The former Arsenal number one Jimmy Rimmer, Player of the Year in 1975 and England international, leaves behind a distinguished career.
Photo by Peter Cade/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Jimmy Rimmer, Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper for much of the mid-1970s and the club’s Player of the Year in 1975, has died at the age of 78.
Rimmer arrived at Arsenal from Manchester United in April 1974 for £40,000, with Bertie Mee identifying him as the long-term successor to Bob Wilson.
Having spent much of his time at Old Trafford behind Alex Stepney, the move to north London finally gave him the regular first-team role he had been seeking.
His Arsenal debut came against Liverpool shortly after his arrival, when he kept a clean sheet.
Following Wilson’s retirement at the end of the 1973-74 season, Rimmer became the club’s established number one and missed only three matches across the next three campaigns.
In total, Rimmer made 146 first-team appearances for Arsenal, including 124 league games, and his consistency was recognised when he was voted the club’s Player of the Year in 1975.
His only England appearance also came during his Arsenal career. He came on at half-time in a 3-2 victory over Italy in New York in May 1976 to earn his solitary international cap.
Rimmer’s Arsenal career came to an end in August 1977 after the signing of Pat Jennings, with the goalkeeper moving to Aston Villa.
The move proved hugely successful.
Photo by Mike Stephens/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Rimmer helped Villa win the First Division title in 1980-81 before lifting the European Cup in 1982. That triumph also secured him a unique place in English football history, as he remains the only English player to have won a European Cup medal with both Manchester United, where he was an unused substitute in the 1968 final, and Aston Villa..
Paying tribute on the club’s official website, Arsenal said: “Everyone at the club is saddened to hear about the passing of our former goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer… All our thoughts are with Jimmy’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.”
Photo by Peter Cade/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images