While he was completing his National Service at Devizes, in the Royal Army Pay Corps, Scottish schoolboy international, Jim Whittle played in two consecutive games for Southampton, at centre-forward, on loan from Hearts. Both games were away, so non-travelling Saints fans had to take the Echo’s word for it that Jim was

“an accurate passer, if a little over-deliberate with some of his play.”

For his actual debut at Swindon the Echo summarised that his play had been “very good” influenced no doubt by the fact he had made Johnny Walker’s winning goal with back-heel through pass. He had only hooked up with his new team mates at Newbury when they had stopped for lunch which was hardly ideal preparation. He duly returned to Hearts. He had joined them at 17 and they had secured an apprenticeship for him with the Glasgow accountants, Mitchell & Smith.

Jim would qualify and became a senior partner in Hardie Caldwell in Glasgow. His substantial contribution to the voluntary sector was recognised by his being appointed MBE in 1983, for his involvement with the Scottish Red Cross, and in his receiving an award from Prince Philip, in 1990, for his work with the National Playing Fields Association.

In 2014 Jimmy’s widow, Morag, answered a Cambuslang newspaper plea from a couple of Saints fans, Steve and Michael Morrison who needed Jimmy’s signature to complete their collection of post-war Saints players autographs. She arranged for his signature from one of his old passports to be sent to the grateful collectors.