Jim Weir
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" McIntosh Weir (born 15 June 1969) is a Scottish
former professional footballer
who is currently the manager of Brechin City
.
in 1987. He spent six years at Douglas Park
, making close to 200 league appearances for the club, before joining Premier League
Hearts
, then under the guidance of Sandy Clark
. Weir's stay at Tynecastle was brief and he moved to St. Johnstone
within a year, signed by Paul Sturrock
in a swap deal that saw Colin Miller
move in the other direction.
He ruptured his Achilles tendon
during the final game of the 1997/98 season, which ruled him out of most of the following season. He returned to the starting line-up, as a right-back, on 4 April 1999, against Rangers
, and scored the first of Saints' three goals in a 3-1 victory. Following a knee operation, Weir was preparing to return to first-team action against Aberdeen
when he broke his nose (for the sixth time) in a training-ground collision with teammate Paddy Connolly
. After getting back into the team, he was again injured in training (a broken jaw and cheekbone) which meant he missed more of the campaign.
A serious knee injury put Weir out of action until January 2004. He managed seven appearances before being injured again, but was able to play against Newcastle
in his own testimonial
match in May., featuring as a young Newcastle side won 2-1 in front of just under 3,000 spectators.
Despite his numerous injuries, Weir, club captain for the majority of his time at St. Johnstone, made over 200 appearances for the Perth
club, and received an award when he achieved the 200 mark in August 2001. With his playing days near an end, Weir became assistant manager, firstly, to John Connolly and then Owen Coyle
.
After the resignation of John McGlashan, Weir became the manager of on 1 November 2009.. Weir failed to save Arbroath from relegation and the Lichties became the first senior side to lose a Scottish Cup tie to junior opposition. Weir then abandoned Arbroath suddenly under controversial circumstances, leaving them only 3 signed players for the new campaign. Weir joined Brechin City on 25 May 2010, taking the club to fourth and a play-off spot for the second successive season, falling short once again in the Final. Next season will be interesting as the club he left after getting them relegated, Arbroath, won the Third Division last season under the amazing guidance of Paul Sheerin. Both clubs will be facing each other again in the same division where the Arbroath fans will be looking to see their team exact revenge on the manager who abandoned them after his failure as a manager whilst in charge of them the previous year.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who is currently the manager of Brechin City
Brechin City F.C.
Brechin City Football Club is a Scottish football team based in Brechin, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and play in the Second Division in the 2010–11 season...
.
Playing career
After starting in junior football with his hometown boys club, Motherwell Orbiston, Weir signed professionally with Hamilton AcciesHamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
in 1987. He spent six years at Douglas Park
Douglas Park
Douglas Park was a football stadium in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, the home ground of Hamilton Academical FC from 1888 to 1994.The stadium holds the record for Hamilton Academical's largest ever attendance, 28,690 people against Hearts in 1937...
, making close to 200 league appearances for the club, before joining Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, then under the guidance of Sandy Clark
Sandy Clark
Alexander "Sandy" Clark is a former professional football player and currently a pundit for BBC Scotland. He was a centre forward....
. Weir's stay at Tynecastle was brief and he moved to St. Johnstone
St Johnstone F.C.
St. Johnstone F.C. is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, the club did not play its first game until February 1885. The club's home since 1989 has been McDiarmid Park....
within a year, signed by Paul Sturrock
Paul Sturrock
Paul Whitehead Sturrock is a Scottish football manager who, since July 2010, is the manager of Southend United. Until this appointment, Sturrock had most recently been at English League 1 club Plymouth Argyle in a business support role, having been relieved of his managerial duties, until he quit...
in a swap deal that saw Colin Miller
Colin Miller (footballer)
Colin Fyfe Miller is a Scottish-born Canadian professional football coach who captained the Canadian national team several times while earning 61 caps in total.-Club career:...
move in the other direction.
He ruptured his Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
during the final game of the 1997/98 season, which ruled him out of most of the following season. He returned to the starting line-up, as a right-back, on 4 April 1999, against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, and scored the first of Saints' three goals in a 3-1 victory. Following a knee operation, Weir was preparing to return to first-team action against Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
when he broke his nose (for the sixth time) in a training-ground collision with teammate Paddy Connolly
Paddy Connolly
Patrick 'Paddy' Connolly is a Scottish former footballer, who spent over twenty years with a number of Scottish clubs. Now a scout for Fulham, Connolly also recently worked in an assistant manager role for Albion Rovers...
. After getting back into the team, he was again injured in training (a broken jaw and cheekbone) which meant he missed more of the campaign.
A serious knee injury put Weir out of action until January 2004. He managed seven appearances before being injured again, but was able to play against Newcastle
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in his own testimonial
Testimonial
In promotion and of advertising, a testimonial or show consists of a written or spoken statement, sometimes from a person figure, sometimes from a private citizen, extolling the virtue of some product. The term "testimonial" most commonly applies to the sales-pitches attributed to ordinary...
match in May., featuring as a young Newcastle side won 2-1 in front of just under 3,000 spectators.
Despite his numerous injuries, Weir, club captain for the majority of his time at St. Johnstone, made over 200 appearances for the Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
club, and received an award when he achieved the 200 mark in August 2001. With his playing days near an end, Weir became assistant manager, firstly, to John Connolly and then Owen Coyle
Owen Coyle
Owen Columba Coyle is a Scottish-born Irish international former professional player and professional association football manager . He is currently the manager of Bolton Wanderers....
.
Managerial career
After thirteen years with St. Johnstone, Weir became the manager of Montrose on 8 February 2007. In his first game in charge, on 10 February, the Gable Endies lost 1-0 at Berwick Rangers. Just over a year after signing a contract extension, Weir was sacked towards the end of September 2008 with Montrose third in the league.After the resignation of John McGlashan, Weir became the manager of on 1 November 2009.. Weir failed to save Arbroath from relegation and the Lichties became the first senior side to lose a Scottish Cup tie to junior opposition. Weir then abandoned Arbroath suddenly under controversial circumstances, leaving them only 3 signed players for the new campaign. Weir joined Brechin City on 25 May 2010, taking the club to fourth and a play-off spot for the second successive season, falling short once again in the Final. Next season will be interesting as the club he left after getting them relegated, Arbroath, won the Third Division last season under the amazing guidance of Paul Sheerin. Both clubs will be facing each other again in the same division where the Arbroath fans will be looking to see their team exact revenge on the manager who abandoned them after his failure as a manager whilst in charge of them the previous year.