Jim Rollo Explained

Jim Rollo
Fullname:James Shepherd Rollo
Birth Date:16 November 1937
Birth Place:Helmsdale, Scotland
Death Place:Perth, Scotland
Years1:1955–1957
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:1957–1960
Clubs2:Poole Town
Years3:1960–1963
Clubs3:Oldham Athletic
Caps3:59
Goals3:0
Years4:1963–1964
Clubs4:Southport
Caps4:38
Goals4:0
Years5:1964–1966
Clubs5:Bradford City
Caps5:37
Goals5:0
Years6:1966–1968
Clubs6:Scarborough
Totalcaps:136
Totalgoals:0

James Shepherd Rollo (16 November 1937 – 13 October 2012)[1] was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Scottish Football League and the Football League.

He was born less than 50 miles from John O'Groats, but moved with his family to Perth. Rollo started his senior career with Hibernian as an understudy to Tommy Younger.[2] He made two league appearances for Hibs, but left the club after a contractual dispute. Rollo was a baker and confectioner by trade and wanted to continue that, but Hibs wanted him to become a full-time professional footballer.

Rollo continued his career in England. He signed for Oldham Athletic, but his time at Boundary Park was hampered by the fierce competition with John Hardie and Johnny Bollands. Rollo was a competent goalkeeper, whose strengths were dealing with high shots and crosses. He spent the 1962–63 season mainly in the Oldham reserve team and only made 10 appearances in the promotion winning side. He then moved to Southport, Bradford City and Scarborough.

After retiring as a football player, Rollo moved to Blairgowrie. An accident involving a fork lift truck meant that he had his right leg amputated in 1989. He fully recovered and worked as a scout for Liverpool, mainly covering Highland Football League matches. Rollo died in October 2012, having suffered from cancer for a lengthy period.[3] [4]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.bmdsonline.co.uk/perthshire-advertiser/obituary/rollo-james-shepherd/20370945?s_source=tmsc_pe ROLLO James Shepherd Obituary
  2. Web site: Jim Rollo . hibernianfc.co.uk . Hibernian FC . 15 October 2012 . 19 October 2012 . 24 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224095701/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20121015/jim-rollo_2262950_2949419 . dead .
  3. Web site: James Rollo – 1937-2012. 18 October 2012. Bradford City A.F.C..
  4. Web site: Jim Rollo loses cancer battle. 16 October 2012 . 19 October 2012. Oldham Athletic A.F.C..