Jim Blair Dies at age of 64

Striker Jim Blair, who appeared in the first Norwich City side to play at Wembley, has died after a long illness at the age of 64.

Blair’s 11 appearances for the Canaries included two cup finals.

The Scottish inside-right was a surprise inclusion in manager Ron Saunders’ team against Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup final in 1973, after Jim Bone’s move to Sheffield United. City were beaten 1-0.

Blair, who scored one senior goal for City, also appeared in the second leg of the Texaco Cup final against Ipswich at the end of the 1972-73 season.

He bagged nine goals in his first nine games for St Mirren in his debut season and moved briefly to Hibernian before returning to Love Street.

In September 1972, after scoring 72 goals in 169 games for St Mirren, he signed for the Canaries for £18,000. He moved to Belgium in 1974 to play for KV Mechelen, where he ended his career.

Blair had been unwell in recent years and had undergone a double-hip replacement, as well as operations to his spine.

He died in the Belgian town of Keerbergen and his funeral will take place at 10am on Friday, April 15, at the Church of Saint-Michel in his adopted home town.