Jimmy Robertson

Jimmy was born in Dundee in 1909. He started his football career with Lochee United and Logie Thistle. Although still a teenager, he was renowned for his versatility. Dundee F.C. approached Thistle with a view to sign him in June 1928.

By 1929 he was becoming a regular in the first team, showing plenty of ability. However his critics accused him of needing to improve, saying that “it is irritating to see a beautiful bit of real clever work followed by antics which smack of the school playground.” He obviously paid heed to the comments, because by the end of 1930 he was the clubs top goal scorer, and was on top form, unfortunately at this point an injury sustained against Clyde caused him to be replaced by Andrew Campbell.

Jimmy was selected for the S.F.A. trial match at Hampden in January 1931, and  gained two caps when Scotland went on a European tour in May. He made his debut against Austria in a 5-0 defeat, and four days later played Italy which resulted in a 3-0 defeat.

Along with his fellow team mates he was a keen golfer and could often be seen on the Angus courses.

His continued good form caused officials from Manchester United to pay Dens Park a visit in 1932, rumours were rife that an offer might be made for both himself and Scot Symon. The following year Blackburn Rovers were keen to take him to Ewood Park in a swap deal with one of their players, Mackay, heading to Dens.

At the end of the 1932-33 season Robertson, along with Morgan, Gilmour, McCarthy & Smith all found themselves signing on at the Labour Exchange during the close season. A week later Dundee F.C. announced that Morgan was available for £4,000, Robertson £3,000 and Gilmour £2,000.

Finally, in December 1933 he made the move to Birmingham for a reported fee of £1,250. He said, “My chance has come and I’m taking it. I’m sorry to leave Dundee, but the opportunity was too good to miss.” What he hadn’t factored in was that he would be extremely homesick. He played six games, and scored one goal. But, at the end of the season, he moved back to Scotland, and joined Kilmarnock. He retired from football in 1938.

Nine years later Robertson was involved in an unusual incident, which ended in another man being accused of attempted murder. In the early hours of the 13^th April 1947 Robertson was found with a gunshot wound in a Glasgow lane, after attending a house party, with what were initially feared to be fatal wounds. Two days later a man was arrested in Liverpool in connection with the shooting. The case was heard in the High Court in July. The jury found the case “not proven”. Robertson went on to make a full recovery.

Jimmy died in 1979 at the age of 70.