Jimmy Carabine Cigarette Card
James Carabine (23 November 1911 – 1987) was a Scottish footballer, who played as a right back. Born in Baird’s Rows in Blantyre a few years before WW1.
As a youth jimmy played with Blantyre Saint Joseph’s Boys Guild and then junior football with larkhall Thistle before signing for Thurd Lanark. In the club game Carabine was most closely associated with Third Lanark A.C., serving the club as a player from 1934 to 1945 and then as manager from 1946 to 1949. In all he made 216 appearances and scored 10 goals for the club.
As an international Carabine represented Scotland in three official matches, appearing against the Netherlands (21 May 1938), Ireland (8 October 1938) and England (15 April 1939). He also featured in two unofficial games against Eastern USA and the American Soccer League (in which he scored a hat-trick) and nine equally unofficial wartime internationals, all against England, his last being an 8-0 defeat on 16 October 1943.
During the Second World War he guested for Heart of Midlothian FC. After his playing days were over, he was appointed manager of his beloved Third Lanark from 1946 until 1949.
After he retired from football he worked as sports writer for the Daily Express in Glasgow.
Jimmy told a story of being married on a Saturday morning then dashing to Cathkin Park to play a match. He took his bride with him and she sat in the stand. Just after half time Jimmy was ordered off, and about 20 minutes later his wife, who knew nothing about football indignantly enquired, “When is Jimmy coming back on?”
He lived in High Burnside until his death in 1987.
With thanks to Allan Rooney for exclusively sharing this photo of Jimmy to Blantyre Project
