Manchester United said goodbye to one of the club’s former players yesterday evening.
The club’s official website announced that, “Manchester United is saddened to hear of the loss of former wing-half Jimmy Nicholson.”
United career
The Belfast born player was one of the many Irish who have donned the famous red jersey over the years.
He joined the club as a trainee in 1958 and made his senior breakthrough in the 1960/1961 campaign.
In total, he played 68 games for the Red Devils, scoring a total of six goals.
Possibly one of his biggest contributions was when Sir Matt Busby sent him back to Belfast in 1961 to bring back the homesick George Best from his home on the Cregagh Estate in East Belfast.
The wing half completed a move to Huddersfield Town in 1964 and would go on to enjoy a long spell at the club.
His biggest achievement was captaining the Terriers to a Second Division title in 1970.
He would then go on to seal a transfer to Bury, where he would become a champion in the Fourth division.
Northern Ireland career
In total he won 41 caps for his country, scoring six goals.
The wing-half made his debut at just 17-years-old in a defeat to Scotland in 1960.
Nicholson also managed to score on his final appearance for his country against the Soviet Union.
If it hadn’t been for persistent back injuries, Nicholson would have likely played many more times for the nation.
After football
Nicholson continued to live in Manchester after retiring and worked as a leisure centre manager in Sale.
He continued to attend the same centre for a number of years after leaving employment and was an active part of a walking football group that met there weekly until just a few years ago.
Remembering our former player Jimmy Nicholson, who has died at the age of 82. We send our sincere condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/6i6nzLmbb1
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 9, 2025
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.
