Jimmy Rimmer
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John James "Jimmy" Rimmer (born February 10, 1948) is an English former football goalkeeper.
Born in Southport, Lancashire, Rimmer joined Manchester United as a schoolboy in 1963, turning professional two years later. He spent eleven years at Old Trafford, chiefly as Alex Stepney's understudy — he was on bench in the 1968 European Cup final. With Stepney prevalent between the sticks, Rimmer only played 46 times for United in total. In October 1973 he was loaned to Swansea City. With the Swans he impressed as first-team goalkeeper, enough so that Arsenal signed him from United in February 1974, eyeing him as a long-term replacement for Bob Wilson.
Rimmer made only one appearance in 1973-74 (keeping a clean sheet on his debut against Liverpool). After Wilson announced his retirement at the end of that season, Rimmer became Arsenal's No. 1 for the next three seasons, and was a near ever-present for the Gunners. During his time at Arsenal he also won his one and only England cap, although it was not an auspicious match — against Italy in a friendly, Rimmer let two goals in and was substituted at half-time; England went on to recover and win 3-2.
After Tottenham Hotspur manager Terry Neill took over at Arsenal, he signed Pat Jennings from his old club and Rimmer was duly sold to Aston Villa. In all he played 146 games for Arsenal. At Villa, Rimmer was No. 1 for the next six seasons, winning a First Division winners' medal in 1981. The following year Villa reached the European Cup final, but Rimmer was injured after only nine minutes and had to be replaced by the young Nigel Spink. Villa nevertheless beat Bayern Munich 1-0, meaning Rimmer is the only English player to have won a European Cup winners' medal at two different clubs, despite the fact that he only ever played for nine minutes in the two matches.
Rimmer left Villa in 1983 to rejoin old club Swansea City. After retiring from playing, he became Swansea's goalkeeping coach, before spending several years in China, to work as goalkeeping coach for the Chinese national team and Dalian Shide. He now coaches in Canada.
Rimmer has three children Kelly(1973) Katie(1977) and David(1980). He is also a grandad to Theo(2006).
