We have been very fortunate as a club throughout the years that certain players have arrived at Gayfield and have just found it to be their second home.
Jimmy “Peem” Cant was a footballer who played for the Lichties for an incredible 13 years and we are delighted that Jimmy is to be inducted into the Arbroath Hall of Fame.
Legendary Manager Albert Henderson took over as manager of Arbroath football club in 1962 and amongst his first signings was Jimmy, who had been scouted as a promising young talent at Arbroath Lads Club.
Jimmy would go on be a true stalwart of the Red Lichties under the tenure of Albert Henderson during the golden days of the 1960s and 70s.
In his 13 years at the Club, Jimmy helped win promotion to the top flight in the 67/68 season and 71/72 season. Between 1963 and 1975, Jimmy amassed a total of 283 appearances in a maroon shirt, scoring 57 times.
As well as helping the Lichties achieve promotion twice, Jimmy was also involved in some famous Arbroath matches.
Celtic 3 – 3 Arbroath – 28th August 1972
The match was played at Hampden Park due to work being carried out on the main stand at Celtic Park with Derek Rylance scoring a hat trick against a Celtic side full of international legends.
Celtic—Connaghan; McGrain and Quinn; Hay, McNeill and Connolly; McLaughlin and Deans; Dalglish, Hood and Lennox. Substitute—McCluskey.
Goals: Cargill (OG 33), Hood (42), Dalglish (57)
Arbroath—Marshall; Milne and McAlpine; Cargill, Waddell and Winchester; Sellars and Cant; Pirie, Rylance and Payne. Substitute—Robertson.
Goals: Rylance 22, 68, 77
Jimmy was also involved in the famous 3-2 victory against Rangers at Ibrox in 1974
Arbroath Historian, Fraser Clyne recollects on his favourite personal memory of watching Jimmy play for the Lichties.
“It was September 1966 and the Lichties played Forfar in a league match at Gayfield. This was an all-time classic, played in front of 1,420 fans, and ended with the Lichties recording their biggest ever league victory.
Jimmy Cant grabbed four goals, Alec Donnelly hit a hat-trick while John Wilkie and Sandy Henderson also got on the scoresheet as the maroons stormed to a crushing 9-2 victory.
It could have been even better, but Alan Kennedy missed a penalty!”
Supporters still talk about those great times in the 60s and 70s today and the name Jimmy Cant is never far from discussion and has become synonymous with that era in the history of Arbroath Football Club.
We are absolutely thrilled to be inducting Jimmy into our Hall of Fame!
