John James Rimmer, born Southport, England, February 10, 1948. A Sandgrounder by birth, Jimmy Rimmer signed on as an apprentice with FA Cup holders Manchester United in September 1963 at the age of 15, and went on to sign his first professional contract with the Old Trafford club in May 1965.
Jimmy Rimmer was given his First Division debut by Matt Busby in a 3-0 win over bottom-of-the table Fulham in front of a 60,000 crowd at Old Trafford on the 15th of April 1968, but he only managed to play in 34 Football League matches for the club before he was loaned out to Fourth Division side Swansea City in October 1973. While at Vetch Field, Rimmer recaptured his previous good form and the often underrated shot stopper left Tommy Docherty´s relegation struggling Manchester United team the following campaign when he received a new lease of life by shrewd Arsenal boss Bertie Mee who brought him to the marble halls of Highbury Stadium for a bargain transfer fee of £40,000 during the winter of 1974. A doughty and dependable netminder, Rimmer quickly settled down and he would enjoy something of a renaissance in North London. The former Manchester United deputy goalkeeper became a real favourite with the Arsenal fans and went on to make 124 First Division appearances for The Gunners before new manager Terry Neill sold him to ambitious Aston Villa whom he helped win the Football League Championship title in 1981, and the coveted European Cup the following year. He finally left the Birmingham side at the end of the 1982-83 season when he decided to join forces with former team Swansea City where he gave sterling service until 1986. He then moved on to Maltese Premier League club Hamrun Spartans before finishing his playing days at First Division outfit Luton Town. An international for England, Rimmer´s eye-catching reflexes earned him a senior cap in a 3-2 friendly fixture triumph over Italy at the Yankee Stadium in New York City on the 28th of May 1976. Jimmy Rimmer Playing Career: Manchester United, Swansea City, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Swansea City, Hamrun Spartans, Luton Town.