Jim Cruickshank


James Fergus Cruickshank was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played for Heart of Midlothian through most of the 1960s and 1970s, making nearly 400 league appearances. He had brief spells with Queen's Park at the start of his career and spent his final season with Dumbarton. Cruickshank also represented Scotland and the Scottish League.

Life and career

Cruickshank appeared 30 times in league games for the Hampden Park football club Queen's Park between 1958 and 1960.
He joined Hearts in 1960 and left the club in 1977 after 17 years of service. He made 528 appearances for the first team and turned out 394 times in league matches.
He joined Dumbarton for one season after leaving Hearts where he featured in 3 league matches before retiring from the game.
He was capped by the Scotland national football team on six occasions, and was on the losing side only once.

Death

Cruickshank died on 18 November 2010, aged 69. Former Hearts players Jim Jefferies and Craig Gordon paid tribute to Cruickshank, describing him as a "top goalie" and "undoubtedly one of the best" to play for Hearts.
On 20 November 2010 Hearts paid tribute to Cruickshank by holding a one-minute silence before their game against Hamilton Accies. Marian Kello, the then current first choice goalkeeper for Hearts, also tied a yellow goalkeeper's jersey with Cruickshank's name and number on the back to his net. During the game, Kello saved a Hamilton penalty kick. Hearts manager Jim Jefferies said after the game that "Jim Cruickshank was a great penalty saver. How fitting is it that Marian comes out with the jersey and makes a fantastic save from a penalty on the day we paid our respects to him".