Jim Cruickshank Explained

Fullname:James Fergus Cruickshank
Birth Date:13 April 1941
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Death Place:Edinburgh, Scotland
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:1958–1960
Clubs1:Queen's Park
Caps1:30
Goals1:0
Years2:1960–1977
Clubs2:Heart of Midlothian
Caps2:394
Goals2:0
Years3:1977–1978
Clubs3:Dumbarton
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:1960–1964[1]
Nationalteam1:Scotland U23
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1964[2]
Nationalteam2:SFL trial v SFA
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1964–1975
Nationalteam3:Scotland
Nationalcaps3:9
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:1964–1970[3]
Nationalteam4:Scottish League XI
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:0

James Fergus Cruickshank (13 April 1941 – 18 November 2010) was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played for Heart of Midlothian through most of the 1960s and 1970s, making nearly 400 league appearances. He had brief spells with Queen's Park at the start of his career and spent his final season with Dumbarton. Cruickshank also represented Scotland and the Scottish League.

Life and career

Cruickshank appeared 30 times in league games for the Hampden Park football club Queen's Park between 1958 and 1960. He joined Hearts in 1960 and left the club in 1977 after 17 years of service. He made 528 appearances for the first team and turned out 394 times in league matches. After leaving Hearts he joined Dumbarton, where he featured in three league matches before retiring from the game.

He made nine appearances for the Scotland national football team, and was on the losing side only once. Cruickshank made three appearances during a 1967 overseas tour that the Scottish Football Association decided in October 2021 to reclassify as full internationals,[4] which increased his cap tally from six to nine.

Death

Cruickshank died on 18 November 2010, aged 69.[5] Former Hearts players Jim Jefferies and Craig Gordon paid tribute to Cruickshank, describing him as a "top goalie" and "undoubtedly one of the best" to play for Hearts.

On 20 November 2010 Hearts paid tribute to Cruickshank by holding a one-minute silence before their game against Hamilton Accies. Marian Kello, the then current first choice goalkeeper for Hearts, also tied a yellow goalkeeper's jersey with Cruickshank's name and number on the back to his net. During the game, Kello saved a Hamilton penalty kick. Hearts manager Jim Jefferies said after the game that "Jim Cruickshank was a great penalty saver. How fitting is it that Marian comes out with the jersey and makes a fantastic save from a penalty on the day we paid our respects to him".[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu23/player.php?playerid=67 Scotland U23 player Cruickshank
  2. Book: Scotland in the 60s: The Definitive Account of the Scottish National Football Side During the 1960s. Ronnie McDevitt. 2016. Pitch Publishing. 9781785312458.
  3. News: Jim Cruickshank. Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. 4 December 2011.
  4. Web site: Former Scotland players to be recognised with international caps including Sir Alex Ferguson . www.scottishfa.co.uk . Scottish Football Association . 9 October 2021 . 10 October 2021.
  5. News: Gordon joins Cruickshank tributes . Yahoo Sports. 19 November 2010 . 19 November 2010.
  6. Web site: Collin . Iain . Hearts 2 – 0 Hamilton: Marian Kello and resilient Hearts pay fitting tribute to Cruickshank . The Scotsman . UK . Sport . 24 November 2010.