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| Read an interview with Jimmy Sirrel from 2007 |
"Jesus Christ, you're playing, son, but you're no really playing, aye,"
Jimmy Sirrel to Dave Mcvay, as immortalised in Steak Diana Ross
Most people with even a passing knowledge of English football know all about Brian Clough and his association with Nottingham. But only those who really know about the game, appreciate the other football mastermind who operated a short distance across the River Trent.
Jimmy Sirrel managed the far less fashionable Notts County for many years over two stints as manager. Remembered for taking the old club through three promotions, from the basement of English football through into the top-flight, he is deservedly commemorated at Meadow Lane with a stand named after him. Indeed, his name is a byword on the lips of Magpies fans young and old for the most successful era in the club’s near-150-year history.
There are of course those outside of the black and white half of Nottingham who remember him fondly too. Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful British manager in the modern game, has cited him as the major managerial influence on his career. Former Notts player and now Times Journalist Dave McVay wrote fondly of him in his book Steak Diana Ross and in an interview with LeftLion described him as “one of the great unsung heroes of local football.”
Jimmy was certainly no oil painting, but when the statue of Brian Clough was unveiled in Nottingham City centre, Notts County fans wanted to make sure their old gaffer got some recognition too. So they had a whip round and made him into one - which now hangs proudly inside the main entrance to Meadow Lane, for all to see.
Bizarrely he is also responsible for designing of the present Sheffield United club badge! Up until Sirrel's tenure in charge at Bramall Lane, the Blades used Sheffield's coat of arms. Then Sheffield City Council copyrighted it forcing them to look elsewhere. Rather than spending thousands on designers and consultancy, as even a small club would do in the modern day, Sirrel sat down with a pen and paper and drew the badge that is still used today.
There are of course those outside of the black and white half of Nottingham who remember him fondly too. Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful British manager in the modern game, has cited him as the major managerial influence on his career. Former Notts player and now Times Journalist Dave McVay wrote fondly of him in his book Steak Diana Ross and in an interview with LeftLion described him as “one of the great unsung heroes of local football.”
Jimmy was certainly no oil painting, but when the statue of Brian Clough was unveiled in Nottingham City centre, Notts County fans wanted to make sure their old gaffer got some recognition too. So they had a whip round and made him into one - which now hangs proudly inside the main entrance to Meadow Lane, for all to see.
Bizarrely he is also responsible for designing of the present Sheffield United club badge! Up until Sirrel's tenure in charge at Bramall Lane, the Blades used Sheffield's coat of arms. Then Sheffield City Council copyrighted it forcing them to look elsewhere. Rather than spending thousands on designers and consultancy, as even a small club would do in the modern day, Sirrel sat down with a pen and paper and drew the badge that is still used today.
It’s fair to say that he achieved an awful lot with very modest resources. He had a great eye for a player and was renowned for emphasising the importance of the team. Rarely if ever would he single out a player for praise, but he would regularly give plaudits for a good team effort. Seldom would he criticise his players in the press, it just wasn't his way.
Jimmy retired only a very few years ago, well into pensionable age, despite being still in demand as a scout with Derby County. He passed away peacefully at his home on the morning of Thursday 25 September 2008 at the age of 86.
There’s only one Jimmy Sirrel!
Interview with Jimmy Sirrel on LeftLion
Tributes to Jimmy Sirrel
Write Commentby christmasatthezoo Sep 25, 2008, 09:52:01 amJust heard the news that County legend Jimmy Sirrel has passed away. Very sad news and i'm sure many of you would like to pay tribute to him. Colin Slater will be on Radio Nottingham shortly with his tribute.
by Stillman Sep 25, 2008, 09:57:27 amRIP the squirrel.
I will always cherish the image of him attempting to take out Man Utd fans with a scalpel. Those of you who have read "Steak.... Diana Ross" by Dave McVay will know what I mean
Thanks Jimmy you will be missed
by Lord of the Nish Sep 25, 2008, 10:03:43 amCan't wait to see what McVay says in the Times.
I'd write something about this for the site, but it's really a job for a Notts person.
by Jared Sep 25, 2008, 10:05:23 amA legend of Nottingham football. Loads of people (even non football fans) will have heard of Cloughie, but this was a guy who took Notts County from the bottom division to the top in his time.
He will be sadly missed...
Check the interview we did with him last year.
by Jared Sep 25, 2008, 10:06:23 amI'm on it Nish.
by Lord of the Nish Sep 25, 2008, 10:16:53 amI'd toss up me facebook pic, but I can't get on it from here.
by Jared Sep 25, 2008, 10:19:51 amI'd toss up me facebook pic, but I can't get on it from here.
There ya go homeboy! Don't ya look young on it...
by Piethagoras Sep 25, 2008, 10:32:13 amI'm too young to remember him managing at Notts (my first game was 1987) but it's no secret he was our greatest ever manager and a great character to boot!
R.I.P. Jimmy - You'll Never be Forgotten
by LeftLion Sep 25, 2008, 11:23:50 amClick here to read this article: Jimmy Sirrel Tribute
\"Jesus Christ, you\'re playing, son, but you\'re no really playing, aye\"
Please use this thread to comment on the above LeftLion article.
by Jared Sep 25, 2008, 11:25:39 amThere ya go. There's my tribute to him. Might flesh it out a bit more later when I get time.
Nish - have a read of it and work out what you want for the mag innit.
by Jared Sep 25, 2008, 11:50:56 amI've just been asked to take part in a phone in on BBC Radio Nottingham at 1.10pm about our Jimmeh. So listen out for me on there then...
by Jared Sep 25, 2008, 12:08:16 pmThis is one of the stories I love about him by the way. What an all-rounder!Bizarrely he is also responsible for designing of the present Sheffield United club badge! Up until Sirrel's tenure in charge at Bramall Lane, the Blades used Sheffield's coat of arms. Then Sheffield City Council copyrighted it forcing them to look elsewhere. Rather than spending thousands on designers and consultancy, as even a small club would do in the modern day, Sirrel sat down with a pen and paper and drew the badge that is still used today.
The ketchup-bottle-licking described by Dave McVay in Steak Diana Ross is quality too. And although Cloughie Biographer Duncan Hamilton said some perhaps unecessarily harsh things in his interview with us, the story about him going back for regular baths at Meadow Lane still cracks me up!
by Jared Sep 25, 2008, 12:27:40 pmAnyone want to come to the game with me on Saturday by the way? Nish? Bassrooster? Anyone else? I'll probably be dragging Metal Monkey along if she's free. Notts County vs Aldershot. Saturday, Meadow Lane at 3pm.
This will be a great game to watch if you've been tempted to see the magpies before but never made it along. Guaranteed a top atmosphere with long singing tributes to JS. A real one-off!
We've been playing really good football this season - and despite our lack of wins thus far (6 draws, 1 loss) I would put good money on us smashing up Aldershot now.
If you're interested PM me and we can arrange a place to meet up before the match.
by Lord of the Nish Sep 25, 2008, 12:34:18 pmI've been asked to write a piece for When Saturday Comes.
by Al (G) Sep 25, 2008, 12:37:50 pmRIP Jimmy - what a character.
by Jared Sep 25, 2008, 12:50:26 pmI've been asked to write a piece for When Saturday Comes.
In that case you should definitely come on Saturday (put it on expenses innit)!
We'll stop by the portrait of him in the main entrance beforehand and then be sure to be in the kop for the one minutes silence. His name will be sung throughout the game and at half-time we'll get chips and pies from the food stall and lick the ends of the ketchup sachets in further tribute to the legend himself!
by it's alan Sep 25, 2008, 12:54:51 pmRIP Jimmy.
I don't know a great deal about the man himself, but I know he did wonderful things at NCFC - and shall be remembered for a long time.
I genuinely wish Notts County Football Club all the best.
I hope you get a good attendance this weekend, create a great atmosphere to send Jimmy off, and that you secure 3 points with a great performance.
by Jared Sep 25, 2008, 01:01:29 pmCheers Alan!
There's talk of renaming the A612 after him (Notts to Burton Joyce) like A50 was after Cloughie. Would be good if that happened.
Also the article on the main BBC website is really good, with quotes from Sir Alex Feguson, Don Masson, Nigel Worthington etc.
by it's alan Sep 25, 2008, 01:05:10 pmYeah - that's a really nice article on the BBC page.
It would be good if he was given a long-lasting tribute, such as a road named after him.
Have a good day on Saturday you 'Pies! Sing up!
by Jared Sep 25, 2008, 01:09:10 pmHere's a video of him on the pitch at Meadow Lane at the last game of the 2006/07 season when we almost got relegated to the non-league.
I was at this game with Nish, Bassrooster, Floydy, me dad and a few others - but we sadly missed this performance as there was confusion over our tickets and we were delayed at the Ticket Office. Harrumph!!
by ash_d Sep 25, 2008, 01:22:28 pmI might be up for the game on Saturday Jared, I'm gonna see if my old man is up for it...
by theonelikethe Sep 26, 2008, 11:11:07 ammy ma and pa's next door neighbour was one of the ambulance blokes who went to his house
might take kids to game on saturday, depending on weather
by Jared Sep 29, 2008, 02:10:22 pm
The game on Saturday was skill!
A decent turn-out (about 1,500 more fans than usual anyway), a moments applause for Jimmy, a great atmosphere - including both teams fans having sing-alongs of 'There's only one Jimmy Sirrel' and a last minute winner from Butcher... that in truth we did not really deserve.
A fitting day's action to commemorate Sir Sirrel!
YOOP EYES!!
by it's alan Sep 29, 2008, 02:38:49 pmBrilliant stuff, I'm glad you had a good day at Meadow Lane!
Am I right in thinking you played Aldershot, with whom Jimmy Sirrel played??
Funny how that worked out I suppose.
by Jared Sep 29, 2008, 03:41:00 pmAm I right in thinking you played Aldershot, with whom Jimmy Sirrel played??
He finished his playing and started his coaching career there - but there won't be many still around from that era as he left them a decade before I was even born.
The Aldershot fans were brilliant throughout the game and really helped make it a special day. We all sang songs about Jimmy together and there was no animosity at all from them - even when we sneaked a flukey winner. The most touching bit was the banner (below) they bought along to show us their solidarity.
by Jared Sep 30, 2008, 10:07:07 am
