Jimmy Hernon
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Hernon was a Scottish
footballer who played as a winger for four teams in the English Football League
in the immediate post-WWII
years.
Born in Cleland
, Hernon was spotted by a Leicester City
scout in 1942, and signed for the Foxes shortly afterwards. He made his debut in a wartime match against Crystal Palace
. In 1943, he was called into service and served in the Royal Artillery
and saw action in France, Belgium and Germany.
At the end of the war, Hernon resumed his football career at Leicester, and in 1948, he was sold to Bolton Wanderers
for a £16,000 transfer fee – which was Britain's second-highest transfer fee at the time. Hernon spent three years at Burnden Park, before being signed by Grimsby Town
manager Bill Shankly
in 1951 for a £2,500 transfer fee.
In 1954, after three years at Grimsby, Hernon moved to Watford
, where he spent two seasons before a knee injury forced him to retire from the professional game. He later resumed his career at non-league Hastings United, before injuries forced him to quit the game for good in 1957.
After retiring from football, Hernon settled in Hastings
, and went on to become a salesman, chauffeur and school caretaker. He died on 7 March 2009, aged 84.
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...
footballer who played as a winger for four teams in the English Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in the immediate post-WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years.
Born in Cleland
Cleland, North Lanarkshire
Cleland is a small village near Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland - see . The two nearest towns are Wishaw and Motherwell. The village has a strong mining heritage and is a typical example of a working class village in North Lanarkshire and the Glasgow area...
, Hernon was spotted by a Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
scout in 1942, and signed for the Foxes shortly afterwards. He made his debut in a wartime match against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
. In 1943, he was called into service and served in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
and saw action in France, Belgium and Germany.
At the end of the war, Hernon resumed his football career at Leicester, and in 1948, he was sold to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
for a £16,000 transfer fee – which was Britain's second-highest transfer fee at the time. Hernon spent three years at Burnden Park, before being signed by Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
manager Bill Shankly
Bill Shankly
William "Bill" Shankly, OBE was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Liverpool between 1959 and 1974. One of Britain's most successful and respected football managers, Shankly was also a fine player whose career was interrupted by the Second World War...
in 1951 for a £2,500 transfer fee.
In 1954, after three years at Grimsby, Hernon moved to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, where he spent two seasons before a knee injury forced him to retire from the professional game. He later resumed his career at non-league Hastings United, before injuries forced him to quit the game for good in 1957.
After retiring from football, Hernon settled in Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, and went on to become a salesman, chauffeur and school caretaker. He died on 7 March 2009, aged 84.