Dennis Mortimer: Jimmy Rimmer was one of Aston Villa's greatest goalkeepers | OneFootball

European Cup-winning captain Dennis Mortimer has led tributes to Jimmy Rimmer, calling his former team-mate one of Aston Villa’s greatest goalkeepers. The club said in a statement on Friday morning that he had died aged 78.

He made 287 Villa appearances between 1977 and 1983, ever-present in the 1980-81 First Division title win. He started every match of the 1982 European Cup run, then went off after nine minutes of the final against Bayern Munich with a neck injury.

Born in Southport, he joined Manchester United in 1963, turned professional in 1965 and largely understudied Alex Stepney. He was on the bench for United’s 1968 European Cup win over Benfica, then moved to Arsenal in 1974 before joining Villa in 1977.

Dennis Mortimer said Rimmer had pedigree and was an integral signing as Ron Saunders built the team that won the league and Europe. He added that wherever Rimmer played, he left memories of a great goalkeeper.

Remarkably durable, he had missed only one game in five years before Rotterdam. A fall over former team-mate Bob Latchford the Friday before the final left him struggling, and despite trying to play he was replaced by Nigel Spink.

He later said he had no regrets, explaining he was not fit enough and did not want to let his team-mates down. Team-mates credited him for getting Villa there, with Tony Morley long citing his save from Artur Ullrich against Dynamo Berlin as decisive.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com

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