Main Jimmy Image 2 Hibernian 1908

Description

West Calder, Lothian born centre half Jimmy Main began his football career with Mossend Juveniles and was on the books at Motherwell before joining Hibernian in 1904, making his Scottish League debut against Dundee that September. He established himself in the Hibernian team the next season, and was an ever present in 1907-08. Described as “a fine upstanding player, strong and judicious, and one who never took a mean advantage of an opponent… a true sportsman who played the game fairly”, Main was first selected for honours when he represented The Scottish League in a 2-0 defeat to The Football League at Villa Park in February 1908, and won international recognition when he was selected to play for Scotland in the 1909 Home Championship match against Ireland at Ibrox in March 1909. Scotland won the match 5-0, and Main was expected to win further honours.

Tragically it was not to be. Main’s life and career was cut short aged 24 however, when in his 150th match for Hibs (he scored 4 goals) he suffered a ruptured bowel after being kicked in the stomach by Partick Thistle outside left Frank Branscombe during a match played at Firhill on Christmas Day 1909. John Sharp, a teammate of Main, later said that the incident was an accident because the Thistle player had slipped on the icy surface before making contact. Main had returned home on the night of the game, but he was rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary when the extent of his internal injuries were realised. An emergency operation was initially successful, but further treatment was ineffective and Main died from his injuries four days later.