Transfer fee enables Clach to buy Grant Street Park

Transfer fee enables Clach to buy Grant Street Park

ID: PC_INVFOOT_CORBETT_W_001 DESCRIPTION: A very contented George B Rodgers, manager of Clachnacuddin FC, with the two young players he sold to Rangers in 1938 for a fee of £650. With the proceeds for Jim Baxter and Roddy Munro, Clach were able to purchase Grant Street Park, which they had previously leased from Inverness Town Council. It was another shrewd bit of business conducted by Mr Rodgers, the Grand Old Man of Highland League Football, who served Clach for 50 years after signing from Chelsea in 1932. In Clach’s centenary book, the Lilywhites, published in 1986, author Rod Clyne describes Jim Baxter as the club’s greatest captain, winning more than 20 medals during his 16 years with the club. Jim Baxter was born 100 yards from Grant Street Park and made his debut for Clach in 1938, aged 16. He made an instant impact by playing in the team which won the Scottish Qualifying Cup by defeating Babcox and Wilcox 5-3 at Kingsmills. His performances as a striker did not go unnoticed and he and teammate Roddy Munro were snapped up by Rangers. Jim is reported as saying: “I enjoyed my time at Ibrox, playing and meeting the great players of the period. Rangers, at that time, along with Arsenal, were looked upon as the two greatest clubs in the world of football.” His time at Ibrox was short lived as World War 2 broke out in 1939. Jim joined the RAF’s Fleet Air Arm and during his war service guested for a number of teams including Chelsea, Ayr United and Oxford United. After the war, Jim returned to Inverness to play for Clach and he skippered the side for many years, switching from centre forward to left half. The highlight of a glittering career that continued until 1953/54, was leading Clach to the Clean Sweep in 1947-48. Rod Clyne wrote of Jim: “As a captain, he led by example. When things were down, he pushed up. If a player required protection, he saw he got it. A strong forceful player, he was seldom in trouble with referees. No one argued with him. It was difficult looking up into a giant of a man and be aggressive at the same time. Jim was a true Clacher, marvellous player and sportsman, and a great captain.” PLACENAME: Inverness OLD COUNTY/PARISH: INVERNESS: Inverness and Bona DATE OF IMAGE: 1938 PERIOD: 1930s SOURCE: Billy Corbett COLLECTION: Inverness Football Memories - photographs Asset ID: 51066 KEYWORDS: