It is with great sadness that the club has learned of the death of our former player, Jimmy Irvine, a powerfully-built attacker who manager, John Harvey, brought to Tynecastle in 1967 to lead the front line.
He went on the score 16 goals in 51 appearances which would undoubtedly have been more, but for a succession of injuries.
Jimmy was born at West Main Street, Whitburn on 17 August 1940 and was a Schoolboy Internationalist while attending St. Mary’s Academy in Bathgate. On leaving school he began his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic and played football for Edinburgh Athletic and Whitburn Juniors, before joining Dundee United in August 1959.
The hard-hitting striker hit almost 80 goals for the Tannadice team, including 23 in season 1959-60 when Dundee United won promotion to the old First Division. Jimmy then helped United to become established at the top level and became a significant figure in the club’s history before a £24,000 transfer to Middlesbrough in May 1964.
Jimmy remained a prolific scorer with the English side, despite their relegation to the old Division Three. He then assisted the club to promotion in 1966-67, although Jimmy’s appearances were restricted by appendicitis and a cartilage operation.
Hearts needed Jimmy’s pace, holding ability and powerful shooting and in May 1967, he was recruited to lead the attack from Middlesbrough, for a fee of £15,000. He had an excellent first-season with 10 goals in 33 competitive appearances.
This included a thrilling Scottish Cup run that took Hearts to the Final against Dunfermline Athletic. Jimmy will always be remembered for scoring the winning goal in the 6-5 victory over his old club, Dundee United, at Tannadice in the Second Round.
Regretfully, Jimmy added only 11 competitive appearances during the following two seasons, mainly due to a thigh injury and a cartilage operation. This led to his release in April 1970 and a largely successful move to Barrow.
Jimmy retired in 1972 and later worked as a spray-painter in Bathgate and coached the junior sides, Armadale Thistle and Blackburn United.
Only injuries prevented Jimmy Irvine from making a much greater impact at Tynecastle and our sincere condolences are extended to his family and friends.
By David Speed, Club Historian
