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Fullname: James Murdoch Lumsden
aka: Jimmy Lumsden, Jim Lumsden, James Lumsden, Wee Jimmy
Born: 7 November 1947
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: Summer 1978
Left: Retired to join coaching staff 1979
Position: Midfield
First game: Celtic 2-1 Clyde, 3 August 1978, Anglo-Scottish cup
Internationals: none
Biog
The experienced midfield player Jimmy Lumsden was Billy McNeill’s first signing in the summer of 1978, from Clydebank for £10,000. Some reports say that Billy McNeill had secured him whilst he was still manager at Aberdeen, to move to the Dons.
Signed at the age of 31, it is a given that he was signed principally to be involved in Youth Development. However when he arrived at Celtic Park he was found to be fit and keen enough to play in and with the Reserves and to add to his coaching and training skills whilst still being a playing member of the Reserves.
He made his one and only first team appearance in an Anglo Scottish Cup tie in August 1978 against Clyde at Parkhead in a 2-1 win but he was an unused substitute several times in the 1978/79 season and was constantly in the Reserve side through 1978/79.
In retrospect, in his time at Celtic, his value was not with the first team but in bringing on the young Celts in the reserves and he was helpful in bringing on such talents as Pat Bonner, Mark Reid, Jim Duffy, John Halpin and Charlie Nicholas.
He even coached a Celtic 5-a-side team utilising these precociously talented players to win the Daily Express Five-a-side Challenge Cup at Wembley in 1981, Celtic’s first trophy win at the English FA’s headquarters. For that we respect him and he likely played a very effective part in their development. They owe him for that.
Post-Celtic
Jimmy Lumsden was later promoted to the position of coach at Celtic but moved on to Leeds United to become assistant manager to Eddie Gray in 1982. He had began his career with Leeds in the mid 1960’s but never held down a place in the first team and went on to play for Morton and Clydebank with distinction.
Since then Jimmy Lumsden has managed Bristol City and Rochdale, and has coached at Preston and Everton, the last two connected with David Moyes with whom he played with and coached at Celtic.
As of July 2013, he was assisting ex-Celt Davie Moyes at Manchester United, having had the same coaching role at Everton for several seasons. He received the same fate as manager Moyes when following a string of poor results and a poor season at Manchester Utd, both Jimmy Lumsden and David Moyes were sacked in April 2014.
Playing Career
None in major matches, only one cup appearance (Anglo-Scottish Cup tie Aug 1978)
(Player added also to: “Players Who Never Played a Game A – L”)
Honours with Celtic
None