SCOTTISH football cult hero Jimmy Bone has sadly died at the age of 75.
A legend at Partick Thistle and St Mirren, Bone was a member of the Jags side that shocked Celtic to lift the League Cup in 1971.
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Bone later played for Celtic and had successful stint at Hearts and Arbroath, rounding out his playing career with the latter and going on to become the club’s manager.
He also returned to St Mirren as manager in 1992, taking charge of the Paisley club for four years.
Bone would also manage Airdrieonians, Power Dynamos, East Fife and Stenhousemuir. He had a spell as caretaker boss at Partick in 2007.
Bone had been receiving end of life care after falling seriously ill and tributes have poured in from his former clubs and other across the football spectrum.
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Arbroath said in a statement: “All at Arbroath FC are devastated to share the passing of former player and manager, Jimmy Bone.
“Jimmy passed away peacefully last night.
“Our thoughts go to Jimmy’s family and friends at this sad time.
“Jimmy was initially signed by Albert Henderson from Celtic in January 1975 to try and keep the club in the top division.
“During the 1976-77 campaign, he played in every competitive match but despite continuing to score regularly the team could only finish in a mid-table position.
“Our thoughts go to Jimmy’s family and friends at this sad time.”
Bone started his playing football with his local Boys Brigade in Stirling and also turned out for Airth Castle Rovers in his youth.
He was snapped up by Partick in 1968 whilst still a teenager and would go on to make over 150 appearances for the Firhill side.
A move to Norwich City came in 1972 and he joined fellow English club Sheffield United a year later, before returning north of the border to join Celtic in 1974 for £25,000.
He played only seven league games for the Hoops and then signed for Arbroath where he would make 97 league appearances in three years scoring 41 goals.
The striker became Sir Alex Ferguson’s last signing at St Mirren paid £25,000 for his services and he was made captain of the Buddies under Ferguson’s successor, Jim Clunie.
He would play nearly 200 games for St Mirren and also had two loan spells with Toronto Blizzard, before leaving permanently in 1982 for a stint with Hong Kong Rangers.
A year later he came back to Scotland with Hearts for whom he played for two seasons, famously scoring a winner against Hibs that saw the Jambos defeat their Edinburgh rivals at Tynecastle for the first time in ten years.
He also picked up two caps for the Scotland national team, scoring once against Denmark in a World Cup qualifier in 1972.
Bone won promotion to the top flight with Airdrie, and the Lanarkshire club said: “We are sorry to announce that former Airdrie manager Jimmy Bone passed away peacefully last night.
“Jimmy led the Diamonds to the Premier League in 1991, and will be fondly remembered throughout Scottish football as a talented player and manager, and a real character.
Our thoughts are with Jimmy’s family at this sad time. The family asked us to pass on their thanks to the many supporters who wished Jimmy well in recent days.”
Fellow SPFL club Dunfermline, where Bone was a coach, said: “Everyone at #DAFC is saddened to learn of the passing of Jimmy Bone.
“Jimmy served the club as a coach in the late 90s and was a hugely popular figure in Scottish Football.
“Our thoughts go to his family and friends during this sad time.”
Ross County said: “We are saddened to learn of the passing of our former Assistant Manager, Jimmy Bone.
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“Jimmy served as Alex Smith’s assistant at the club between 2002 and 2004.
“Everyone connected with Ross County Football Club’s thoughts are with Jimmy’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult period.”
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