Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Scratchins on May 22, 2026, 02:20:31 PM
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Jim has been interviewed for the Telegraph but it has been put behind a paywall. I have been asked by a close friend of his if I could find it and send a copy. I am reluctant to sign up to the Telegraph. Can anyone help please?
Jim is a fascinating man, the only one to win trophies in both cricket and football in the same calendar year, hosted a show on Radio WM, became Chief Executive of Lancs cricket, conceded just 5 goals in one season and an all round good egg.
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https://archive.ph/WaxcK
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That's brilliant. Thank you, I've passed it on.
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Happy to help!
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Shame, the Cumbes thread has cumbes and gone too soon.
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We got knocked out of the Cup in the 1st round at 4th division Southend, Tommy Hughes had a stinker in goal.
A week later it was back to 3rd division league action at Oldham and Jim Cumbes making his debut. Don't remember him having much to do, we won 6-0.
He could reach the halfway line with ease throwing the ball. I can't remember who it was against but a match at VP he kicked the ball upfield towards the Witton, it took one bounce on the edge of the area and was then latched onto in the back of the net.
The only time he upset me was a game at Orient. We were 3-0 down and he collected the ball from behind the nets for a goalkick and was smiling. No doubt having a joke with someone in the crowd. Then again, he has always had a ready smile.
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Worcester won the championship in 1974 so were reigning champions when we won the League Cup. That's his unique achievement. Jim is also the most dangerous interviewee I've ever done; he's so funny I was sore from laughing.
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I was thinking on Wednesday night as I trudged my way back up the hill in the rain about previous finals. 1975 was my first Wembley and final experience with JC an integral part of the team. We sang loudly as we left the old Wembley “We’ll be running round the Bullring with the cup”. Sadly, we don’t sing it anymore and instead are forced into the generic “Free from Desire” which I have to admit, everyone joins in with wholeheartedly.
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After the game in Antwerp, we stumbled into a bar in downtown
At the bar was, Sammy Morgan, Jimmy Cumbes, Leighton Phillips and a couple of others whose names escape me.
Sammy Morgan was holding court, he said, or words close to it, " i have fucked up most goal keepers in the first division and if Jimmy plays like that again i am going to fuck him up too"
Jimmy had a poor game that night
Also had a stinker at the Albion, but a great guy
Not sure if it was before or or after the Arsenal game in which Sammy and the Holte End destroyed Bob Wilson.
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Royal Antwerp away was Jims last game. Jake Findlay came in until we signed John Burridge.
The Bob Wilson game was about 18 months before.
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So Jimmy did not play in the return game.
Have to dig out my programme
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Always liked JC. I don't think I have known a game where the crowd's hatred towards one player was as palpable as that night against Arsenal after that cheating shit Wilson got Sammy Morgan sent off at Highbury. We were never going to lose that replay.
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That night lives in my memory
Such an injustice for Sammy getting sent off in the 1st game at Highbury
Back to Villa Park for the replay
Villa came out early before the kick off, went down to the Witton end to warm up.
Arsenal had to go to the Holte end
The whole ground roared , " Wilson wants an Oscar"
Villa kicked into the Holte first ( I think) Wilson shit himself and Sammy scored
Up in my top Atmospheres at Villa Park
In fairness I always enjoyed Wilson as a pundit later and he only ever seemed to have good things to say about the Villa
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So Jimmy did not play in the return game.
Have to dig out my programme
https://www.11v11.com/matches/royal-antwerp-v-aston-villa-17-september-1975-217559/
https://www.11v11.com/matches/aston-villa-v-royal-antwerp-01-october-1975-217563/
The away programme (our first ever game in Europe), large size made from cheap non glossy paper with something looking like a red and white owl on the front cover, is becoming a bit of a collectors item. I think I picked up about half a dozen of them. :)
Bob Wilson is by all accounts one of the nicest guys in football. Useless Wilson gossip/trivia... his great niece was the woman caught on camera involved in a bit of hanky panky with Matt Hancock.
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I was thinking on Wednesday night as I trudged my way back up the hill in the rain about previous finals. 1975 was my first Wembley and final experience with JC an integral part of the team. We sang loudly as we left the old Wembley “We’ll be running round the Bullring with the cup”. Sadly, we don’t sing it anymore and instead are forced into the generic “Free from Desire” which I have to admit, everyone joins in with wholeheartedly.
If it helps cheer you up somebody started a chorus of we’ll be running round the Bull Ring in the streets off Taksim and Istaklal as daylight was breaking on Thursday. Around 10-15 of us were singing it.
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So Jimmy did not play in the return game.
Have to dig out my programme
the "programme" was a single A4 sheet of paper printed in black and white with a picture of their double winning side on it. I've still got it. Bob Wilson got some fearful abuse but a few years later he lost his daughter to cancer and I've got to admit I did really feel for him.
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In 1975 the Harlem Globetrotters were doing a UK tour and as a one off special, a basketball game was organised against a team of goalkeepers. JC was there with Ray Clemence, Phil Parkes, Bob Wilson and others. I think it was shown on the BBC. I remember it anyway so it happened.