Jim McNichol

James Anthony McNichol (born 9 June 1958) is a Scottish former professional footballer who is most noted for his career at Torquay United and Exeter City. He was capped by Scotland at U21 level.[2]

Jim McNichol
Personal information
Full name James Anthony McNichol[1]
Date of birth (1958-06-09) 9 June 1958
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Central defender
Youth career
0000–1976 Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1978 Luton Town 15 (0)
1978–1984 Brentford 155 (22)
1984–1986 Exeter City 87 (10)
1986–1989 Torquay United 124 (13)
1989–1991 Exeter City 42 (8)
1991–1992 Torquay United 2 (0)
Torrington
Total 425 (53)
National team
1978–1980 Scotland U21 7 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

An apprentice at Ipswich Town, McNichol joined Luton Town in July 1976.[1] He later played for Brentford (his transfer setting a new club record incoming fee of £33,000),[3] before moving on to Exeter City.[1] In July 1986 he joined Torquay United.[1] On 9 May 1987 Torquay were heading out of the Football League, 2–0, down to Crewe Alexandra at half-time on the last game of the season, they needed two more goals to ensure survival—McNichol, Paul Dobson and a German shepherd called Bryn saved the day for Torquay.[4] McNichol scored from a free-kick, then in the dying moments ran to the corner flag to whip in a cross, little realizing his run would confuse the police dog into thinking he was about to attack his handler.[4] The dog bit McNichol on the leg and the player had to be treated; during the minutes added on due to the injury, Dobson scored and Lincoln City were the ones to lose their league status on goal difference.[4] The story of McNichol's injury was featured in the Netflix documentary series Losers.[5]

McNichol was appointed captain and led the club to the Football League Trophy final in 1989, before returning to Exeter in August 1989.[1] He helped City take the Football League Fourth Division title in 1989–90, before he made the switch from Exeter to Torquay a second time in July 1991.[1] After leaving the Gulls he later played for Torrington. An ankle ligament injury ended his career.[6]

Personal life

After his retirement from football, McNichol settled in Exeter and became a publican, operating The Exeter Inn in Ashburton.[7]

Honours

References
  1. "Jim McNichol". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  2. "Scotland U21 Player James McNichol Details". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  3. Brentford Football Club Official Matchday Magazine versus Hull City 07/05/05. 2005. p. 46.
  4. McNichol, Jim (9 May 2009). "9 May 1987: Dog saves Torquay from relegation". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  5. "BBC Scotland - BBC Scotland - The dog bite that saved a football club and inspired a Netflix series". BBC. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  6. "Brentford | News | Where Are They Now? | Where Are They Now? | WHERE ARE THEY NOW?". brentfordfc.co.uk. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  7. "Brentford | News | Where Are They Now? | Where Are They Now? | WHERE ARE THEY NOW?". brentfordfc.co.uk. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  8. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the 70s. Legends Publishing. p. 295. ISBN 978-1906796709.
  • Jim McNichol at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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