I was a year or two ahead of Jimmy when we attended Holy Cross Academy together – but you could tell straight away that he was a player.
In the early 1960s, Hibernian needed new blood – and along came Jimmy O’Rourke.
A Hibs man in every sense of the word, he was incredibly young when he started with the First Team but he held his own from the get go.
He literally went straight from school into the Hibernian First Team – that just doesn’t happen.
Jimmy had an exceptional attitude to football and could play in a number of positions. Even as a young player, he would express his opinions with the senior professionals in the team, and more often than not, he’d be correct.
Jimmy O’Rourke was a bit different from the rest, you see. He was happy-go-lucky Monday to Friday, but on Saturday he rolled his sleeves up.
He had a terrific physique and was never, ever intimidated. A player for the big occasion, he delivered some special moments at Easter Road.
He scored a hat-trick against Sporting Lisbon – a brilliant side – in one of our greatest-ever victories.
Then we won the League Cup for Hibs with both Jimmy and I getting the goals – that was one of my proudest days as a player.
It seemed that any big win during that era – Jimmy was at the forefront!
As a man, he was easy going and thoughtful. He would do wee things, or say wee things, that would have a big impact on people – especially the younger players.
He was fantastic in the dressing room and was always passing on his experience to the players coming through. He cared.
Jimmy was a humble player and a humble man. He was just an all-round tremendous individual.
He enjoyed playing the game and was great to play alongside, whether at school or for the Hibees.
If you’re naming an all-time Hibs XI, Jimmy has to be in it.
Pat Stanton
