An inside forward or winger who twice represented Scotland at junior level and played at Hampden Park in front of 64,702 in the 1956 Scottish Junior Cup final with Ayrshire side Lugar Boswell Thistle (losing 1-4 to Petershill).

After being spotted by scouts he joined Tottenham for £1,000 in June 1956 and completed his National Service and an apprenticeship as a bricklayer before making his League debut against West Ham on 23 August 1961.

Jimmy played one more League game for Spurs before joining Brighton & Hove Albion for £9,000 the following October, where he became captain and lead them to their Fourth Division title in 1964/65. He played over 200 games and scored 44 times in five seasons before he was given a free transfer.

Jimmy joined Wimbledon in 1967/68 and stayed five seasons, taking the role as captain and receiving a testimonial before leaving.

He spent his spare time while at Wimbledon training for the licensed trade while helping out in a friend's laundry business.

After leaving the Dons he played for Stevenage, Southwick, Shoreham and Saltdean United and played into his 50s for Sussex Sunday League side Corals while working in the building trade.