Tribute to Jimmy Rimmer

Aston Villa is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of European Cup winner Jimmy Rimmer, who has died at the age of 78.

The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Jimmy's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

Rimmer was one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation, and arguably one of the unluckiest when it came to big occasions. Despite collecting two European Cup winner’s medals, he wasn’t on the pitch at the end of either final.

He was on the bench at Wembley in 1968 as Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1 and played for just nine minutes for Villa against Bayern Munich in 1982 before a neck injury forced him to be substituted by Nigel Spink in Rotterdam.

Rimmer was in tears in the dressing room as he received treatment from club doctor David Targett, although he was back in the dug-out in time to witness Peter Withe’s winning goal and join in the post-match celebrations.

Even so, he was one of just five Villa players to figure in the starting line-up in all nine of our European Cup matches that season – and had been one of seven ever-presents in the title-winning campaign of 1980-81.

Born in Southport in February 1948, Rimmer joined United as a schoolboy in 1963 and turned professional two years later. He spent 11 years at Old Trafford, essentially as an understudy to Alex Stepney, and had a loan spell with Swansea City before signing for Arsenal in 1974.

Three years later, Ron Saunders took him to Villa Park for a bargain £65,000. After making his debut at Queens Park Rangers his consistent performances meant he was the club’s first choice keeper for six consecutive seasons, making a total of 287 league and cup appearances.

After recovering from his neck injury, he was Villa’s regular goalkeeper for the first half of the 1982-83 campaign before playing his final game in a Second City derby just after Christmas.

He returned to Swansea in 1983, this time on a permanent basis, and later coached in Canada.

Rest in Peace, Jimmy.