Jimmy Logan: How Notts County’s FA Cup final hat-trick hero finally got a headstone

Having started his career at Ayr, Logan became a golf club alongside Sunderland, Newcastle and Aston Villa in a vibrant career.

But it was at Notts County where he reached his peak, scoring consistently before his cup final exploit at Goodison Landscape.

“It was like his whole career peaked that day, that’s what it seemed to me,” says writer Dave Fells, who wrote the magazine Jimmy Logan: The Past and Occupation of a Notts County Legend.

“He scored goals everywhere he went, but he was in and out, and he was fighting with people. But that day, everything worked out for him.

“When I read the Bolton players, they all looked like big, strong guys and they weren’t averse to throwing their weight around. It was hot and Logan and [Harry] Daft on the wing was very agile and the others were struggling in the heat.”

Logan left the East Midlands after the cup success but was tempted to return when Loughborough came calling in 1896. It was during that 10-match period for the Second Division strugglers that tragedy struck.

Loughborough were playing a double header against Crewe Alexandra and Newton Heath, but arrived in Manchester for the second of the two matches to discover that the kit was not with them, forcing them to play in the street clothes they had traveled in. .

The match was played in pouring rain, so the players were forced to return home in the same soaked clothes, and Logan caught a bad cold.

He emerged from his sickbed to score in a 4–1 win over Crewe to close the season, but then relapsed and suffered pneumonia which eventually killed him.

Fells, however, suggests that there was more than just illness at play.

“Going back to previous stories, often when it was mentioned that there was a fast-paced game, it was said that Jimmy couldn’t hold his mode or reserve, which often indicated that he didn’t have enough support.” he provides.

“I sent all the information I needed to tutor Clyde Williams at Loughborough University, who specializes in sports science, and he said there were obviously a lot of weaknesses in Jimmy’s cardiovascular system.”