Jim Stewart

Jim Stewart 1971-78

Jim Stewart was also a former full-time goalkeeper coach.... Here are some of his recollections........

Back at Rugby Park?

Delighted, but in truth I've never been away. I have been coaching the Goalkeepers, Big Marsh, Colin Meldrum, Graeme Smith, Craig Samson and my own son Colin Stewart. I have worked with Melly for well over 10 years on a part-time basis coming into the club, sometimes three times a week.

Debut?

It was against Brora Rangers in a pre-season tour of the Highlands, we seemed to travel for miles. Brora appeared to be in the middle of nowhere.

I made my first competitive debut in a Texaco Cup at Rugby Park, which ended 0-0. They had a great team with players like Derek Dougan, John Richards, Mike Bailey and their goalie was Phil Parkes. I remember the floodlights went out during the game and play was held up. I don't think there was a big crowd, say a couple of thousand and Sky TV hadn't even been thought about.

First League Game?

Was against Rangers at Rugby Park around the same time, we won 2-1. Eddie Mo scored our two goals, ironically one of my former heroes Tommy McLean scored for Rangers it must have been a well hit shot to beat me. It certainly wouldn't be a header. The Rangers team included Peter McCloy, John Greig, Sandy Jardine and Alex McDonald. When I see the youngsters playing in the team at Rugby Park nowadays, I recall in that in that particular game more than half of our team were under 20. Alan Robertson, who was also making his league debut, Gordon Smith, Ian Fleming, Bobby Stevenson and of course a youngster called McSherry.

Heroes and Influences?

My all time hero would be the great Gordon Banks who will ever forget his save against Pele in the World Cup Finals. A big help to me in my early days at Rugby Park was the late Sandy McLaughlan he came from the same town as me Kilwinning and he influenced me greatly taking me under his wing and working on my kicking. He was a brilliant drop kicker of the ball, John Murdoch from Hurlford was the trainer at Killie and he believed in working with the keepers. He had played for Irvine Meadow for many years and had also played for Killie. This was a time goalies were left to their own devices but at Rugby Park John took a special interest. I reckon that is why we had such a great record of goalkeepers. The manager who signed me Walter McCrae was also a goalkeeper.

Can you name the Killie goalies back to the 50's?

Yes, no problem, the legendary Jimmy Brown, who I'm sorry I did not see play, Sandy, Campbell Forsyth, Bobby Ferguson, who I suppose was a big hero of mine, he worked for ICI at Ardeer where I also later worked. Another ICI man John Welsh of Booth Welsh played for Irvine Meadow and he claimed to be ICI's number one goalie but I think Bobby Ferguson just shaded it from John and me. After Bobby, Sandy returned from Sunderland for a second spell, Alistair Hunter who joined Celtic, myself, big Alan McCulloch who played for many years. Bobby Geddes, Drago, Marsh, all the Killie Goalies have won some form of International Recognition. Bobby Geddes (left) was called up for the Scotland squad against Malta but Jim Leighton played in the game I'm sure the players and the staff just now will uphold the great tradition of Kilmarnock goalkeepers.

Difficult Opponents?

It was sickening to see Big Marsh being carried off last Saturday but by in large goalkeepers get more protection now than when I played. But almost all the rule changes in the past number of years have involved goalkeepers, four-step rule, Pass backs and such like. Kenny Dalglish who I played against when I was at Middlesboro was a real threat to play against, he could curl, chip or blast with power when he was near goal. Early in my career difficult opponents were Drew Busby from Airdrie, Dixie Ingram, Ayr United and Alex Ferguson all of this trio were fond of a challenge on the goalkeeper.

Scotland Cap?

The biggest thrill of my career was to play for my country and my biggest disappointment was Ally not taking me to Argentina in 1978. I'm very sad to see him not enjoying the best of health; I had been to the World Cup in Germany in 1974 they were a great squad, one of the few countries to get out of the finals undefeated. I gained my first cap against Chile in 1977 while I was a Killie player, then I was capped against Norway when with Middlesboro in 1979. I also gained two Scottish League Caps which a number of years ago was a real honour. I played against the English League at Manchester. Ray Clemence was the English goalkeeper and Manchester City's Denis Tueart was a really dangerous striker.

I am currently the goalkeeper coach for Scotland Under 21's & KIllie and assist several other profession Scottish clubs. This is something which I really enjoy.

May 2005 Update

On May 11th 2005, BBC Sport reported that former Scotland international Jim Stewart's contract is not being renewed due to financial constraints at Rugby Park.

It will bring to an end Stewart's 34-year association with the Scottish Premier League club.

Stewart, who is also the current goalkeeping coach to the national side under Walter Smith, will remain at Killie for the remainder of the 04-05 season.