St Johnstone fans have been paying tribute to former striker Jimmy O’Rourke, who has died, aged 76.
O’Rourke is a Hibs hall of famer, who starred in the famous Turnbull’s Tornadoes side of the 1970s.
After scoring in a cup final triumph over Celtic and claiming two hat-tricks in Europe, one of them against Sporting Lisbon, he would later be transferred to Muirton Park where he starred for Saints in the 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons.
O’Rourke scored 15 goals in one season and 11 in the other – both campaigns in the top flight of Scottish football – giving him an impressive strike-rate of around one every three games.
1974 | Jim O'Rourke scores his first St Johnstone goal to defeat former club Hibernian 1-0 at Easter Road. pic.twitter.com/wS5VPXSFN5
— Saints On This Day (@SaintsOTD) September 28, 2022
He is probably best known in Perth for scoring the only goal of the game on his return to Easter Road with Saints.
Hibs were the league leaders at the time.
On the last day of the 1974-75 season, O’Rourke played a big part in ensuring Saints would be in the top 10 of the old First Division and thereby secure a place in the inaugural Premier League.
In the 2-1 win over Celtic (the previous year’s champions, with the likes of Kenny Dalglish and Danny McGrain in their side) O’Rourke scored one and earned a penalty for the other goal.
His second and last campaign was a grim one for Saints, who were relegated after accumulating just 11 points.
The club went part-time and O’Rourke was one of a few assets who could be sold that summer – in his case to Motherwell.
It wasn’t a long Saints career but his star shone brightly at Muirton.
One fan wrote on Twitter: “Got Saints in the original SPL almost on his own! Great player rip Jimmy.”
Got Saints in the original spl almost on his own! Great player rip Jimmy Jimmy O’Rourke, everyone knows his name😢💚💙
— Dave McNaughton 🏆🏆 (@StDaveMc) November 15, 2022
Another said: “So very sad to hear of the passing of Jimmy O’Rourke, a great favourite of mine at St Johnstone in the 70s after he left Hibernian. I remember the Hibs’ fans singing his name at Muirton in his first game against them. A really classy player. RIP.”
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