Jimmy Sirrel 1922-2008

One way of making money during the 1920s was to buy stocks and shares.

Prices of these stocks and shares constantly went up and so investors kept them for a short-term period, and then sold them at a good profit.

And then in October 1929, ‘Stock prices virtually collapsed yesterday, swept downward with gigantic losses in the most disastrous trading day in the stock market's history. Billions of dollars in open market values were wiped out as prices crumbled under the pressure of liquidation of securities which had to be sold at any price.’

Nearly eighty years on and it is so reassuring to have Gordon in command. His calling for us all to join together to fight the ‘credit crunch’ an inspiration. And with 10 years of Treasury experience wrapped up in his dress suit, and aired annually at the Mansion House, Gordon knew that the Investment Bankers could be trusted with our money. He knew that they would always put our interests ahead of their Polo Ponies….that the yacht in the Med was no more than an essential office overhead.

‘Your dynamism allied to the City's openness has led London to innovate: the most modern instruments of finance, an ability to compete that depends upon an open competition policy which rewards and is a stimulus to innovation and which does not restrict new entry and so helps new companies, new products and new services to come into the marketplace.’ Gordon Brown, 21st June 2006.

But now Gordon says it is a good time to look closely at the way our financial markets are run…..and Gordon has brought Peter Mandelson back…..have I missed something?

Jimmy Sirrel was born in Glasgow seven years before the Wall Street Crash. He died 86 years later a ‘Legend’.


His playing career no more than a supporting role at Celtic, Bradford Park Avenue, Brighton and finally Aldershot, where he made 32 appearances between 1954 and 1956.

After a brief period in charge of Brentford, Jimmy joined Notts County in November 1969, taking them on a magical journey from Division 4 to the top flight.

When news of his death flashed across my computer screen last week, I went off in search of Jimmy Sirrel…..after all we were due to play Notts County at Meadow Lane, on Saturday September 27th, and Jimmy was a man of both clubs.

His playing career ended in 1956, so I never saw him play….and I think he was the trainer at the Recreation Ground in October 1960, when I saw the Shots for the first time. Nearly 12500 crammed into the Rec to see the ‘new boys’, Peterborough United, play out a 1v1 draw with my ‘new team’. Although to be truthful I can’t remember much about the game.

Despite being only a young lad I could feel the optimism of the 60’s. A resurgence that was quick to blow away the dreary austerity of post War Britain. But with Beatlemania still a little way off, my first visit to the Rec found the East Bank packed, but not rocking with the sound of, ‘Smithy Smithy give us a wave’ (Dave Smith , Manager) or even ‘Jimmy Sirrel is worth a million pounds….’

However I have a nice picture of Jimmy in the 1961/62 Supporters club handbook, so I do know he was one of us….

Looking back in search of Jimmy Sirrel, was like looking through a box of family photos, in pursuit of the sunny holidays we always had at Hayling Island. Feelings formed from disparate memories, distorted by time………and somehow never supported by the tiny black and white images stored safely away in the cupboard under the stairs..

But my quest to 'find' Jimmy Sirrel left me feeling that I should know him better. That I should be able say more than, ‘he played a few games for Aldershot, and he was the trainer for a few years…’

The legend of Jimmy Sirrel will live on in the minds of every present and future County supporter. It will be a memory burnished to a competing brilliance that may just result in Brian Clough walking across the Trent to have a word ‘young man’.

As for the game on Saturday….well Aldershot were by far and away the better team.


Notts County won 2v1, with a last minute winner.

I’m sure the Aldershot Town Manager, Gary Waddock, will have reflected on the manner of the defeat.

If Jimmy had been watching, he would have said….… ‘being the best team does not always make a winning team.’