The Herald

Appeal is launched for Jinky memorial

ALISON CHIESA and STEWART PATERSON

15 December 2007

The memorial is expected to be in bronze and surrounded by lights and a flower garden. It will be sited at his former school, St Columba's, which is now occupied by a housing development. Passers-by will be able to see the statue from Old Edinburgh Road, the area's main street.

Johnstone died in March, 2006 after a long battle with motor neurone disease. He was 61.

He was widely regarded as one of the most talented footballers Scotland has ever produced, while Celtic fans voted him the greatest player in the club's history.

The appeal for the memorial, estimated at around £80,000, was launched at Thorniewood Juniors social club in Viewpark, where Jinky trained. The club is also just yards from his childhood home.

His widow, Agnes, 60, who was at the launch, said of the player, who stood no taller than 5ft 4in: "He would have been delighted to have the statue at the site of his old school. It's also nice to have the launch here at the club. He trained here over the years.

"Many times he would have to climb on to my shoulders to get on to the wall and fence outside, where he would walk to try to improve his balance."

Viewpark-born Jim McCabe, 67, leader of North Lanarkshire Council, was a lifelong friend. He said there had already been a lot of interest in donating to the appeal, which will also include fundraising dinners and other events.

"Jimmy is the town's most famous son and he crossed the Celtic-Rangers divide," he said. "He was born and raised here and people are very happy to have a statue to him. It is only right that he should be commemorated."

The red-haired winger made 515 appearances for the club, and scored 129 goals. On the international front, he was awarded 23 caps by Scotland.

Donations to the fund can be made through the Clydesdale Bank, sort code: 82-70-03, account number: 20178953. For anyone overseas wishing to donate, the IBAN number is: GB95Clyd 827003 20178953.

Roll of honour

A statue to Rangers and Scotland winger Davie Cooper, who died aged 39, in 1995, was erected by South Lanarkshire Council in Hamilton.

Rangers and Scotland legend Jim Baxter has a statue in his home town of Hill O' Beath in Fife. He died after a long battle against cancer in 2001.

Rangers have immortalised John Greig in bronze outside Ibrox. After a 17-year career at the club, Greig was awarded an MBE in 1977 and went on to manage Rangers between 1978-83.

Billy Bremner, midfielder for Scotland and Leeds, has a statue at the Yorkshire club's Elland Road ground. Ten years ago, a heart attack ended Bremner's life just two days before his 55th birthday.

Bobby Moore, who lifted the World Cup for England in 1966, was celebrated earlier this year with the unveiling of a bronze statue at the new Wembley Stadium

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