Jim Blyth
Encyclopedia
For the player of the same name see Jim Blyth (footballer born 1911)
James Anton 'Jim' Blyth (born 2 February 1955 in Perth, Scotland
) is a former Scottish
football
goalkeeper
, and current goalkeeping coach at Middlesbrough
.
Blyth played for Coventry City
from 1972–1982, making 151 league appearances. His ability led to a proposed £440,000 transfer to Manchester United in 1979 which failed to go through when he failed a medical on a suspect back. This move would have made him the world's most expensive goalkeeper. He earned two caps for the Scotland national football team
, and was Scotland's second-choice goalkeeper at the 1978 FIFA World Cup
.The 1977-78 season saw Jim playing in Coventry's most exciting top flight team. A side containing Mick Ferguson
, Ian Wallace
, Terry Yorath
, Graham Oakey
, Bobby MacDonald and the wonderful Tommy Hutchison
played a brand of attacking football that swept many teams aside, often by large margins of victory. One of the most memororable games of that year came at Christmas when Norwich City visited Highfield Road
. The game reached its zenith in the final minutes when Blyth saved Jim Ryan
's penalty kick to help the Sky Blues to a 5-4 victory
He was also a player of Preston North End (1970–1972), Hereford United
(1975, on loan), and Birmingham City
, when he moved from Coventry City in 1982. During his spell at Birmingham he fractured his forearm in 3 places during a game against Sunderland, playing for a full 70 minutes injured. The Blues still went on to win the game 2-1.
Blyth was a coach under Gordon Strachan
when he was the manager at Coventry City, but departed when Strachan and assistant Garry Pendrey
were dismissed from their posts in 2001. During his time at Coventry he was responsible for the signing of 16 year-old Chris Kirkland
, who went on to play first team football for the Sky Blues before smashing the British transfer fee for a goalkeeper (£6 million) when bought by Liverpool in August 2001.
Blyth was the goalkeeping coach at Celtic
, joining them in July 2005, appointed by Gordon Strachan. While Blyth was with 'the Bhoys', the club won three SPL titles, the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup twice, and qualified two seasons in a row for to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League
in 2006/07 and 2007/08. This run included taking AC Milan into extra time in the San Siro
before losing to 0-1 to the eventual champions.
He and Garry Pendrey
left Celtic after the resignation of Gordon Strachan
in May 2009. He reunited with them at Middlesbrough
in May 2010.
Jim Blyth (footballer born 1911)
James Banes Blyth was a professional footballer who played for Newton Grange, Arniston Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur, Hull City, Heart of Midlothian, Falkirk and St Johnstone.- Football career :...
James Anton 'Jim' Blyth (born 2 February 1955 in Perth, Scotland
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
) is a former Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
, and current goalkeeping coach at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
Blyth played for Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
from 1972–1982, making 151 league appearances. His ability led to a proposed £440,000 transfer to Manchester United in 1979 which failed to go through when he failed a medical on a suspect back. This move would have made him the world's most expensive goalkeeper. He earned two caps for the Scotland national football team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, and was Scotland's second-choice goalkeeper at the 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
.The 1977-78 season saw Jim playing in Coventry's most exciting top flight team. A side containing Mick Ferguson
Mick Ferguson
Michael John "Mick" Ferguson is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He spent the best years of his playing career at Coventry City...
, Ian Wallace
Ian Wallace
Ian Wallace is the name of:*D. Ian M. Wallace, ornithologist*Ian Wallace , science fiction author*Ian Wallace , pioneer of Vancouver's conceptual art movement...
, Terry Yorath
Terry Yorath
Terence Charles Yorath is a former footballer and has been a manager at both club and international level. He is also the father of television presenter Gabby Logan....
, Graham Oakey
Graham Oakey
Graham Oakey is an English former football player. Oakey made 88 league appearances for Coventry City.Born in Droitwich, Worcestershire in 1954, Graham was a product of Coventry's youth development system. He made his league debut in a home 2-2 draw against Manchester City in September 1974...
, Bobby MacDonald and the wonderful Tommy Hutchison
Tommy Hutchison
Thomas "Tommy" Hutchison is a Scottish former footballer.-Club career:Beginning his professional career with Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Second Division, being spotted by Archie McPherson...
played a brand of attacking football that swept many teams aside, often by large margins of victory. One of the most memororable games of that year came at Christmas when Norwich City visited Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
. The game reached its zenith in the final minutes when Blyth saved Jim Ryan
Jim Ryan
Jim Ryan may refer to:*Jim Ryan , former player for the Denver Broncos*Jim Ryan , president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd*Jim Ryan , former Welsh football player...
's penalty kick to help the Sky Blues to a 5-4 victory
He was also a player of Preston North End (1970–1972), Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
(1975, on loan), and Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, when he moved from Coventry City in 1982. During his spell at Birmingham he fractured his forearm in 3 places during a game against Sunderland, playing for a full 70 minutes injured. The Blues still went on to win the game 2-1.
Blyth was a coach under Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
when he was the manager at Coventry City, but departed when Strachan and assistant Garry Pendrey
Garry Pendrey
Garry James Sidney Pendrey is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender, making 345 appearances in the Football League, including more than 300 for Birmingham City...
were dismissed from their posts in 2001. During his time at Coventry he was responsible for the signing of 16 year-old Chris Kirkland
Chris Kirkland
Christopher Edmund "Chris" Kirkland is an English footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Wigan Athletic in the Premier League. He also has one cap for the England national team....
, who went on to play first team football for the Sky Blues before smashing the British transfer fee for a goalkeeper (£6 million) when bought by Liverpool in August 2001.
Blyth was the goalkeeping coach at Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, joining them in July 2005, appointed by Gordon Strachan. While Blyth was with 'the Bhoys', the club won three SPL titles, the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup twice, and qualified two seasons in a row for to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in 2006/07 and 2007/08. This run included taking AC Milan into extra time in the San Siro
San Siro
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano...
before losing to 0-1 to the eventual champions.
He and Garry Pendrey
Garry Pendrey
Garry James Sidney Pendrey is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender, making 345 appearances in the Football League, including more than 300 for Birmingham City...
left Celtic after the resignation of Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
in May 2009. He reunited with them at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in May 2010.