Herriot, Goalkeeper Who Gave Name To Tv Vet, Dies At 85

Jim Herriot, nan Scotland goalkeeper who gave his sanction to nan characteristic successful nan books and TV show All Creatures Great and Small, has died astatine nan property of 85.

As a practising vet, writer Alf Wright needed a pen sanction to comply pinch master rules banning advertizing and chose James Herriot aft seeing nan goalkeeper play for Birmingham City successful a televised lucifer against Manchester United.

After he starred successful nan 2-2 tie pinch nan star-studded Red Devils, rival winger George Best had said: "Jim Herriot was safer than nan Bank of England."

Herriot, who was capped 8 times and besides played for Dunfermline Athletic, Hibernian, St Mirren, Partick Thistle, Greenock Morton, Durban City and Mansfield Town, besides became celebrated for adopting nan American Football method of applying footwear polish nether and astir his eyes to trim nan effects of glare from nan sun.

North Lanarkshire born, he started his profession pinch Dunfermline, playing successful high-profile European ties against Valencia and Athletic Bilbao for Jock Stein's broadside and reaching nan 1965 Scottish Cup final.

After nan Hampden conclusion by Celtic, he was sold to Birmingham and it was during his six years location that he earned each his Scotland caps nether head Bobby Brown.

Having fallen retired of favour, he had indebtedness spells pinch Mansfield Town and Aston Villa earlier a little spell pinch Durban successful South Africa.

However, he returned to Scotland to subordinate Hibs successful 1971, kept a cleanable expanse arsenic they famously hit Heart of Midlothian 7-0 connected New Year's Day astatine Tynecastle successful 1973 and later that play earned a Scottish League Cup winners' badge aft a 2-1 triumph complete Celtic.

Herriot besides won nan Drybrough Cup connected 2 occasions, some times against Celtic.

He near for St Mirren successful 1973, moved to Partick Thistle 2 years later, had a spell connected indebtedness to Morton earlier returning to Dunfermline successful 1976, past joined Morton permanently for nan 1976–77 season, astatine nan extremity of which he retired.

Hibs will honour Herriot's representation by wearing achromatic armbands against Aberdeen connected Saturday - and their location crippled to travel against Dundee United.