Jim Storrie

[garrellburn]

It is with great sadness that we hear of the death at age 74 of former Kilsyth Rangers player, Jim Storrie.

He had been receiving treatment for cancer and died yesterday, 13th November.

He had a long, and very successfull career in senior football, both in Scotland and England, and it began in 1957 when Kilsyth Rangers signed a pair of promising 17 year olds from a Kirkintilloch juvenile team, Kelviside Thistle. Their names were Jim Storrie and Billy Wallace. Kilsyth had enjoyed a period of great success during the 1950's but the team was ageing and an infusion of new, young talent was needed.

Within a few weeks they were the regular right wing pairing to the great Alex Querrie at centre forward. They were both scoring regularly as well as providing Querrie with many great opportunities. However an early exit from the Scottish junior cup at the hands of Arniston Rangers meant that Kilsyth were unlikely to be able to hold onto such talents for very long. Wallace departed to the senior ranks shortly after the new year, although Storrie remained at Kilsyth for a few more months before he also went senior with Airdrieonians.

He quickly made his name, scoring 48 times before a transfer to Leeds United for £15650, a large fee in that era.

To say he became a legend at Leeds would not be an understatement, he scored 67 times including a goal in the 1965 FA cup final in which unfortunately Liverpool came out on top.

There followed spells at Portsmouth, Rotherham and Aldershot, where he always grabbed more than a few goals. returning to Scotland towards the end of his playing career he had a spell with Aberdeen, scoring their first ever away goal in European football, and finally with St Mirren. There followed a spell as manager at Havant and Waterlooville in English non-league football, and then two years as manager at St Johnstone. After his final retirement from the game he settled back in Kilsyth and worked in local sports centres. He maintained a connection with football though, in coaching local Amatuer teams.

Billy Wallace, Jim Storrie and Alex Querrie, not to mention Gibby Ormond on the left wing, will we ever see such a rare combination of talent in one team gracing the junior game again?

Highly unlikely, the game has changed such that young players of their talent will never appear in the juniors ever again. It was a privilege however to have seen them in the past.

[wingnut]

Thoughts with the family at this sad time,my son Darren (17) passed away through illness last year on the 13th Nov......R.I.P....Jim Storrie.

[Mr Prez]

Sorry to hear this John

[PRICEY]

Really gutted to hear this.About six months ago ,a mutual friend from Kilsyth asked me about him.I knew a wee bit,but also did a bit of research into Jims career.Most on this forum will be familiar with Don Revies Leeds side,Jim played a huge part in it.For long enough my friend tried to arrange for me to visit Jim but as Garrell says he didnt keep good health in recent times,though Im told his face lit up when you spoke to him about football. Genuinely saddened .RIP Jim

[tinto]

By coincidence I seen Jim Storrie play on both sides of the border. He played for Airdrieonians against Rangers and from memory Rangers won easily. However I seem to remember him as being Airdrie's best player.

Some years later in 1973 we moved to Basingstoke. The very first match I watched the home side was against Waterlooville and Jim Storrie scored both goals in a 2-1 win for Waterlooville. Although towards the end of his career he was still a very good player and a natural goalscorer.

I imagine there will be countless people who remember him from the period.

RIP

Tinto

[alfie2]

sad to hear of jims passing condolences to the family from all at rob roy f c many a time I played against jim when they played with kelvinside thistle when I played with rob roy juves great talented players.i believe willie is resident in austrailia great memories