Jim Platt is a Boro club legend, an internationally capped goalkeeper and football manager. But what Boro fans might not know is that he’s now a Middlesbrough councillor, fighting local issues in the Kader ward.
His 12 seasons with Boro saw him play a pivotal role in their promotion in the 1973-74 season, as well as seeing Northern Ireland into two World Cups in the 80s.
Platt started his impressive footballing career at Ballymena United at only 16 years old.
Middlesbrough scouted him after an impressive Irish Cup semi-final against Coleraine. When Boro asked him to sign, Platt said: “It was my dream to play professional football, so it was a no brainer.”
He said that it was difficult transitioning to his new life in England as he was a “homebird” and experienced bouts of homesickness from his family back in Ballymoney. He would drive up to Scotland to get the boat to Belfast for a weekend then travel back to Middlesbrough every weekend.
Platt made the first team in his second year playing for Middlesbrough. He recalled his memories of being promoted in the 1973-74 season where they only lost four matches that entire season.
Reflecting back, Platt said: “It wasn’t until years after when people said you only lost four matches, that we had a fantastic season.”
Once promoted, the 6ft 1 goalkeeper and his Boro side played at Old Trafford and Anfield, which he described as “a dream come true”.
Platt earned 23 caps for Northern Ireland between 1976 and 1986 competing with legendary goalkeeper Pat Jennings, as well as being part of the team that qualified for the World Cup in 1982 and 1986.
“I finished with 23 caps and a lot of people didn’t even get that,” he said.
“It’s a great honour to play for my country. I was proud to play for my country. When the national anthem would play you realised at that particular moment you were the best at what you did.”
Platt reminisced on qualifying for the World Cup and how the team didn’t expect to qualify for it.
“We didn’t have anything booked compared to the England team who had their hotel booked two years ago,” said the Boro legend.
In the lead-up to Northern Ireland’s match to World Cup hosts Spain in ‘82, Platt said: “We all talked about how we had four weeks away in the sun and would be home in two days.”
The match ended up 1-0 thanks to a shock Gerry Armstrong goal and Northern Ireland were still in the World Cup. The result sent shockwaves throu
gh the competition as Northern Ireland were only one match away from making it to the semi-final. However, their World Cup campaign was ended after they were beaten by France 4 -1.
After hanging up his football boots in 1983, Platt started his managerial career. He returned to his Northern Irish roots by managing Ballymena and leading them to victory in the Irish Cup.
Soon after, his home team Coleraine wanted him, so he controversially left Ballymena United to join what he said “at that time were a better team and a better club”.
Looking back now, he said: “I don’t think the Ballymena folk have forgiven me for that. I may have left prematurely as we were starting to get things started. We won the Cup.”
Platt went on to take Coleraine into Europe three times in a row, competing against teams like Dundee United, Lokomotive Leipzig and Stahl Brandenburg.
Platt was appointed manager of Swedish team Assyriska in the Swedish First Division for the 1992–93 campaign. Before leaving full-time management to accept a position with Gateshead, he managed Darlington for two seasons, one from 1995 to 1996 and the other partially with David Hodgson.
“I never, ever dreamt about being a councillor,” said the 6ft goalkeeper. Six years ago, he was asked and at first refused the offer stating he knew nothing about politics. However, he was persuaded to do it and is currently in his second term as an independent councillor for the Kader ward. He currently has two more years left of his term, after which he will step down.
The Boro legend still works at the Riverside, now as a hospitality host during home matches.
Credit Images to Jim Platt
