Do You Remember ?

James Middlemas 1949-55

Born: Eastwood 1920

Signed: 1949

Previous Club: Petershill Juniors

First Game: Scored on his debut a 2-3 loss at Perth to St Johnstone, in the League cup on Aug 13th 1949

Last Game: Aberdeen at home in Dec 1955

After Killie: retired

Position: Left-Half

Club Honours: Helped Killie reach the 1953 League Cup Final as Division "B" team. Went on to captain Killie during their 1953-54 promotion winning season.

Otherl Honours: Joined Killie at the ripe old age of 29, after appearing for Petershill Juniors in 1949 junior cup final

Phil Hall writes…Jimmy was born in Eastwood, Glasgow, in 1920. He began his career with Shawfield Juniors in July 1939, before moving to Petershill Juniors in July 1942. In his career with the Junior side, he scored an amazing 111 goals. He eventually joined Killie in May 1949 after appearing in the Scottish Junior Cup Final. Although late in years to turn senior, he proved a valuable acquisition with his strong running and hard tackling. He scored some valuable goals with his long range shooting. Jimmy joined Killie as a huge clearout among the playing staff took place. Of the eleven who took the field in the first fixture of 49/50, only three players remained from the corresponding fixture the previous season. They were Jimmy Hood, Bob Thyne and the classy Hugh McLaren. The manager changed as well, with Malky McDonald  (right) joining from Brentford.

Killie at this time, were a Second Division outfit and needed money. As a result Hugh McLaren was sold to Derby County for £7,000. Killie used some of the money to sign defender Ralph Collins and striker Tom Johnston. Despite amazing attendances, notably the 23,000 who witnessed the 4-0 drubbing of A*r United on New Year's Day, Killie still finished the season in debt. This despite playing Derby County in a friendly as part of the Hugh McLaren transfer agreement. Killie lost 5-1 to the English outfit, watched by 18,000.

Jimmy had soon settled into the central defensive position and made the No.6 jersey his own. Of note in Jimmy's first season was the size of the Killie travelling support. On January 14th 1950, over 10,000 fans travelled to Hampden to cheer Killie on in a 3-1 victory against Queen’s Park, as Killie contested the promotion race. 27,205 attended the match, a record that still stands for a non top league fixture in Scotland. At the AGM it was noted, due to Killie's huge attendances, the Club was subsidising the rest of the division to the tune of £1,000. This was due to the fact that in those days a percentage of the gate money was paid to the visiting club and contrasted to what Killie received when the Club played away from home. For season 49/50, the Club made a loss of £2,000. The poor condition of the terracing toilets was also mentioned at the meeting.

The following season, season 50/51, turned out to be one of the worst in the Club's history, finishing 12th in the 18 team Second Division. Killie do splash out £1,000  to bring in right-half John Russell from Motherwell. Killie won only three home fixtures. In a stormy AGM, Andrew McCulloch resigned as chairman, not because of the toilets, but branding the annual report 'fatuous, futile and inept'. The report showed the Club had lost £4,000 for the season. Season 51/52 saw an improvement in Killie's position, finishing a creditable 5th. In the hugely successful Bob Thyne testimonial, 16,000 fans turned out to see Killie lose 2-1 to a strong Celtic side. At this year's AGM, the board recommended going back to nine members instead of five.

Season 52/53 will long be remembered by Killie fans from that era. On October 4th 1952, with Killie sitting bottom of the Second Division, the team defeated the mighty Glasgow Rangers 1-0 in the League Cup semi final at Hampden Park, to send the Ibrox bear back to Govan with its tail firmly between its legs. Bob Thyne and Jimmy Middlemas were apparently outstanding. This result, not unexpectedly, inspired Jimmy and his mates. Killie lost the Final 0-1 to Dundee. The Club however moved up the table with only inconsistency denying the side a promotion spot. The team however, was improving. Eventual champions Stirling Albion were thumped 6-0 as the Club finished fourth. Sadly during the season, legendary winger Matha Smith died aged 55.

At the AGM, apart from the poor condition of the toilets (trend developing here), the question of floodlighting was raised. Killie though, despite making a profit this season, decided it was too expensive. Malky McDonald though, was all in favour. He thought it was too good an opportunity to miss, with benefits like evening training and midweek matches. He argued that increased attendances would outweigh the costs involved. Jimmy Middlemas would welcome to training an eighteen year old apprentice in the name of Bertie Black. (left)

Season 1953/54, was an eventful and dramatic season. The Club finished second and finally won promotion back to the 1st Division after an absence of seven years. With the season only two months old, Hugh Spence, (pictured left with Chairman Andrew McCulloch after the 1929 Cup Final) architect of two Scottish Cup winning sides, died. With one legend passing away, a young lad arrived who would, arguably, go on to become the Club's most influential player to date, the legendary Frank Beattie. In this same month of October 1953, Matt Watson arrived at Rugby Park and Malky McDonald finally got his way when floodlighting was installed at Rugby Park. In a specially arranged match, to be played under the new floodlights, Killie played Manchester United. A full strength United took the field. Significantly, this included Duncan Edwards, the most famous Busby Babe, who was playing his first full ninety minutes. It wasn't the first time he'd played at Rugby Park, a few seasons earlier he'd played in a youth international.

In April 1954, 12,000 fans saw Jimmy Middlemas captain the side to a 2-0 victory against Queen’s Park to confirm their new status with promotion to the 1st Division. Jimmy captained Killie in its first game against European opposition. Killie took on Austrian side Admira Wien in a friendly. Killie thumped them 5-0 under the new floodlights, in front of 12,000 fans. Jimmy captained the side in another record breaking fixture this season. Killie, after gaining a creditable draw in an epic Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox, played the Glasgow side in the replay in front of a huge crowd of 33,545, a new record attendance for Rugby Park. This meant 800 more fans watched this tie than the previous best of 1933, again against the same opposition. Killie lost the tie 3-1.

1953-54 Promotion Winning Killie

Jimmy captained Killie in the Club's first match back in the First Division. 15,000 watched Killie draw 0-0 with East Fife. Killie though, struggled on its return to the topflight. After 12 games Killie had just four points as the Club slumped to second bottom. Malky McDonald realised that some of the players, who had served the club so well in the Club's struggle to reach the top, had now reached the veteran stage and needed replacing. Bob Thyne and Jimmy Middlemas, outstanding in the lower league, were dropped after the 4-0 home defeat to Aberdeen on the 4th December. It was the last time either player would play in the first team. Alastair MacKay was promoted from the reserves and £4,000 was spent to secure the transfer of Hearts centre half Bobby Dougan. Frank Beattie was not yet old enough to hold a first team place, despite scoring on his debut in a league cup tie at Paisley.

Jimmy was freed by the Club at the end of the season. Soon after he took the decision to retire from the game. Despite coming into the senior game at the relatively old age of 29, he was to prove an inspirational signing. Not only did he play a part in the promotion drive in successive seasons, but it was the many record breaking and moments of huge significance to the Club that proved remarkable. It is easy to see why the name of Jimmy Middlemas will always be associated with such an important era for the Club.