Southport-born European Cup winner Jimmy Rimmer dies aged 78

Southport-born goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer, who won the European Cup with Manchester United and Aston Villa, has died aged 78.

Aston Villa said it was “deeply saddened” by Rimmer’s death and sent its thoughts to his family and friends.

Rimmer was one of the most unlucky goalkeepers in European Cup history. He collected two winners’ medals but was not on the pitch at the final whistle in either match.

He was an unused substitute when Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1 at Wembley in 1968. Fourteen years later, he started for Villa against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam but was forced off after only nine minutes with a neck injury. Nigel Spink replaced him and kept a clean sheet as Peter Withe scored Villa’s winner.

Rimmer watched the rest of the match from the dugout after receiving treatment from club doctor David Targett. He was reportedly in tears in the dressing room, but returned in time to see Withe’s goal and join the celebrations.

He was one of only five Villa players to start all nine of the club’s European Cup matches in 1981-82. He had also been one of seven ever-present players in the First Division title-winning season of 1980-81.

Born in Southport on 10 February 1948, Rimmer joined Manchester United as a schoolboy in 1963 and became a professional two years later. He spent 11 years at Old Trafford, mainly as understudy to Alex Stepney, and had a loan spell with Swansea City before joining Arsenal in 1974.

Villa manager Ron Saunders signed him in 1977 for £65,000. Rimmer quickly established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper and made 287 league and cup appearances during six seasons at Villa Park.

He returned to the team after his neck injury and played regularly during the first half of the 1982-83 campaign. His final Villa appearance came in a Second City derby just after Christmas that year.

Rimmer returned to Swansea City permanently in 1983 and later worked as a coach in Canada.

Rest in peace, Jimmy.