Sirrel, Jimmy

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Fullname: James Sirrel
aka: Jimmy Sirrel
Born: 2 Feb 1922
Died: 25 Sep 2008
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: 31 Dec 1945
Left: 1946 (Royal Navy); Apr 1949 (free); 12 May 1949 (Bradford PA)
Position: Inside Forward
Debut: Queen of the South 0-0 Celtic, League, 2 Jan 1946
Internationals: none

Biog

James ‘Jimmy’ Sirrel became a Celt in December 1945 when he signed for the club from Renfrew Juniors.

He made his debut in a 0-0 draw in a Regional League tie at Queen of the South. Slight of build but with a determined attitude Sirrel combined craft and graft as an inside-forward who was always capable of making life hard for defences. Then for the second half of the 1945-46 season he was a certain starter.

However Jimmy’s Celtic career was blighted by injury and he eventually left the club in April 1949 and moved on to Bradford Park Avenue.

His release was a surprise to the Celtic support who had always been impressed by his commitment and ability. Then again, Celtic were a shambles through his time at the club and were at one point even close to relegation. Radical changes were needed.

Jimmy Sirrel had actually played few games in his last season at Celtic, so the shock to the support must have been mild. In the previous season (the nadir season of near relegation for Celtic), he had played only a handful of games in the first third of the season.

Jimmy Sirrell played 28 times for Celtic and scored 4 goals. Additionally, he scored a double v St Johnstone in the post-wartime Victory Cup, plus one more in the same tournament v Raith Rovers. Sadly Rangers undone all the good work in what was a contentious semi-final.

Post-Celtic
He later went on to make a name for himself as manager of Notts County where his significant achievements made him a much loved Magpie hero.

His best-known piece of advice was: “If ye dinnae score, ye dinnae win.”

He also managed Sheffield Utd in 1975 and was responsible for taking Jimmy Johnstone to Brammall Lane.

Jimmy Sirrell died in September 2008, after a long innings at the age of 86. [BBC]

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

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Jimmy Sirrell (Obituary)

(The Times)

Jimmy Sirrel, professional footballer and manager, was born on February 2, 1922. He died on September 25, 2008, aged 86

Three-times manager of Notts County who took on the struggling club in the Fourth Division and eventually led it to a First Division triumph in 1981.

Jimmy Sirrel was a professional footballer who went on to become three times manager of Notts County, a team he helped to guide from the Fourth Division to the original First Division. A mercurial, hands-on, craggy-faced, buck-toothed figure, Sirrel was very much a football manager of the old school.

James Sirrel was born in Glasgow and began his professional playing career at Celtic in 1946, where he gained a reputation as a tricky rightwinger. But after only 13 appearances, he moved in 1949 to Bradford Park Avenue, then in the original Second Division. After spells at Brighton & Hove Albion and Aldershot, he took up his first managerial post with Fourth Division Brentford in 1967.

He was a popular figure at the West London club. It was here that Sirrel displayed the level of commitment that he would make with the cash-starved clubs he subsequently managed. Brentford were then virtually penniless and facing a hostile takeover from West London neighbours Queens Park Rangers. To cut the club’s expenses, Sirrel not only selected and coached the team, but organised the ground preparation for match days and even selected the kit man.

Brentford had made a promising start in the 1969-70 season when in November Sirrel moved to become manager of Notts County. He guided the struggling, and likewise impoverished, club to seventh place in the Fourth Division, and in 1970-71 to the league title, remaining unbeaten at home in the process. The club achieved promotion again under Sirrel in 1972-73.

Notts County consolidated their position in the Second Division for the next two seasons, and in the duration achieved a great upset in the League Cup when on October 8, 1975, they beat Leeds United at Elland Road. Later that month, however, Sirrel announced that he was joining Sheffield United, who were then rooted to the bottom of the First Division.During his time at the club he designed the badge that Sheffield United still use today. However, Sirrel was unable to prevent the Blades from being relegated, and in September 1977 he returned to Notts County.

He helped to consolidate County’s status as a Second Division side and in 1980-81 achieved the remarkable feat of guiding the side to the First Division, with a 2-0 defeat of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It was the first time “the Magpies” had played in the top flight since 1926. County would remain there for three seasons, during which Sirrel brought in Howard Wilkinson as head coach while he remained the general manager.

Sirrel was reappointed manager in 1984-85 and retired in 1987, by which time County were back in the third tier. He continued an association with the club, and the County Stand at Meadow Lane was rebuilt and renamed the Jimmy Sirrel Stand in 1993.

Although Sirrel could be fearsome – when in the wrong mood, he would throw jugs of tea at his players in the dressing-room – this slim, diminutive and humorous man was also held in much affection. His best-known piece of advice was: “If ye dinnae score, ye dinnae win.

His wife, Kathy, predeceased him. He is survived by their son and daughter

(c) Times Newspapers Ltd, 2008

Magpies legend Sirrel dies at 86

BBC

Legendary Notts County manager Jimmy Sirrel has died at the age of 86.

He took charge of the team in 1969 and led the Magpies to the top flight of English football – the former Division One – in 1981.

Sirrel was hailed as the Magpies’ greatest manager by supporters who had called for a Nottingham road to be named after him.

He had three spells as manager of the Football League’s oldest club, from 1969 to 75, 1978 to 82 and 1985 to 87.

Sirrel’s good friend Sir Alex Ferguson said Sirrel was highly regarded in the footballing world.

The Manchester United manager told the BBC: “All I can say is that I’d be confident in Jimmy Sirrel managing a team I supported, and that would be the general opinion from all the managers in the game.

“People like Jimmy had to work with either no money or little money and, if you look at his career at Notts County and Sheffield United, you’ll see he’s done fantastically well with players who are quite limited.”

Legendary Notts County midfielder Don Masson paid tribute to his former boss.

He said: “I owe everything in my football career to Jimmy – he was fantastic.”

The Magpies’ record goalscorer Les Bradd said: “We certainly feared him on match days, particularly when he was throwing jugs of tea at us.

But generally Jimmy was a friend to the players. He would tell funny stories. We would laugh at him.”

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington, who was signed for County by Sirrel, said: “I have a lot of good feelings for Jim.

“He did wonders for my career at Notts County. He was an excellent coach and his man management was very good, particularly with the young ones.”

Sirrel, who left the Magpies for the first time in 1975 to take over at Sheffield United, regularly attended matches at Meadow Lane until recently.

Notts County chairman John Armstrong-Holmes said: “The news has stunned everyone and although it’s 20 years since Jimmy left the club, he was still affectionately remembered by everyone.

“It was indicative last year of how Notts County fans regarded him that the Trust commissioned a portrait of the great man.

“It now hangs prominently in the entrance to Meadow Lane and will be a permanent reminder of all that he did for our club.”

The Magpies legend, who was born in Glasgow in February 1922, had been in poor health over the past few months.

He played as a right-winger with Celtic, Bradford Park Avenue and Brighton before moving to Aldershot, where he began his coaching career.

He then became Brentford manager in September 1967 and spent two years there before leaving to become Notts County boss for the first time.

Jimmy Sirrel’s career at Notts County
1969 Sirrel takes over as Magpies’ manager
1975 Leaves to become Sheffield United boss
1978 Returns to Meadow Lane
1981 Takes Notts to First Division
1982 Leaves the Magpies
1985 Returns to Meadow Lane for his final spell in charge until 1987

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