Jim Hermiston
Encyclopedia
James 'Jim' Hermiston is a former professional footballer and police officer. He played for Aberdeen
in Scotland and a number of clubs in Australia
– he most notably won the 1970 Scottish Cup
with Aberdeen
, and was inducted into the Aberdeen FC "Hall of Fame" as one of the founding members in 2003. He also served with the police forces in the north of Scotland and Queensland
.
, and was signed for Aberdeen by Eddie Turnbull
in 1965. He made his debut for Aberdeen the following year, and went on to play 270 times for the club in all competitions. He was a member of the 1969–70 Scottish Cup
winning team, and was captain of the side toward the end of his time there.
Hermiston was overlooked for the Scotland squad
for the 1974 World Cup
, and this led him to seek a move to England. However, a proposed transfer to Chelsea
failed to materialise, and Hermiston decided to retire from the game at the age of 27 to join Grampian Police
as a Police Constable. It is possible that as a PC, his duties may have included policing matches at Aberdeen's ground, Pittodrie Stadium
, but it is not clear whether he ever actually did so.
Hermiston and his family emigrated to Australia shortly afterwards, and he resumed his football career there, playing for Grange Thistle, then Brisbane City and Brisbane Lions before returning to police work after a brief spell as manager of Brisbane City.
Hermiston was a popular player in Australia, to the extent of having a children's coaching manual published under his name. He was twice in Philips Cup winning teams, and was even considered as a potential captain of the Australian team
. However, this did not come to pass thanks to Hermiston having played part of a game for the Scottish Under-23 side in the early 1970s – the international rules at the time forbidding a player who had represented one country at any level from representing another. He also played one game for the Scottish League representative side, a 5–0 defeat by the English League team at Maine Road
, Manchester on 20 March 1974.
, and served with that force until his retirement in 2003. In 1999, he was presented with a bravery award after intervening in a bank robbery while off duty.
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
in Scotland and a number of clubs in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
– he most notably won the 1970 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
with Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
, and was inducted into the Aberdeen FC "Hall of Fame" as one of the founding members in 2003. He also served with the police forces in the north of Scotland and Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
Football career
Hermiston began his career as a teenager with Bonnyrigg RoseBonnyrigg Rose Athletic F.C.
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic F.C. are a Scottish junior football club from the town of Bonnyrigg, Midlothian. Formed in 1890 and nicknamed the Rose, they play in the Scottish Junior Football Association's East Region Super League, in which they finished as runners-up in the 2006–07 season, and...
, and was signed for Aberdeen by Eddie Turnbull
Eddie Turnbull
Edward Hunter Turnbull was a Scottish professional football player and manager.During the late 1940s and 1950s he was one of the Famous Five, the noted Hibernian forward line, along with Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, and Willie Ormond...
in 1965. He made his debut for Aberdeen the following year, and went on to play 270 times for the club in all competitions. He was a member of the 1969–70 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup 1969-70
The 1969–70 Scottish Cup was the 85th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Aberdeen who defeated Celtic in the final.-Preliminary round 1:-Preliminary round 2:-Replays:-First round:...
winning team, and was captain of the side toward the end of his time there.
Hermiston was overlooked for the Scotland squad
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...
for the 1974 World Cup
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
, and this led him to seek a move to England. However, a proposed transfer to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
failed to materialise, and Hermiston decided to retire from the game at the age of 27 to join Grampian Police
Grampian Police
Grampian Police is the territorial police force of the northeast region of Scotland, covering the council areas of Aberdeenshire, the City of Aberdeen, and Moray . The Force area also covers some of the North Sea, giving Grampian Police the responsibility of policing the oil and gas platforms of...
as a Police Constable. It is possible that as a PC, his duties may have included policing matches at Aberdeen's ground, Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Stadium is an all-seated football stadium situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. It was first used in 1899 and from 1903 has been the home of Aberdeen Football Club...
, but it is not clear whether he ever actually did so.
Hermiston and his family emigrated to Australia shortly afterwards, and he resumed his football career there, playing for Grange Thistle, then Brisbane City and Brisbane Lions before returning to police work after a brief spell as manager of Brisbane City.
Hermiston was a popular player in Australia, to the extent of having a children's coaching manual published under his name. He was twice in Philips Cup winning teams, and was even considered as a potential captain of the Australian team
Australia national football (soccer) team
The Australia national association football team represents Australia in international association football competitions. Its official nickname is the "Socceroos"...
. However, this did not come to pass thanks to Hermiston having played part of a game for the Scottish Under-23 side in the early 1970s – the international rules at the time forbidding a player who had represented one country at any level from representing another. He also played one game for the Scottish League representative side, a 5–0 defeat by the English League team at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
, Manchester on 20 March 1974.
Police career
After emigrating to Australia, Hermiston joined the Queensland PoliceQueensland Police
The Queensland Police Service is the law enforcement agency responsible for policing the Australian state of Queensland. In 1990, the Queensland Police Force was officially renamed the Queensland Police Service and the old motto of "Firmness with Courtesy" was changed to "With Honour We Serve"...
, and served with that force until his retirement in 2003. In 1999, he was presented with a bravery award after intervening in a bank robbery while off duty.