RIP John McNamee

[green with envy]

I read a wee while ago on a Newcastle forum that big John McNamee passed away earlier today. From what I know about him from his time at Hibs before his transfer to Newcastle in the mid 60s is that he was a no nonsense, hard as nails CH and really appreciated by the fans during his time at Easter Road.RIP

[Victor]

I read a wee while ago on a Newcastle forum that big John McNamee passed away earlier today. From what I know about him from his time at Hibs before his transfer to Newcastle in the mid 60s is that he was a no nonsense, hard as nails CH and really appreciated by the fans during his time at Easter Road.RIP

Sorry to hear that. One of my first favourite players. Was a ‘real’ centre half. Remember being upset when he was transferred.

[Bostonhibby]

Sad news, all the hibbies around my family in the 60's spoke fondly about a great defender, some player, took no prisoners. Enjoyed reading about him.

RIP Big Bad John, a special Hibs defender.

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

[Newcastlehibby]

Part of an article in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
Big John McNamee was the frightening enforcer in Newcastle United's European Fairs Cup days but cruelly during recent years a series of crippling setbacks had reduced him to a shell of his former self.
However the courage and fight he showed when a cult hero on Tyneside never left him throughout a lengthy stay in a Cumbria care home. May he now rest in the peace denied him after dying aged 83.
McNamee was a hulk of a man with a fiercesome reputation which went before him casting a long shadow of doubt over opponents. A true Celt, a warrior, a mixture of Mel Gibson's Braveheart, Desperate Dan and the Incredible Hulk, the stories of his footballing prowess are part of folklore.
It was said that he could bend crowbars between his teeth and certainly when he strode across Hadrian's Wall to join United it was a journey of necessity. He was hounded out of Scotland because of constant disciplinary run-ins with referees!
McNamee went on to iconic status not just as a frightening centre-half who tackled like the crack of doom but as a European Fairs Cup winner in 1969. It was the highlight of a colourful career.

[Lago]

I read a wee while ago on a Newcastle forum that big John McNamee passed away earlier today. From what I know about him from his time at Hibs before his transfer to Newcastle in the mid 60s is that he was a no nonsense, hard as nails CH and really appreciated by the fans during his time at Easter Road.RIP
He was immense, a true no nonsense centre half.

[Shezza]

Sorry to hear that. One of my first favourite players. Was a ‘real’ centre half. Remember being upset when he was transferred.

Same here.

[Hiber-nation]

Sad news.
RIP Big bad John

[weecounty hibby]

One of my uncle's absolute heroes. Told me many a story about Big John. He felt John was chased out of Scottish football by referees and the football authorities

[Forza Fred]

Big John was one of my favourites.

Gave everything, feared nothing.

[HIBERNIAN-0762]

My first hero at ER 👌 RIP big man 😔💚

[hibeerealist]

RIP John, one of my early Hibernian heroes

[JimBHibees]

One of my uncle's absolute heroes. Told me many a story about Big John. He felt John was chased out of Scottish football by referees and the football authorities

Sounds like the refs were as good previously as they are now.

[lapsedhibee]

McNamee was a hulk of a man with a fiercesome reputation which went before him casting a long shadow of doubt over opponents. A true Celt, a warrior, a mixture of Mel Gibson's Braveheart, Desperate Dan and the Incredible Hulk, the stories of his footballing prowess are part of folklore.

More than just some. He was plenty fierce ...

Ferguson recalled in his autobiography. "It was probably unwise to become warlike with him but we had to be dragged apart by team-mates. John threatened to kill me and, heartened by the proximity of so many players and the referee, I told him I would be around at the end. I thought no more about it until as I was combing my hair after being in the bath one of the groundstaff told me somebody was waiting for me.

"Assuming it was a friend I stuck my head round the door. I nearly fainted when I saw McNamee standing there. Now I wasn't a coward by any means but this was a monster and a little common sense was in order.

"So I went back to combing my hair and waited for the noise of the Celtic coach pulling out. The best of three falls with a monster was not a good idea!"

But some refs were atrocious towards him.

[JimBHibees]

More than just some. He was plenty fierce ...

Ferguson recalled in his autobiography. "It was probably unwise to become warlike with him but we had to be dragged apart by team-mates. John threatened to kill me and, heartened by the proximity of so many players and the referee, I told him I would be around at the end. I thought no more about it until as I was combing my hair after being in the bath one of the groundstaff told me somebody was waiting for me.

"Assuming it was a friend I stuck my head round the door. I nearly fainted when I saw McNamee standing there. Now I wasn't a coward by any means but this was a monster and a little common sense was in order.

"So I went back to combing my hair and waited for the noise of the Celtic coach pulling out. The best of three falls with a monster was not a good idea!"

But some refs were atrocious towards him.

Didn’t realise he played for Celtic

[BILLYHIBS]

Didn’t realise he played for Celtic

Yip was Jock Stein’s first signing as Hibs Manager no messing with Centre Backs shut the back door

They shall not pass

RIP

[Fanforlife]

R.I.P Big Bad John. Best centre half I've seen playing for Hibs!!💚💚💚

[JimBHibees]

Yip was Jock Stein’s first signing as Hibs Manager no messing with Centre Backs shut the back door

They shall not pass

RIP

Ok cheers

[ancient hibee]

A stand out in my all-time Hibs team.

[Norrieg]

R.I.P Big Bad John. Best centre half I've seen playing for Hibs!!💚💚💚
Totally agree. One of my all time heroes in the Green and White. I wish we had him here today.
RIP Big Bad John and thanks for the memories.

[Fanforlife]

Totally agree. One of my all time heroes in the Green and White. I wish we had him here today.
RIP Big Bad John and thanks for the memories.👍

[linlithgowhibbie]

Every time we got a corner the cry went up, "Big John" clap clap clap until he invariably flattened the opponents biggest player who had been sent to mark him.
The final nail in his Hibs career was being sent off against Celtic in a cup replay at neutral Ibrox! Lost 0-4 after he was sent off.

[Tambo]

Way before my time, does get spoken very highly on here, RIP.

[lapsedhibee]

The final nail in his Hibs career was being sent off against Celtic in a cup replay at neutral Ibrox! Lost 0-4 after he was sent off.

Celtic got a very late equaliser in the first match and the ref was keen to make sure there was no chance of an 'upset' in the replay. Ridiculous sending off, McNamee was incensed and Stanton (I think) had to restrain him.

[lapsedhibee]

28310

[He's here!]

Not seen any acknowledgement of this in the Scottish media. Have the club paid tribute?

I know he was best known for his Newcastle days but he made a lot of appearances for Hibs and a decent number for Celtic.

[BILLYHIBS]

https://i.ibb.co/mX2bscy/IMG-3114.png (https://ibb.co/s6NbSV1)

[Carheenlea]

https://i.postimg.cc/8zkQWcJ5/IMG-5114.jpg (https://postimg.cc/RNYDxMT5)

[JimBHibees]

Celtic got a very late equaliser in the first match and the ref was keen to make sure there was no chance of an 'upset' in the replay. Ridiculous sending off, McNamee was incensed and Stanton (I think) had to restrain him.

The more things change the more they stay the same

[Alfred E Newman]

https://i.postimg.cc/8zkQWcJ5/IMG-5114.jpg (https://postimg.cc/RNYDxMT5)

Stanton, McNamee, Baxter.
Great days.

[MM19]

My favourite player when I started going to see Hibs. I thought it was the end of the world when he was transferred to Newcastle. RIP Big John.

[gbhibby]

Didn't see big John in the flesh but my dad said if the Tornadoes side had big John at centre half we would have won a lot more trophies. RIP big John

[Norrieg]

Stanton, McNamee, Baxter.
Great days.

Stop it.
I've got a big enough lump in my throte as it is. Great half back line.:not worth :not worth:not worth:not worth

[BILLYHIBS]

Big Bad John on the tour of Canada and USA

https://i.ibb.co/7VBNvYB/IMG-1238.png (https://ibb.co/HYRp7FR)

RIP

[JimBHibees]

Big Bad John on the tour of Canada and USA

https://i.ibb.co/7VBNvYB/IMG-1238.png (https://ibb.co/HYRp7FR)

RIP

Great photo

[A Hi-Bee]

So sad to hear, he was one of my first fav Hibs players, Stein really knew how to build a team when he signed John from the tic.
The roar of the crowd every time he went up for a corner was magic, he scored a fair amount from corners, and yet another player the sfa hounded out. He was in ill health for some time down in Cumbria, rest in peace.