- Birthdate: 18 August 1935
- Birthplace: Alva, Scotland
- Date of death: 29 August 2006
- Other clubs: Bo'ness United, Alloa Athletic, Hibernian (1954-58), Newcastle United (1961-62), Falkirk (1962-63), St. Johnstone (1963-65), Albion Rovers (1965-66)
- Signed from: Hibernian
- Signed for LFC: £11,000, 03.01.1958
- International caps: Scotland u-23
- Liverpool debut: 11.01.1958
- Last appearance: 21.01.1961
- Debut goal: 29.03.1958
- Last goal: 07.01.1961
- Contract expiry: 16.03.1961
- Win ratio: 51.43% W:54 D:22 L:29
- Games/goals ratio: 4.77
- League games / goals: 96 / 21
- Total games / goals: 105 / 22
Player Profile
A talented attacking midfielder, whose multiple array of skills at times delighted the Anfield crowd, but his inconsistency in turn irated Reds' fans. Harrower signed from Edinburgh club Hibernian in January 1958 when he was 22-years-old. Liverpool had tried to purchase him two years earlier but to no avail. He had played 12 matches in the First Division by the end of his debut season, scoring twice. He only missed five League fixtures the following season and added another six goals to his total. Bill Shankly arrived half-way through the 1959/60 season and for a while the new manager couldn't seem to decide between Harrower or Jimmy Melia for the inside-left position. But before the end of the following season, Melia was established in the side and it was clear that Harrower's future lay elsewhere. He moved on to Newcastle United in March 1961 where he only stayed ten months featuring in five League games, before returning to Scotland.
Jimmy Harrower passed away on 29 August 2006 and was fondly remembered by Liverpool fans on the forums of the The Liverpool Way and Red and White Kop:
(Hermes) - "My dad has been going to Anfield since 1946 and was watching them home and away through those days in the Second Division. He talks about his ability to look in one corner and shoot into the other with the 'keeper going the wrong way."
(Al daas) - "I can remember him as a superb dribbler of the ball and his temper... whenever he was brought down, Jimmy would always lash a handful of mud or sometimes snow at the offender, whatever the playing conditions were at time."
(mickyc1973) - "I asked my dad about him he said he was great but you didn't mess with him. One match he got taken out and Geoff Twentyman went to sort this fella out, Jimmy stopped him, and a few minutes later took the fella out himself, class. He said he was like Mad Erik Meijer, in that he'd run 20 yards to get the ball in a lost cause and if he took the opposition out, tough."
("Longtimered" on the RAWK forum.) - "Jimmy Harrower was my first favourite player - he played in one of the old inside forward position - with Jimmy Melia - another old time great - in the other one. He was a real bundle of tricks - and, I'm sure he wouldn't mind me saying, a real dirty bugger. A typical Scottish inside forward of his day. Full of tricks and flicks with a mean streak to go with it. If only he'd had a little more pace and consistency I'm sure he'd have made a longer career at Anfield. On his day though he had the crowd drooling in admiration at his skill. Favourite memory. We had a tiny youngster playing - Willie Carlin who got booted by an opponent. Jimmy ran the length of the field and planted one on him. Instant hero status!!"
Appearances per season
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
6 |
540 |
Sheffield United |
6 |
540 |
Brighton & Hove Albion |
6 |
540 |
Lincoln City |
6 |
540 |
Charlton Athletic |
5 |
450 |
Ipswich Town |
5 |
450 |
Stoke City |
5 |
450 |
Middlesbrough |
4 |
360 |
Scunthorpe United |
4 |
360 |
Bristol City |
4 |
360 |
Sunderland |
4 |
360 |
Leyton Orient |
4 |
360 |
Huddersfield Town |
4 |
360 |
Rotherham United |
4 |
360 |
Luton Town |
3 |
270 |
Fulham |
3 |
270 |
Barnsley |
3 |
270 |
Portsmouth |
3 |
270 |
Swansea City |
2 |
180 |
Cardiff City |
2 |
180 |
Derby |
2 |
180 |
Plymouth Argyle |
2 |
180 |
Hull City |
2 |
180 |
Aston Villa |
2 |
180 |
Bristol Rovers |
2 |
180 |
Grimsby Town |
2 |
180 |
Sheffield Wednesday |
2 |
180 |
Blackburn Rovers |
1 |
90 |
West Ham United |
1 |
90 |
Norwich City |
1 |
90 |
Coventry City |
1 |
90 |
Leeds United |
1 |
90 |
Southampton |
1 |
90 |
Manchester United |
1 |
90 |
Doncaster Rovers |
1 |
90 |
Worcester City |
Total |
Venue |
55 |
Home |
50 |
Away |
Goals per season
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
# |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
11.01.1958 |
Fulham |
Anfield |
League |
50 |
11.04.1959 |
Bristol Rovers |
Eastville St. |
League |
100 |
26.12.1960 |
Rotherham United |
Anfield |
League |
Milestone Goals
# |
Minute |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
86 |
29.03.1958 |
Ipswich Town |
Anfield |
League |
Related Quotes
"I remember Jimmy Harrower being egged on by the Kop when we were playing Swansea. Their goalkeeper got into a shoulder charging war with Jimmy until the red shirt stepped out of the way and the keeper thundered into the goalpost - almost knocking himself out. Harrower looked innocent and the Kop fell about laughing. Great moments in sport."
Reds supporter, Des from London, on Jimmy Harrower when remembering good times on the Kop
Scrapbook
Harrower is a ballerina - 7 February 1959
Harrower on the cover of the Evening Express on 11 January 1958
Harrower transferred to Newcastle
Harrower's hat-trick - 26 November 1960
Liverpool sign Harrower
The six Scots
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Bo'ness United |
|
Scotland |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Alloa Athletic |
|
Scotland Division 2 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Hibernian |
1955-1956 |
Scotland Division 1 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
Hibernian |
1956-1957 |
Scotland Division 1 |
12 |
6 |
12 |
6 |
Hibernian |
1957-1958 |
Scotland Division 1 |
18 |
5 |
18 |
5 |
Newcastle United |
1961-1962 |
First Division |
5 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
Falkirk |
1961-1962 |
Scotland Division 1 |
12 |
1 |
12 |
1 |
Falkirk |
1962-1963 |
Scotland Division 1 |
9 |
2 |
9 |
2 |
St. Johnstone |
1963-1964 |
Scotland Division 1 |
24 |
4 |
24 |
4 |
St. Johnstone |
1964-1965 |
Scotland Division 1 |
18 |
4 |
18 |
4 |
Albion Rovers |
1965-1966 |
Scotland Division 2 |
22 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
Total |
126 |
22 |
127 |
22 |