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Dennis Mortimer: Jimmy Rimmer was one of Aston Villa's greatest goalkeepers The two-time European Cup winner’s death was announced on Friday. European Cup winning captain Dennis Mortimer has led the tributes to Jimmy Rimmer, describing his former team-mate as one of Villa’s greatest-ever goalkeepers. Rimmer’s death at the age of 78 was announced by the club on Friday morning. He made 287 total appearances for Villa between 1977 and 1983, was an ever-present during their First Division title-winning season in 1980-81 and then started every match of their European Cup campaign in 1982, famously being substituted just nine minutes into the final against Bayern Munich with a neck injury. Rimmer was also on the bench when Manchester United beat Benfica to win the trophy in 1968 and played for Arsenal and Swansea in a professional career which spanned more than two decades. “Wherever he went, he always left something behind and those were the memories of a great goalkeeper,” Mortimer told the Express & Star. Born in Southport, Rimmer joined United as a schoolboy in 1963 and turned professional two years later, though his time with the Red Devils was largely spent as an understudy to Alex Stepney. It was after moving to Arsenal in 1974 his career really took off and three years later he became a crucial signing for Villa boss Ron Saunders. “He had pedigree, although he hadn’t played that many games for United, that was only because he’d been behind another great keeper,” explains Mortimer. “Then he had gone and played a lot at Arsenal. He was one of those signings Ron had to get right in building that team which went on to win the league and European Cup. He was an integral part of it.” There is a cruel irony in the fact to most outside the Midlands, Rimmer might best be remembered as the keeper forced off early by injury in a European Cup final. Prior to that injury, his durability had almost bordered on the extraordinary. In five years leading up to the final, he had only missed one game. All this is in an era when keepers were granted far less protection than in the modern era. But from the moment he tumbled over former team-mate Bob Latchford in a league match the Friday before the final, Rimmer knew he was in trouble. Despite trying his best to play, in a match for which he had waited 14 years after watching United’s win from the bench, it was clear from the match’s opening moments he could not continue. Replaced by Nigel Spink, Rimmer cried on the shoulder of the club physio David Targett in the dressing room, destined to be the keeper with two European Cup winners’ medals, who didn’t finish either match. Yet in a rare interview with the Express & Star in 2022, on the 40th anniversary of Rotterdam, Rimmer insisted there were no regrets. “You can’t have those,” he said. “We got to the final as a team. It wasn’t just about me. “Tony Barton, the manager, had been great. He wanted me to go out there. I’d had injections in my shoulder and neck. We’d done everything to keep it quiet. “But in the end I had to say no. I couldn’t be the Jimmy Rimmer people would expect me to be and I didn’t want to let the team down. “If I’m 100 per cent healthy and make a mistake, I make a mistake. It happens. But on that day I knew I couldn’t do it. Not against Bayern Munich. “I had to think of the other lads. They were my mates. I would have been letting them down. In the end, I’m glad I made the right decision for the club.” Rimmer’s team-mates never needed telling that without him, they likely would never have got to face Bayern in the first place. His save to deny Artur Ullrich in the second round win over Dynamo Berlin has long been claimed by Tony Morley to be the save which won Villa the European Cup. “His contribution to the team was phenomenal,” says Mortimer. “I am sure if you spoke to Ken McNaught or Allan Evans, knowing Jimmy was behind them was a great help.” Rimmer, who won one England cap, left Villa for Swansea in 1983 and returned to south Wales after extensive coaching stints in Canada and China. His final appearance in front of supporters at Villa Park came during the 40th anniversary celebrations. “We are all saddened by the news,” said Mortimer. “What he leaves behind is a lot of great memories. People will always talk about the great saves he made.”