Jim Hermiston

NSL Career: Brisbane City, Brisbane Lions 146 (14) / 1977 - 1982

One of the early stars of the NSL, Jim Hermiston immigrated to Australia following his shock retirement from Scottish football to join the police force in Aberdeen. A physically dominant player who spent most of his NSL career as a sweeper, Hermiston was virtually unbeatable in the air, was a ferocious but fair tackler and read the play superbly well to start counter-attacks with his precision passing.

Hermiston began his junior career in Edinburgh before joining Bonnyrigg Rose in the Edinburgh & District Junior League and was signed by Scottish Division One side Aberdeen not long after. Hermiston made his first team debut at the age of 18 but had to bide his time to take the left-back position from veteran Ally Shewan.

 The young defender became a regular in the 1969/70 season and was part of the side that defeated Celtic three-one in the 1970 Scottish Cup Final. Hermiston became a key member of the Aberdeen side that finished runners-up to Celtic in the 1970/71 and 1971/72 seasons, where he spent time as a midfield distributor before becoming club captain in 1973.

In 1974, Hermiston played for the Scottish Football League XI against the English Football League XI and hoped to get selected for Scotland's 1974 World Cup side. After missing out on the World Cup squad, Hermiston was set to sign with English First Division side Chelsea, however the two clubs couldn't come to an agreement. Hermiston decided to quit football at the age of 27 and joined the Grampian Police Force.

Hermiston moved to Queensland, Australia in 1977 and joined Grange Thistle in the Queensland State League before signing for Brisbane City in the newly established Phillips Soccer League. In his first season at the club, Hermiston helped the side claim the inaugural NSL Cup, defeating Marconi in a penalty shoot-out in the final. 

Hermiston moved to cross-town rivals Brisbane Lions in 1978 and became an inspirational leader at the club. As one of the best players in the league, the national team naturally wanted to make Hermiston a Socceroo, but his previous appearances for Scotland's U-23 side ruled him out of selection. 

Hermiston's exceptional reading of the play, tough but fair approach to the game and ability to start Lions attacks from defence earned him the NSL Player of the Year award in 1980. The veteran defender put in a man of the match performance in Lions' 1981 NSL Cup Final victory over West Adelaide before hanging up his boots to concentrate on his Physical Education teaching position in the Queensland Police Academy. 

The super fit 34 year old was urged out of retirement by former club Brisbane City in 1982 where he played one final season before hanging up his boots for good at the age of 35. Hermiston stayed on at the club as head coach for the 1983 season and had additional stints in 1985 and 1986. Hermiston was an original inductee in to the Aberdeen Hall of Fame.