Jimmy Philip

Jimmy Philip (1863 – 12 October 1930) was the first manager of Scottish football club Aberdeen F.C., serving from the club's foundation in 1903 until his retirement in 1924.

Early Life

Philip was a native of Aberdeen, the only son among four children. His parents, James and Jane Philip, were both brass founders by trade. He married Mary Ann Forsyth (1864–1937) and had five children. By profession, Philip was a wood-turner, but he had a wide range of sporting interests and also worked as a football referee.

Aberdeen FC Manager

Philip was appointed part-time manager for Aberdeen's first competitive match, a 1–1 draw with Stenhousemuir on 15 August 1903. In the club's inaugural season, Aberdeen won the Aberdeenshire Cup. Philip was instrumental in securing the club's election to the Scottish Football League, initially to the Second Division for the 1904–05 season, and then to the First Division for the 1905–06 season following an expansion of the top flight.

Under Philip's management, Aberdeen reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals in 1908, 1911, 1922, and 1924, but never won the competition. The 1910–11 season saw Aberdeen defeat both Rangers and Celtic at Pittodrie for the first time. After the 1911–12 season, Philip served as a referee at the Olympic Games in Stockholm.

During World War I, the club struggled financially and withdrew from competition in early 1917. Upon the resumption of football in 1919, Philip returned as full-time manager. In 1923, Aberdeen set a club record victory of 13–0 against Peterhead, a record that still stands. Philip retired as manager at the end of the 1923–24 season without having won any senior silverware.

Later Years and Death

After retiring as manager, Philip became a director of the club and also served on the Aberdeen Town Council as a councillor for the St Machar Ward, where he was convener of the Housing Committee. He was a long-serving member of the Scottish Football Association council for approximately forty years.

Philip died unexpectedly on 12 October 1930 at age 68, shortly after returning home from meeting the Aberdeen reserve team. His death was attributed to a seizure believed to be related to a road accident he had suffered three months earlier in Ireland. His funeral cortege was over three-quarters of a mile in length, with streets lined with spectators. He was buried at Trinity Cemetery in Aberdeen.

Managerial Record