St Mirren Football Club is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of 1959 Scottish Cup winner Jim Rodger.
Born in Cleland in September 1933, Jim began playing football at school, progressing through to the Wishaw High school first team. After school, he joined Cumnock Juniors before moving up to the senior game with Rangers in May 1952.
Jim joined St Mirren in 1955 and played his first match for Saints in a League Cup game against Kilmarnock. Over the next couple of years his appearances in the stripes were limited due to National Service.
It was to be January 1959 before he gained a regular starting place in the St Mirren team, just in time to play his part in Saints history as they reached the Scottish Cup Final. Having scored in the first three rounds of the competition against Peebles Rovers, Motherwell and Dunfermline, Jim was a vital part of the team that swept Celtic aside 4-0 in the semi-final before lining up against Aberdeen on 25th April 1959. Saints would win 3-1 to secure the Scottish Cup for the second time in our history.
In his seven years in Paisley, Jim played 155 matches and scored 44 times with his contributions seeing him nominated into the St Mirren Hall of Fame.
The thoughts of everyone at St Mirren are with Jim's loved ones at this sad time.
