one-two off me."
Matters came to a head in 1966/67 when Storrie played just six League games,
three of them as sub. He was selected at No 7 in a pre-season friendly against
a Glasgow Select XI, but was then consigned to the bench for most of the year,
having to wait until October for a rare League start. Disheartened by the
course of events, Storrie requested a transfer at the beginning of November in
the hope of first team football elsewhere. In February 1967, he got his wish,
returning to Scotland in a £13,500 move to Aberdeen. He scored one of the goals
in a Scottish Cup quarter final replay against Hibs as Aberdeen won 3-0, but
rather blotted his copybook by missing a penalty in the semi final against
Dundee United. The Dons won the game 1-0 courtesy of an own goal by Tommy
Millar before losing 2-0 to all conquering Celtic in the Hampden final before
a crowd of 126,000. Storrie lost his first team place in November 1967,
despite being the club's leading scorer. Disillusioned by events, he asked to
go on the transfer list, posting a reminder of his talents with five goals for
the reserves against Partick. Just after Christmas Storrie joined Rotherham
United for £7,000, after turning down moves to Southend and Barnsley.
The deal was one of the first completed by new Millers manager Tommy Docherty.
The controversial Scot had built a tremendous young team at Chelsea, leading
them to the 1967 FA Cup final, but resigned in October after receiving a 28-day
suspension following incidents on the club's summer tour to Bermuda. Rotherham
were rooted at the foot of the Second Division at the time, but Storrie's debut
on 30 December brought a 1-0 win against Preston and saw the South Yorkshire
club climb above Plymouth in the rankings. They crashed 6-0 at promotion chasing
QPR a week later, but then went nine games unbeaten in the League and enjoyed an
exciting FA Cup run. In the third round, Storrie's 58th minute goal was enough
to see off Wolves. Paul Fitzpatrick in the Guardian: "Quinn made the pass and
Storrie, who did well to hold off Woodfield, did the rest, the ball rolling
home after striking a post." Five minutes from the end of the fourth round tie
at Aston Villa, Storrie scored another famous winner, seeing Rotherham through
to the fifth round for the first time since 1953. The Scot had rediscovered his
touch. The Yorkshire Evening Post reported, following another valuable goal,
the winner against Huddersfield at the beginning of March: "Storrie had the
last word for it with his brilliantly headed goal which gave Rotherham both
points. A much leaner Storrie than in his Leeds days has now scored five goals
in the last six games."
The Guardian featured United as they prepared for the fifth round: "The jaded,
sorrowful football backyard which was Millmoor is now a place where everyone from
first team to sweepers up (the brush variety) has lightness in his step. This is
the small, new world of Docherty. Tommy Docherty, often easy to love and sometimes
difficult to disagree with, is producing a noisy little revolution in South
Yorkshire. "He has been able to restyle and revitalise the entire playing staff.
Established, proven favourites have gone. Other players, some barely old enough
to shave, have come in, some signed on instant decision. "He has promised - and
not lightly - that he will take Rotherham to the First Division, and to Europe.
He qualifies this by saying: 'It may take time.' This is doubly delightful to his
new admirers in the coalfields and steel making plants. It smacks of 'big man'.
"So it is that this week a new style of football dictator holds often hilarious
court in his pre Cup tie hotel at Scarborough, races his men across the
unwelcoming sands before breakfast, out talks the interviewers, chuckles at
adversity, and beams happily upon man and creature around him. Tommy Docherty was
never happier - you have his word for it. "A United side with average ago of just
over 20 is in step now with the courage and ambitious thinking of their manager.
The team that accounted for Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at home, then Aston Villa
1-0 at Villa Park, take on Leicester City in an all ticket tie at Millmoor. "The
side's line up is based on 4-3-3. Alan Hill, from Barnsley, is in goal. The back
row is formed of Trevor Swift, a crash tackler, at right-back; Dave Watson, a
bargain from Notts County, at centre-half; Brian Tiler, the captain, who at the
age of 24 had more than 200 League games to his credit; and Neil Hague, and
18-year-old youth international, at left-back. "John Quinn, the man Docherty
bought for £27,000 from Sheffield Wednesday, joins the outside-forwards, Andrew
Wilson (21) and David Bentley (17) in the middle row. Jim Storrie, a former Leeds
United player, operates just behind the rest of the front row. Like Quinn, Storrie
has known Wembley as a member of the losing side. His goals defeated Wolverhampton
and Aston Villa, yet he cost Docherty only £7,000 from Aberdeen. He has scored
five goals in his last six matches. "In front will be John Shepherd (21), a local
player who is unpredictable but sometimes exceptional, and 18-year-old Stephen
Downes. Downes, says Docherty, has a remarkable flair for goals. In two and a half
senior matches he has scored once and created two other goals. He has scored 27
times for the reserves." It was the self same Dave Watson who later went on to
play for Manchester City and England. Also in the Rotherham ranks at the time was
"a bustling though none too quick wide midfielder", the young Neil Warnock. The
Millers fought back from a poor opening against Leicester - they could have been
three goals down in the first 20 minutes, though only a twice taken penalty by
David Nish gave the Foxes a slim advantage - before recovering strongly to lay
siege to the Leicester goal for the final 20 minutes. "Storrie was a livewire,"
wrote Terry Lofthouse in the Yorkshire Evening Post, while Roderick MacLeod of
the Yorkshire Post recorded: "Storrie came within inches of scoring and with 40
seconds left, players beat the ground in frustration as a header from Hague was
on its way into the net when Downes instinctively helped it on, but over the top,
from three yards out." In the end, Rotherham got their just reward eleven minutes
from time when Steve Downes angled in a fine equaliser. The Leicester defence was
in ruins and it was only lack of time that prevented a third Cup upset.
The best chance of glory had gone, and even though they forced City to extra
time at Filbert Street (MacLeod: "Rotherham did get the ball into the net after
16 minutes when Downes, tackled by two defenders, headed down to Tiler. Tiler's
shot flashed well wide of Mackleworth, but the referee gave a free kick against
Downes. Storrie had two flying headers saved by the Leicester reserve goalkeeper
and Tiler wasted two chances, first slicing wide and then ballooning over the
top."), goals by Frank Large and Mike Stringfellow ended South Yorkshire hopes.
The heady excitement of their Cup run over, Docherty's side returned to the grim
struggle against relegation. Storrie's initial burst had petered out, with the
winner against Huddersfield on 2 March his final goal of the campaign.
Nevertheless, a 1-0 success at Bristol City on 29 March was United's fourth in
a nine match unbeaten run and took them a point clear of relegation. Three
successive defeats thereafter brought a sharp dose of reality and another at
Hull on 25 April left Rotherham in need of a miracle, three points from safety
with only two games remaining. Preston beat Portsmouth 3-1 at Deepdale on 11
May to end their own relegation fears, confirming that Rotherham's battle was
over. Tommy Docherty left Rotherham in October 1968 to take over at QPR. He was
in charge at Loftus Road for just 29 days before becoming the first manager
appointed by Doug Ellis at Aston Villa. In his absence, Storrie enjoyed a
successful 1968/69, becoming the leading scorer with 14 League goals, four of
them in the final four games, as Rotherham stabilised in mid table. He switched
to inside-right for the latter stages of the season, using his vast experience
to bring on young Steve Downes.
In December 1969 Storrie returned to the Second Division with Portsmouth,
where he remained until October 1972. He managed 12 goals in 43 games for a team
that consistently laboured in the lower half of the table. Storrie spent most of
his time at Pompey partnering either former Burnley and England striker Ray
Pointer or Mike Trebilcock, the Cornishman who famously scored twice for Everton
in the 1966 FA Cup final win over Sheffield Wednesday. The star of the show,
though, was the talented England Under-23 midfielder Norman Piper. Storrie's
time at Pompey was best remembered for the goal that wasn't. The moment came as
Portsmouth played Leicester at Filbert Street in September 1970. The design of
the Foxes' triangular goal stanchions had been criticised previously - the
previous season Aston Villa's Pat McMahon had fired home only to see his effort
rebound off a stanchion and back into play. McMahon's goal was disallowed by the
referee and the decision contributed to Villa's relegation. A year on Storrie
suffered the same fate. Leicester keeper Peter Shilton told the referee that the
ball had crossed the line (different days, indeed), but the official still
wouldn't allow it. Newspaper photos after the game clearly showed the ball over
the line with Shilton looking straight at it. Pompey lost the game 2-0.
Storrie played 3 matches on loan to Aldershot in March 1972 and was granted a
free transfer by Portsmouth two months later. He joined St Mirren as player coach
at the end of 1972. He later spent a while as player manager at non-League
Waterlooville. Premier League St Johnstone appointed him manager five games from
the end of the 1975/76 season, with the Saints doomed to relegation. With nothing
to play for, Storrie had some impact - the Saints beat Aberdeen 2-0 and drew
another couple of games - but by the end of the season a poor team had amassed
the dismal total of 11 points. The young manager struggled to arrest the slide
the following season and it required a 4-1 win on the last day of the campaign to
prevent a second successive relegation. Storrie was responsible for signing the
player who was to become the holder of the club's appearance record, defender
Drew Rutherford. Jim Slater in the Who's Who of St Johnstone 1946-92: "When
manager Jim Storrie paid only a small fee to East Fife for their young central
defender he did possibly the best piece of transfer business in the club's
history. At the time Jim was no doubt thinking purely in terms of surviving the
1976/77 season as a First Division outfit. With Drew's enthusiasm and commitment
in the team, we picked up 14 points from the last 14 games to avoid relegation ...
In February 1982, the 5th anniversary of his transfer, Drew played his 217th match
for Saints. In that time he had missed only 5 games." Storrie resigned early in
1977/78 after a disappointing goalless draw against Berwick and later took a job
coaching his first club, Airdrie. He worked at a sports centre in Cumbernauld for
14 years and later at Stirling University before retiring.
Diamond Jim Storrie pulled up few trees after quitting Elland Road, though
he will always be remembered for helping to transform the fortunes of Leeds
United. Richard Longley from Leedsfans.org.uk: "To this day I don't think most
people realise just how important a part Jim played in the foundations of the
successes Leeds had in the 60s. He was such a hard working player and what he
lacked in natural skills he more than made up for in effort and scored many
goals and indeed won matches with his tenacity."
PHIL SHAW: Thursday 12 February 2015
Jim Storrie: Inside-forward who scored consistently for Don Revie's first
trophy-winning Leeds United side of the 1960s
Storrie scored 58 times in 126 Football League matches for Leeds, the kind
of ratio that would have made him worth millions in today's market
The collision of Stoke City and Leeds United on the sunlit opening day of
the 1962-63 season was only a Second Division fixture, but the football world
was intrigued to see whether Stanley Matthews or John Charles would emerge
victorious. In the event, Charles and Leeds prevailed, although the fabled
Welshman, newly re-signed from Juventus for a club-record £53,000, was
eclipsed by another attacker bought during the summer by Don Revie. Jim
Storrie had arrived unknown and practically unnoticed from Airdrieonians for
£15,650, yet it was the 5ft 8in Scot who struck the game's only goal.
Storrie scored 58 times in 126 Football League matches for Leeds, the kind
of ratio that would have made him worth millions in today's market. He played
in the 1965 FA Cup final against Liverpool, as well as in European competition,
and two years later, after returning to Scotland, he appeared for Aberdeen in
its Scottish equivalent.
The inside-forward who became known as "Diamond Jim" after Airdrie's
nickname first came to the notice of senior clubs as partner to Willie Wallace
– later a European Cup winner with Celtic – for Kelvinside Thistle. The
son-in-law of Tony Weldon, a former Everton and West Ham player, he graduated
to Kilsyth Rangers and then Airdrie in December 1957, eventually scoring 48
goals in 89 games for the Lanarkshire club.
Leeds were struggling to avoid falling into the Third Division when Revie
tried to buy Storrie early in 1962. He rejected them, describing as "ludicrous"
the manager's claim that they were "going to be like Real Madrid". By May,
however, the purchase of former Celtic "pocket general" Bobby Collins and the
plan to bring Charles home convinced Storrie of their ambition, to the
consternation of higher-placed suitors Aston Villa and Rangers. Charles had
piled on weight and no longer had the requisite work-rate for English football.
After 11 games and three goals he joined Roma. But the speedy Storrie excelled,
both as a finisher and the first line of defence, pressuring opponents and
chasing down seemingly lost causes. In his first English season Storrie scored
25 goals in 38 appearances, including two hat-tricks. He even had a five-minute
cameo between the posts when Gary Sprake required treatment (substitutes were
still two and a half years away), conceding a goal to Portsmouth.
Injury restricted him in 1963-64, when Leeds returned to the First Division
as champions, but the following season he struck 18 League and Cup goals as
the side branded "Dirty Leeds" finished runners-up to Manchester United and
Liverpool in the League and FA Cup respectively. Storrie made negligible impact
at Wembley. Years later, team-mates revealed that he was carrying an injury but
did not tell Revie because he did not want to miss out on a medal. He hit 13
goals in 30 outings in 1965-66, but the blossoming of players such as Peter
Lorimer and Jimmy Greenhoff limited his opportunities, and in February 1967 he
moved to Aberdeen for £13,500.
He scored the Dons' first European goal, against KR Reykjavik, and featured
in the defeat by all-conquering Celtic in the Scottish Cup final. But after 10
months, 11 goals and 25 games – plus a summer stint in the US where Aberdeen
played as Washington Whips - he was offloaded for £7,000 to Tommy Docherty's
Rotherham. The highlight of Storrie's time at Millmoor was a fourth-round FA
Cup winner against Wolves.
In December 1969 a £5,000 fee took Storrie to Portsmouth, where he scored
10 times before the end of the campaign and was appointed captain. His 99th
and last Football League goal came while on loan to Aldershot, leaving him to
rue a referee's mistake during his Pompey days when his header at Leicester
crossed the line, hit a stanchion and rebounded into play. Peter Shilton
admitted it was a goal, only for the official to wave "play on".
After a brief sojourn at St Mirren he retired as a player. He later had 18
months as manager of St Johnstone and a spell coaching at Airdrie before later
working in a sports centre at Cumbernauld and at Stirling University.
James Storrie, footballer and football manager: born Kirkintilloch, East
Dunbartonshire 31 March 1940; married Nancy Weldon (deceased; two daughters,
one son); died Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire 11 November 2014.
News Archive: 14 November 2014.
FORMER SAINTS MANAGER JIM STORRIE PASSES AWAY: St Johnstone Football Club
is sad to learn of the passing of former manager Jim Storrie, aged 74.
Kirkintilloch-born Storrie was appointed as successor to Jackie Stewart on
15th April 1976 - the final weeks of St Johnstone’s disastrous participation
in the inaugural Premier League campaign which had seen a succession of defeats
long-since relegate the club with a low points tally which remains a
ignominious record to this day. Storrie – at the time manager of Southern
league Waterlooville FC - had shown interest in the job two months earlier
when Jackie Stewart had been sacked but was advised that trainer Jim Peacock
had been made caretaker manager to give him the opportunity to see if he could
turn things around. However, with Jim unable to arrest the fall, he and Storrie
were both interviewed for the job with the former Aberdeen player getting the
nod.
However, hampered by a playing staff cut not only in numbers but also from
full-time to part-time status he understandably struggled to get the club out
of the First Division – 11th and 8th positions in the 14 team league falling
well below the standards hoped for - and when season 1978/79 began with a
League Cup exit at the hands of Second Division Berwick Rangers, his tenure
was at an end.
A player with Airdrieonians, Leeds United and Aberdeen, Jim participated
in the 1965 FA Cup final, helped the Yorkshire side to the Second Division
title and scored for Aberdeen in their first ever European tie. Rotherham
United, Portsmouth and St Mirren also benefited from Jim’s playing abilities.
Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
Courier: Dundee: 15th November 2014.
Former football star Jim Storrie
Former Aberdeen and Leeds footballer Jim Storrie has died after a long
illness. He was 74.
Mr Storrie was best known as the centre forward who helped Leeds United
gain promotion in 1964 to the First Division.
Born in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, Mr Storrie began his career at
Airdrie, making his debut in the 1957–58 season, before being signed by Don
Revie for Leeds United as a proven goalscorer for a fee of £15,000 in 1962.
He scored the only goal on his debut in Leeds opening match of the 1962–63
season and went on to help Leeds win promotion to the First Division in the
1963–64 season and to reach the 1965 FA Cup final. Injuries reduced his
first team opportunities and he faded out of the first team before joining
Aberdeen in February 1967. He later played for Rotherham United, Portsmouth,
Aldershot and St Mirren.
Aberdeen Voice: 21st November 2014: By David Innes.
Dons Hero Jim Storrie Dies, Aged 74
It is with a heavy heart that I have to write about another boyhood Dons
hero who has gone. When Jim Storrie signed for Aberdeen from Leeds United
in February 1967, the 10 year old me, and the very few Dons fans who attended
my school, were visibly excited. We’d signed a player who some of us could
recall playing in the 1965 FA Cup final against Liverpool, and although in
the mini-battle of Scottish centre forwards that Wembley afternoon, Ian St
John prevailed, this was still big news.
The Dons were going well. From previous torpor and disgraceful cup exits,
defeated by East Fife and Ayr United, Eddie Turnbull had arrived and had
taken the club by the scruff of the neck and forced it to modernise. Money
was still tight though, as were the Board’s pockets, and with a high quality
crop of youngsters coming through, Turnbull’s need was to bring in an
experienced striker to score goals and to help the young starlets develop.
Turnbull’s antennae were rarely switched off, and his scouting and insider
gossip networks well-established, and on hearing that the experienced,
streetwise Jim Storrie was looking to move back north, he wasted no time in
bringing him aboard. Storrie was just a month short of his 27th birthday.
Turnbull would have been aware of the player’s striking skills when Storrie
was hot property at Airdrie before heading for Elland Road.
He debuted in The Sacred Red against Hearts at Tynecastle on 4 March 1967,
leaving it two weeks later before he bagged his first Dons goal in a 1-1
draw at Firhill. More importantly, at Pittodrie 10 days later he scored a
crucial goal in the Scottish Cup quarter final replay 3-0 defeat of Hibs.
That game was attended by 44000 people, with Pittodrie packed to eye-watering
capacity. His own drama continued as the Dons went ahead early against Dundee
United in the semi-final but Storrie missed the chance to seal the game when
he missed a penalty. Playing his second national cup final in two years,
Storrie was disappointed to be on the losing side, a 2-0 defeat to Celtic in
the final, a game where the Dons never got going.
What is often forgotten is that the Dons then played in the USA for a summer,
under the banner of Washington Whips. This great adventure saw Storrie score 6
goals in 13 appearances, contribute regular columns on the trip to The Sunday
Post, and win the Whips’ head honcho’s garish yellow sports jacket for scoring
two goals in a play-off game against LA Wolves. The whole story of that
pioneering adventure was written, with input from Jim and most of his teammates,
17 years ago. I’ll attempt to get it into print for the 50th anniversary in two
years time. It was during the authoring of that book that I spoke with Jim, by
phone, from his home near Glasgow. He was a splendid interviewee, full of
anecdotes, delighted to reminisce about the trip and his affection for the time
he spent at Pittodrie was obvious. On the tour, he was always prepared to sing
Scots songs at ex-pat parties to which the Whips were invited. Of his regular
singing partner, Jimmy Wilson, he said, “Wee Jimmy and me thought we were Peters
and Lee. More like Litres of Pee”. He also suffered the ignominy, as a Scot, of
being congratulated in the Cleveland match programme for his part in England’s
1966 World Cup theft/victory.
Back home as runners-up in the President’s Cup, Storrie made history by
scoring in Aberdeen’s first-ever European tie as the Reds crushed KR Reykjavik
10-0. Over both legs, Jim scored four goals, making him the Dons’ ninth equal
all-time top scorer in Europe! Unfortunately, following that US and early
Scottish season goal harvest, Jim’s form didn’t continue and he played only
fleetingly in the 1967-68 season, before Rotherham United took him back to
Yorkshire in 1969. In his time at Pittodrie, he played 25 games and scored
11 goals. He returned to Scotland and managed St Johnstone from 1976-78. He
then moved into sports management, running sports centres in the Kilsyth area.
We first heard of his illness in 2012 when Jim’s son Joe contacted me asking
if he could have a copy of my manuscript to cheer his dad up after a serious
operation. From the feedback Joe sent it seems that it had the desired effect,
as Jim enjoyed it. It was with great sadness that we learned the news of his
death on 11th November 2014, aged 74, a fleeting but important part of the Reds’
history. The sympathies of all Dons fans around in those exciting days will be
with his loved ones.
The Millers Matchday tribute to Jim Storrie who passed away recently.
Posted: Sunday 23rd November 2014.
Jim Storrie – 1940-2014
Jim Storrie had the distinction of scoring two of Rotherham United's most
famous FA Cup goals whilst also playing his part in the success of a young
striker who was just starting out. Jim, who died on November 13th, aged 74, was
one of the very first signings when Tommy Docherty breezed into the manager's
job at Millmoor in late 1967. Not too many Millers players have been signed
from Aberdeen but Storrie, then 27, is one of those rarities and Docherty
wanted an experienced player up front as the club waged a battle against
relegation from the old Second Division (now The Championship). But Storrie's
early impact was to be in the FA Cup.
In the third round in January 1968, he scored his first goal for the club,
the only goal of the game as Rotherham beat top flight Wolves 1-0 at Millmoor.
In the next round, the Millers - stranded in the bottom two - travelled to
fellow Second Division side Aston Villa who had already completed a league
double over them. Again Storrie got the only goal, doing so five minutes from
time and at the Holte End. It put Rotherham into the fifth round for only the
second time in their history and it's the last time the club have got to that
stage. Storrie's arrival coincided with a run of only two defeats in 14 games
but relegation couldn't be avoided. However, Millers fans had seen Storrie's
arrival followed shortly afterwards by the emergence of young striker Steven
Downes who certainly benefited from a player of Storrie's skills and guile.
The following season, in the Third Division, Storrie was near enough an
ever-present and top scored with 15 goals but it wasn't just his goals
because, all the time, Downes - still a teenager - continued to blossom. The
season after that, 1969/70, Storrie left in early October (joining Portsmouth)
and a couple of months later Downes, having attracted quite a bit of attention,
joined Sheffield Wednesday for £40,000.
Storrie made 84 appearances in all scoring 23 goals. He was no stranger to
a Yorkshire though, having been signed (from Airdrie) by Don Revie for Leeds
United in the early 1960s, helping them into the top flight and also to the
FA Cup Final in 1965. After his spell at Pompey, he returned to his native
Scotland for a brief stint with St.Mirren and later had two years as manager
of St.Johnstone.
Willie Wallace.com : Farewell to friend Jim Storrie 22nd November 2014.
Farewell to friend Jim Storrie
It was sad news indeed to hear of the recent passing of Jim Storrie. Jim
and I played together first at Kelvinside Thistle and then with Kilsyth
Rangers and despite my travels we remained close lifelong friends. We went to
school together at Townhead Secondary in Kirkintilloch. Jim had a fine
footballing pedigree, with his stepfather Willie Hewitt having played at
left-half for Partick Thistle, and he himself was a highly talented player.
Jim had a successful professional career with Airdrie and Aberdeen in Scotland,
Leeds United in England and several other clubs.
Being at Townhead School together from the age of 12 to 16 I would not be
able to count the number of games of football we played after school at
Woodhead Park with all our classmates. Like Jim I set my aim to play football
at the highest level I could achieve. It was a huge plus playing with this
group through the years as like Jim and myself many went on to play
Professional football. Jim never changed over the years always remaining a
quiet likeable gentleman. Jim will be sadly missed by us all.
Former Leeds United striker Jim Storrie dies aged 74: By Giuseppe
Labellarte, Reporter: Thursday, 13th November 2014.
Former Leeds United striker Jim Storrie has passed away at the age of 74
following a short illness.
The forward, a member of the Whites side who played against Liverpool in
the 1965 FA Cup final at Wembley, scored 67 goals in 156 games in all
competitions for the club. Eddie Gray, who played alongside Storrie at Leeds,
told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "It is very sad to hear. Jim was a great
goalscorer for Leeds in the old second division and scored a lot of goals to
get us promoted and played in the 1965 FA Cup final as well. "Jim definitely
played his part in the rise of Leeds and scored some vital goals. He was a
good lad, and a real character. On the pitch, he was a hard worker and a
good pro."
Storrie also played for Rotherham United, Portsmouth, St Mirren and Havant
& Waterlooville.
www.leedsunited.com: Published 13th November 2014.
JIM STORRIE
The club is saddened to hear of the passing of former striker...
Leeds United are saddened to learn of the passing away of former striker
Jim Storrie at the age of 74. Signed by Don Revie in 1962, Jim made 156
appearances for the club during his five-year stay, scoring 67 times. Jim
arrived from Scottish side Airdrie and played a key part in Revie's early
success, helping the club to First Division promotion in 1964 and an FA Cup
final against Liverpool the following year.
Our thoughts are with Jim's family and friends at this sad time.
www.leeds.vitalfootball.co.uk:
LUFC Former Leeds great Jim Storrie dies
Former Leeds United striker Jim Storrie has sadly passed away at the age
of 74.
Storrie was part of the Don Revie side that started its emergence in the
1960`s and he scored 67 goals in 156 appearances during five-years at Elland
Road that saw the side go from Division Two strugglers to one of the biggest
teams in European football. The Scottish born striker arrived at Leeds in
the summer of 1962 after a successful start to his career with Airdrie and
he proved the perfect partner for John Charles who had recently returned to
the club from Juventus. After scoring in each of his first two games for
Leeds Storrie went on to score 27 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions,
as Don Revie`s side finished fifth in the Second Division.
An injury ravaged second season at Leeds saw him make just 16 appearances
has Leeds won the Second Division title. He scored 19 goals for Leeds in
their first season in the top flight, as they finished second in the league
and lost the FA Cup final to Liverpool after extra-time, a game in which he
was injured. 15 goals followed the following season as Leeds once again
finished runners-up in the First Division and they also reached the
semi-final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup semi-final, losing a replay to Real
Zaragoza.
Storrie left Leeds to return to Scotland and a move to Aberdeen in
February 1967, with his last appearance for Leeds coming for in the 5-0
Boxing Day win over Newcastle, a game in which he scored his last Leeds goal.
He had an eventful spell with the side from Pittodrie, despite only
spending ten-months with the club. Storrie missed a penalty in the 2-0
defeat in the Scottish Cup final against Celtic but despite the defeat they
qualified for the European Cup Winners Cup the following season. He wrote
his name in the clubs history, as he scored their first away goal in
European football at Icelandic side KR Reykjavik. Aberdeen had already won
the home leg 10-0, another club record, when Storrie opened the scoring
just before the break in the second leg and he completed the scoring for
Aberdeen in a 4-1 win in Reykjavik.
He returned to Yorkshire and Rotherham United later in the year and he
spent two-years at Millmoor before moving to the south coast to join
Portsmouth. Storrie spent three-years with the Fratton Park club, including
a short loan spell with Aldershot, before he finished his senior playing
career with St Mirren in 1973. He returned to the south of England as he
took his first managerial post with non-league Havant and Waterlooville. A
two-year stint as manager of Scottish side St Johnstone followed by a spell
coaching with Airdrie brought to an end his career in football in 1978.
The striker was only 5`8", was known for his all-round hard working
displays during his time in football and he was also known for having a
wicked sense of humour in the dressing room. Storrie, who was known as
'Diamond Jim Storrie', died after a short illness and our thoughts are
with the friends and family of a player who was once voted in the top 50
of all-time greatest Leeds players.
Death at 74 of striker who cost Don Revie’s Leeds United £15,000:
by Leon Wobschall 13th November 2014.
Eddie Gray has paid tribute to Leeds United striker Jim Storrie, who has
died at the age of 74 following a short illness.
The centre-forward, a member of the United side who took the field
against Liverpool in the 1965 FA Cup final at Wembley, has been
described by Gray as a ‘great goalscorer’ and ‘real character’, with the
Scot scoring 67 goals in 156 games for United. On the news of the passing
of Storrie, two-times top-scorer for Leeds after joining for £15,650 from
Airdrieonians in June 1962, Gray said: “It is very sad to hear. “Jim was
a great goalscorer for Leeds in the old second division and scored a lot
of goals to get us promoted and played in the ‘65 FA Cup final as well.
Jim definitely played his part in the rise of Leeds and scored some vital
goals. The likes of him and Ian Lawson, Alan Peacock and Albert Johanneson
all made contributions and there was obviously Bobby (Collins) as well. He
was a good lad, and a real character. On the pitch, he was a hard worker
and a good pro. “He wasn’t that big, but he was good in the air. A few
Scottish players have been like that in the past such as Denis Law and
Jimmy Millar, who was also never big, but great in the air and could leap.
Jim was one of those and put himself about.”
In his debut season of 1962-63, Storrie was Leeds’ leading marksman,
netting an impressive 25 goals in 38 Division Two games, with his haul
including a hat-trick in the 3-0 triumph over Cardiff at Elland Road on
April 27, 1963. Leeds went onto lift the second division title the
following campaign and in the club’s first season back in the top-flight
in 1964-65, Storrie led the goalscoring charts for a second time after
netting 16 goals in 37 appearances. That season ended in a Wembley
appearance and United narrowly missing out on the first division
championship on goal difference, with the cup final a fateful one for
Storrie, who was injured in the showpiece and failed to hit the heights
again with Leeds. Storrie netted 67 goals in 156 games in all
competitions for Leeds before being returning to his native Scotland to
Aberdeen, who signed him for £13,500 in February 1967.
He later played for Rotherham United, Portsmouth, St Mirren and Havant
and Waterlooville, with managing St Johnstone and coaching at Airdrie during
the seventies before he retired from football.
Gray also has fond memories of Storrie as a character with the wily Scot
once handing him a lesson he did not forget and one he has recounted over
the years during a cross-country run during their days at team-mates at Leeds
in the early sixties under Don Revie. Gray said: “Jim once caught me once
with an old Scottish trick. We were doing a cross-country run and I was
leading and it was twenty points for the winner and if you were running
together, you would get twenty points each. But five yards from the line,
Jim sprinted away from me!”
www.portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk: Tribute to ex Pompey and Leeds
star Jim Storrie
Pompey fans today will be mourning the death of Jim Storrie who has passed
away aged 74.
Jim Storrie began his career with Airdrieonians as a youngster signing
from local club Kilsyth Rangers in 1957. He had a successful spell with
Scottish club scoring 66 goals in 118 games before being spotted by Leeds
United. Leeds boss Don Revie had just succeeded in signing John Charles on
his return from Italy and was keen to find a foil for the big man and push
for promotion from the Second Division. He saw Jim as the man and paid
Airdrie £15,650 for his services on 19 June 1962. It was to prove a wise
investment as Jim bought a lot more than pure goal scoring to Elland Road.
Jim was a great clubman, a real character in the dressing room, a practical
joker at training and a real hustle and bustle type of player. He was not
tall for a centre forward - only 1.73m or 5 ft 8 ins - but was deceptively
good in the air. At Leeds he became a real star playing 156 games and
netting 67 goals. He helped Leeds gain that much sought after place in
Division One and helped build the platform for what was to become one of
the great clubs in Europe. He was however injured in the 1965 Cup Final
with Liverpool and was the never the same player again. He eventually
returned to Scotland to join Aberdeen for £13,500 in February 1967 but by
the end of the year was back playing in Yorkshire with Tommy Docherty at
Rotherham United.
Jim joined Pompey from the Millers in December 1969 for £5,000 and spent
three years on the south coast. He was popular for the effort he showed
particularly in his partnerships with Ray Hiron and Ray Pointer. He scored
goals too but injury again limited his appearances. The highlight of Jim`s
Pompey career was curious to say the least. It happened at Filbert Street,
Leicester in January 1970. A cross was met by Jim`s now balding head and it
flashed into the top corner hit the stanchion and bounced back into play.
The referee waived play on despite Leicester keeper Peter Shilton telling
him it had crossed the line. The Sunday papers were full of the story
including photographs clearly showing the ball over the line. The strange
thing is Leicester had just redesigned their goals following an incident
the previous season when Pat McMahon of Aston Villa had also had a goal
not given in identical circumstances. Villa fans still claim that incident
led to relegation. The next season Storrie lost his place to Mike
Trebilcock and in March 1972 joined Aldershot on loan. The next season he
returned to his native Scotland and joined St Mirren as player coach for a
short spell. He was soon back in Hampshire though as player manager at
Waterlooville.
Towards the end of the 1975/76 season Scottish Premier League outfit St
Johnstone appointed Storrie as their manager. They were doomed to
relegation but Jim was in the job for eighteen months before resigning
following a 0-0 draw with Berwick Rangers. Jim took a coaching role at
Airdrie for a short period before retiring. The next fourteen year were
spent at a sports centre in Cumbernauld and then at Stirling University.
Throughout his career at Leeds he was known as 'Diamond' Jim Storrie - not
because of his tough nature but Diamonds was the nickname of Airdrie
because of the large red diamond on their white shirts.
Aberdeen’s first European goal hero Jim Storrie passes away :By
David McCarthy 13th November 2014.
DONS pay tribute to 60s striker who has died, aged 74
ABERDEEN last night paid tribute to Jim Storrie, the first Dons player
to score a European goal for the club, who has passed away after a short
illness at the age of 74. The striker, who started his career at Airdrie,
played for Aberdeen between 1966 and 1969 scoring 11 goals in 25
appearances – including the opener in the club’s first ever European tie,
a 10-0 hammering of Iceland’s KR Reykjavic at Pittodrie. Kirkintilloch-born
Storrie was signed for Aberdeen from Leeds United, where he played in the
1965 FA Cup Final, by Eddie Turnbull. He left for Rotherham in 1969 and
also played for Portsmouth and St Mirren. He managed St Johnstone between
1976 and 1978.
A message on Aberdeen’s website said: “Our thoughts are with Jim’s
family at this sad time.”
Aberdeen Football Club was saddened today to hear the news that former
player Jim Storrie has passed away. The former Dons player Jim Storrie has
died after a short illness, aged 74. Jim played for the Dons during seasons
1966-67 and 1967-68. The striker was born in Kirkintilloch and started his
career at Airdrie, who sold him to Leeds United in 1962 for £15,000. He
famously helped Leeds, then managed by Don Revie, win the Second Division
title and he also played in the 1965 FA Cup final, which they lost 2-1 to
Liverpool. Storrie was signed by Eddie Turnbull in a bid to bolster his
attack and went on to make his debut against Hearts at Tynecastle on 4th
March 1967. In that campaign he scored in a Scottish cup quarter-final
replay victory over Hibs in a match that attracted a crowd of 44,000 -
the largest ever to attend a midweek game at Pittodrie. He then played in
the 1967 Scottish Cup Final for the Dons, when Aberdeen lost 2-0 to Celtic
at Hampden. Storrie had the claim to fame that he netted in the club's
first ever European tie the following season, when they beat Iceland's KR
Reykjavik 10-0 at Pittodrie. He was also a member of the Washington Whips
side that took the USA by storm in the Summer of '67. He made 25 first
team appearances in all and scored 11 goals before moving to Rotherham
United in 1969. Jim also played for Portsmouth and St Mirren and managed
St Johnstone for two years between 1976-1978. Our thoughts are with Jim's
family at this sad time.
PUBLISHED 13th November 2014 by Portsmouth FC (www.portsmouthfc.co.uk)
Former Blues striker passes away
Pompey are mourning the death of former striker Jim Storrie, who has
passed away at the age of 74.
After playing part-time for Airdrie, he moved to Leeds and was part of
the side that won the Division Two championship in 1964 and were then
runners-up in both the top flight and FA Cup the following campaign. It
was George Smith who brought the Scot to Fratton Park, with a fee of
£5,000 enough for Rotherham to let him go. He quickly became a popular
figure on the south coast, netting 10 goals in 19 appearances during his
first season with Pompey. When Ron Tindall became manager in 1970, one of
his first tasks was to make Storrie club captain. But he never managed to
repeat the goalscoring exploits of his maiden Blues campaign and would
only bag three goals in 30 games over the next two seasons. In the summer
of 1972 Storrie returned north of the border to sign for St Mirren – but
it was not a permanent farewell to the south coast. He came back for a
stint as player/manager at Pompey’s non-league neighbours Waterlooville,
before returning home to manage St Johnstone and coach Airdrie.
Portsmouth Football Club would like to send their deepest condolences
to Jim’s family and friends.
www.not606.com/Rip-Jim-Storrie
R.I.P Jim Storrie
I am sad to hear the news that the great Jim Storrie the great former
Leeds centre forward has died at the age of 74. I have many great memories
of his goals over the years that he played for the whites but the one that
stands out for me was our first game of the season 1962 away to Stoke City,
Don Revie was building his first great team and it was also John Charles
first game back at Leeds after he had signed from Juventus in the summer,
I have checked it was the 18th of August 1962, I was in the away end at
Stoke and we were sure big John would be our way back to the big time
(we're have heard that before). The Soke players appeared to be in awe of
Big John they were tight to him every time he got the ball. Then we got a
corner Bobby Collin went to take it all the Stoke defence were surrounding
JC, possibly expecting him to do something special. just as Bobby took the
corner JC ran from the 6 yard box towards Bobby corner all the Stoke
defenders followed which left Jim Storrie stood in the 6 yard box on his
own, he meet Bobby's corner perfectly without a defender in sight, and
found the back of the net without any challenge. We won 1-0. I can remember
so many more goals, Jim was as you can tell one of my heroes does anyone
else have any recollection of this great Leeds veteran. My sympathy goes
to his family and to Jim thank you.
Aberdeen Football Club plc: 13th November 2014 News release
Former striker Jim Storrie passes away
The former Dons player Jim Storrie has died after a short illness, aged
74. Jim played for the Dons during seasons 1966-67 and 1967-68.
The striker was born in Kirkintilloch and started his career at Airdrie,
who sold him to Leeds United in 1962 for £15,000. He famously helped Leeds,
then managed by Don Revie, win the Second Division title and he also played
in the 1965 FA Cup final, which they lost 2-1 to Liverpool. Storrie was
signed by Eddie Turnbull in a bid to bolster his attack and went on to make
his debut against Hearts at Tynecastle on 4th March 1967. In that campaign
he scored in a Scottish cup quarter-final replay victory over Hibs in a
match that attracted a crowd of 44,000 - the largest ever to attend a
midweek game at Pittodrie. He then played in the 1967 Scottish Cup Final for
the Dons, when Aberdeen lost 2-0 to Celtic at Hampden. Storrie had the claim
to fame that he netted in the club's first ever European tie the following
season, when they beat Iceland's KR Reykjavik 10-0 at Pittodrie. He was also
a member of the Washington Whips side that took the USA by storm in the
Summer of '67. He made 25 first team appearances in all and scored 11 goals
before moving to Rotherham United in 1969. Jim also played for Portsmouth
and St Mirren and managed St Johnstone for two years between 1976-1978.
Our thoughts are with Jim's family at this sad time.
The Scottish Herald: MATT VALLANCE: Wednesday 19 November 2014
Jim Storrie: Born: March 31, 1940; Died: November 13, 2014.
JIM Storrie, who has died after a short illness aged 74, is one of the
forgotten men of Don Revie's highly-successful Leeds United teams of the
1960s and 1970s. Known to the Elland Road fans as Diamond Jim, Storrie's
goals played a major role in returning United to the English top-flight,
but, after being injured in the run-up to the 1965 FA Cup Final, he faded
out of the picture. Born In Kirkintilloch, Storrie began his career with
junior side Kilsyth Rangers, from where he went into senior football with
Airdrie, in December, 1957. He was introduced into the first team at the
end of that season, making his debut against Albion Rovers in a Lanarkshire
Cup tie on April 7, then his League debut, in a 3-1 loss to Third Lanark,
at Cathkin, nine days later. He made 89 appearances for the Diamonds over
the next four years, scoring goals at a rate of better than one every
second game and that prowess saw him, in June, 1962, transferred to Leeds
United for £15,650. Revie saw Storrie, who had explosive pace over ten
yards, as the ideal second striker to run onto knock-downs from the great
John Charles, who was returning to the club from Juventus. Initially,
Storrie was unimpressed by the chance to join Leeds, but, told they had
signed Bobby Collins and Charles, he relented when Revie turned up at his
work at a switchgear firm to sign him. Charles failed to recapture his
former excellence, but, this worked well for Storrie, who became United's
main striker, notching 67 goals in 156 appearances, during his five years
with the club.
He settled quickly in the considerable Scots colony at the club, opening
his goal-scoring account with the winner in his debut against Stoke City,
in August, 1962; the first of his 25 goals that season. Leeds won promotion
the following season, but, Storrie played little part. Injury and loss of
form limited him to 15 games, in which he scored a mere three goals. Back
in the top flight, Storrie was a key man for the club, top-scoring with 16
goals in 37 league games, plus a couple in a cup run which ended in Wembley
defeat at the hands of Bill Shankly's Liverpool. Storrie played in that
game, having hidden the fact that he was carrying an injury from Revie. He
was to gradually drift out of the picture as Revie rebuilt. He received his
solitary Scotland call, at the end of the 1965-66 season, when he was named
in an experimental squad which then Scotland boss John Prentice put together
for matches against Portugal and Brazil. He was, not, however, to feature
in either game, an oversight by Prentice which caused a rift between the
SFA and Leeds. The following season, although he scored 13 goals, he was
mainly used out-of-position, on the right wing, and, in February, 1967,
he returned to Scotland after Aberdeen boss Eddie Turnbull paid £13,500 for
him.
He had been in an Airdrie side, beaten 4-0 by Celtic in a Hampden cup
semi-final in 1961. Six years later, he was back at the national stadium,
to again face the Hoops, this time in the final. Again, the day ended in
disappointment, as Celtic won 2-0. He was Aberdeen's leading scorer the
following season, when he was dropped in November and he was soon on his
way back to Yorkshire, as Tommy Docherty signed him for Rotherham for
£7,000.
There was a great cup run that first season, before Docherty left.
Storrie stayed, scoring 19 goals in 79 starts, before, in 1969, he was
sold to Portsmouth, where he scored 13 goals in 43 games over three
seasons, plus a "goal" which wasn't - he fired a great shot past Peter
Shilton in a game at Leicester, but the ball came back off the stanchion
and into play and, in spite of Shilton telling the official: "It was a
goal", the referee refused to call it.
At the end of the 1972 season, having been freed, Storrie again came
north, to a position as a player-coach with St Mirren. He then briefly
returned to Hampshire, to play and manage Waterlooville, before finally
coming back to Scotland, as St Johnstone manager, towards the end of the
1975-76 season. He spent just over a year with the Perth club, before
resigning. There was a chance to take his career full circle, with a
spell as a coach back at Airdrie, his final job in football. He took a
job at a sports centre in Cumbernauld. He remained there for 14 years,
before moving on to Stirling University, where he worked until his
formal retirement.
When compared with the likes of Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles or Eddie
Gray, Jim Storrie cannot be termed one of Leeds' greatest player, although
what he lacked in skill and style he more than made up for in application
and work rate. Remembering him, older Leeds fans talk of a man who would
miss 10 or 15 "sitters", when "Diamond Jim" became "that pillock from
Kirkintilloch"; then, he would produce, seemingly out of nowhere, an
amazing winner. Not that he didn't have skills of his own. Like Denis Law,
the five-foot-nine inch Storrie was deadly in the air, having an ability,
which he shared with Law, to "hang" in the air. He was also an early
exponent of the currently fashionable Rabona kick. And, it should not be
forgotten that Revie, Turnbull and Docherty were managers who knew a good
player when they saw and bought one.
Storrie was predeceased, six months ago, by Nancy, his wife of 53 years,
He is survived by son Joe, daughters Ann and Jane, seven grandchildren and
one great-grandchild. Nancy's father, Tony Weldon, like his son-in-law had
played for Airdrie before a peripatetic career in England. While Joe,
after one game with Forfar Athletic, decided his future lay in teaching.
Jim Storrie
- - - - -
Started by garrellburn, 14th November 2014: Pie & Bovril
It is with great sadness that we hear of the death at age 74 of former
Kilsyth Rangers player, Jim Storrie. He had been receiving treatment for
cancer and died yesterday, 13th November.
He had a long, and very successfull career in senior football, both in
Scotland and England, and it began in 1957 when Kilsyth Rangers signed a
pair of promising 17 year olds from a Kirkintilloch juvenile team,
Kelviside Thistle. Their names were Jim Storrie and Billy Wallace. Kilsyth
had enjoyed a period of great success during the 1950's but the team was
ageing and an infusion of new, young talent was needed. Within a few weeks
they were the regular right wing pairing to the great Alex Querrie at
centre forward. They were both scoring regularly as well as providing
Querrie with many great opportunities. However an early exit from the
Scottish junior cup at the hands of Arniston Rangers meant that Kilsyth
were unlikely to be able to hold onto such talents for very long. Wallace
departed to the senior ranks shortly after the new year, although Storrie
remained at Kilsyth for a few more months before he also went senior with
Airdrieonians.
He quickly made his name, scoring 48 times before a transfer to Leeds
United for £15,650, a large fee in that era. To say he became a legend at
Leeds would not be an understatement, he scored 67 times including a goal
in the 1965 FA cup final in which unfortunately Liverpool came out on top.
There followed spells at Portsmouth, Rotherham and Aldershot, where he
always grabbed more than a few goals. returning to Scotland towards the
end of his playing career he had a spell with Aberdeen, scoring their first
ever away goal in European football, and finally with St Mirren. There
followed a spell as manager at Havant and Waterlooville in English
non-league football, and then two years as manager at St Johnstone. After
his final retirement from the game he settled back in Kilsyth and worked
in local sports centres. He maintained a connection with football though,
in coaching local Amatuer teams.
Billy Wallace, Jim Storrie and Alex Querrie, not to mention Gibby Ormond
on the left wing, will we ever see such a rare combination of talent in one
team gracing the junior game again? Highly unlikely, the game has changed
such that young players of their talent will never appear in the juniors
ever again. It was a privilege however to have seen them in the past.
wingnut: Posted 14 November 2014: Thoughts with the family at this sad
time,my son Darren (17) passed away through illness last year on the 13th
Nov......R.I.P....Jim Storrie.
Mr Prez: Posted 14 November 2014: Sorry to hear this John
PRICEY: Posted 15 November 2014: Really gutted to hear this. About six
months ago, a mutual friend from Kilsyth asked me about him. I knew a wee
bit, but also did a bit of research into Jim's career. Most on this forum
will be familiar with Don Revie's Leeds side, Jim played a huge part in it.
For long enough my friend tried to arrange for me to visit Jim but as
Garrell says he didnt keep good health in recent times,though Im told his
face lit up when you spoke to him about football. Genuinely saddened. RIP Jim
tinto: Posted 15 November 2014: By coincidence I seen Jim Storrie play
on both sides of the border. He played for Airdrieonians against Rangers
and from memory Rangers won easily. However I seem to remember him as
being Airdrie's best player. Some years later in 1973 we moved to
Basingstoke. The very first match I watched the home side was against
Waterlooville and Jim Storrie scored both goals in a 2-1 win for
Waterlooville. Although towards the end of his career he was still a
very good player and a natural goalscorer. I imagine there will be
countless people who remember him from the period.
alfie2: Posted 15 November 2014: sad to hear of jims passing condolences
to the family from all at rob roy f c many a time I played against jim
when they played with kelvinside thistle when I played with rob roy juves
great talented players.i believe willie is resident in austrailia great
memories
JIM STORRIE
Born in Kirkintilloch 31st March 1940, died 13th November 2014
The highlights of a 15 year career, north and south of the border for
Jim Storrie was the part he played in Leeds United’s revival under Don
Revie. The inside forward was signed by Revie in June 1962, following two
prolific seasons for Airdrie, who he joined in December 1957 from Kilsyth
Rangers. The £15,000 fee was a substantial one at the time, and there was
an immediate return when he scored the only goal of his debut on the
opening day of the 1962/63 season, at Stoke. He scored 25 League goals
that season but only three in 15 matches the following year as Leeds won
the Second Division Championship. He was restored to the first team for
Leeds’ first season back in the top division, when they finished second,
and Storrie was top scorer with 16 goals in 37 League games. They came
close to a remarkable League-and-Cup double, losing in extra time to
Liverpool in the FA Cup Final. They were runners up in the League the
following season, when Storrie was joint top League goalscorer with Peter
Lorimer on 13 goals, but he lost his first team place to Paul Madeley the
following season, and was sold to Aberdeen in February 1967. Storrie
played in the 1967 Scottish Cup Final defeat to Celtic, but his ten
months at Pittodrie brought meagre returns in terms of goals and
appearances, and he was sold to Rotherham United in December 1967, where
he scored 19 goals in 71 League appearances. Two years later, he moved to
Portsmouth, but in almost three years he scored just 12 goals in 43 League
games, and had a loan spell at Aldershot in Match 1972. St Mirren brought
him back to Scotland in August 1972, but he did little to help ignite a
promotion challenge from the Second Division, and at the end of the season
he returned to the South coach to be player-manager of Waterlooville, with
some success. He was appointed St Johnstone manager in April 1976 but they
could only finish eighth (of 14) in the middle Division in 1977/78, and in
August 1978 he left Muirton Park. A spell as coach at Airdrie ended his
active involvement in football, and he worked in a sports centre in
Cumbernauld, and then at Stirling University, until his retirement.
Pompey mourn former captain Jim Storrie: The Sports Desk
sport@thenews.co.uk Friday 14th November 2014
Pompey are mourning the death of former captain Jim Storrie, who
passed away yesterday at the age of 74.
Born in Kirkintilloch, Scotland, Storrie began his career with Airdrie
in 1957, before he moved south to Leeds United and was part of a Whites
side who claimed second-division honours in 1964 and were runners up in
both the FA Cup and top flight the following season. Moves to Aberdeen
and Rotherham followed a five-year stay at Elland Road, before Blues boss
George Smith paid the Millers £5,000 to bring Storrie to Fratton Park in
December 1969. The striker made his club debut at home to Leicester (3-2)
and a week later scored in the first minute of a 3-0 victory over
Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. He finished the 1969-70 season with 10
goals from 19 outings - a fine return for such a nominal fee. The summer
of 1970 brought a managerial change on the south coast, with Ron Tindall
taking over responsibility for team affairs and Storrie was appointed
captain. Unfortunately, the forward couldn’t recapture the goalscoring
form of the previous campaign and after an ever-present run of appearances
up to mid-November, only represented the club on a handful of occasions
over the next 18 months. In the summer of 1972, Storrie moved to St Mirren
but soon returned to the south coast to become player/manager of non-league
Waterlooville. After his playing days were over, Storrie enjoyed a
three-year stint in charge of St Johnstone between 1976-78.
