RIP Jimmy Ross

Today Cowdenbeath FC were given the sad news of the passing of ex-player Jimmy Ross, at the age of 92 on Monday 6 November at Cameron Hospital, by his son Gordon. We offer Gordon and all his family and friends the most heartfelt condolences from everyone at Central Park. We had been delighted to welcome Jimmy to several matches in recent years and he too greatly enjoyed revisiting Central Park.

Jimmy was born in Kirkcaldy in 1931 and attended Dunnikier and Kirkcaldy High Schools. He first made his mark in football in local Boys Brigade football. Then he was called up for National Service and served at RAF Halton in England. Once demobbed he played in the juniors for St Andrews United and then signed for Dunfermline in 1954. Jimmy had a couple of seasons at East End Park but then was freed – primarily it seems because he didn’t want to go full time.

John Dougary then promptly signed Jim for Cowdenbeath. Jim later recalled his days with Cowden as follows, ‘There was a great camaraderie at Cowdenbeath – at Christmas they gave you a food hamper which included a steak pie in it. It was though challenging to fit in the football as I was very busy working as a plasterer in Dundee. Getting back home in a van and then going right out to Central Park to train was a tough schedule – it took its toll on me. I scored a fair few goals but was freed by Cowdenbeath in 1956. Dundee United were interested in me then but I decided to give up the football’. The sturdy inside man though had proved his worth at Central Park by claiming 18 goals in just 34 games for Cowden. He played up front in a Cowden forward line that included Willie Beckett and Frankie Quinn.

Later Jimmy had a haulage business in Kirkcaldy before he took on Caira’s Café in the Gallatown which he then had for 42 years. Bert Caira was his brother in law. They ended up doing the catering at East Fife, Raith Rovers and Cowdenbeath – football as well as the stock cars.




Jimmy and his son Gordon present a Man of the Match Award to Robbie Buchanan in 2021