Stewart Imlach

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James John Stewart Imlach (born 6 January 1932, in Lossiemouth - died 2001) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a left-winger for numerous clubs in England. He is best known today as the subject of a biography by his son Gary Imlach named My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes.

Imlach started his career with several local clubs in his hometown before moving south at the age of 20 when Bury paid Lossiemouth £150 for his services in 1952. Two years later he joined Derby County in a player-exchange deal before joining Nottingham Forest for £5,000 in 1955. He was part of the City Ground club's 1959 FA Cup winning squad before a move to the vanquished opponents that day, Luton Town, for £8,000 in 1960. He wound down his career with short spells at Coventry City (1960-62), Crystal Palace (1962-64), Dover (1964-65), Chelmsford City (1965-66) and Crystal Palace again (1966-67).

When Imlach stopped playing he became a trainer and spent the next 12 years coaching at Notts County, Everton, Blackpool and Bury. His time with Everton was the longest spell, Imlach acting as first assistant trainer then first team trainer for the Toffees between 1969 and 1976.

[edit] Cap controversy

Imlach made four appearances for the Scottish national side in 1958, against Hungary, Poland, Yugoslavia and France, the latter two games taking place at the 1958 FIFA World Cup finals in Sweden. However, prior to the 1970s, caps were only issued to those who appeared in matches against the other home countries, so Imlach never received a cap.

In 2005, Imlach's son Gary was at the forefront of a popular campaign to have Imlach and others, such as Eddie Turnbull, retrospectively awarded caps. After concerted public pressure, the Scottish Football Association bowed to the popular will in 2006 and officially capped all players affected by the previous rule.

[edit] References

Imlach, Gary (2005). My Father And Other Working Class Heroes (Hardcover), Yellow Jersey Press (Random House). ISBN 0-224-07267-6.

[edit] External links

v • d • e Scotland squad - 1958 FIFA World Cup

1 Younger • 2 Brown • 3 Parker • 4 Caldow • 5 Hewie • 6 Haddock • 7 McColl • 8 Turnbull • 9 Evans • 10 Docherty • 11 Mackay • 12 Cowie • 13 Baird • 14 Leggat • 15 Scott • 16 Murray • 17 Mudie • 18 Coyle • 19 Collins • 20 Robertson • 21 Imlach • 22 Fernie • Coach: Walker