View source for George Farm

{{short description|Scottish footballer and manager}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name        = George Farm
| image       = George Farm.jpg
| image_size  =
| caption     =
| alt         =
| fullname    = George Neil Farm<ref>{{Hugman|6168|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref>
| birth_date  = {{birth date|df=y|1924|7|13}}
| birth_place = [[Slateford]], Scotland
| death_date  = {{death date and age|df=y|2004|7|18|1924|7|13}}
| death_place = [[Edinburgh]], Scotland
| height      =
| position    = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = [[Armadale Thistle F.C.|Armadale Thistle]]
| years1 = 1947–1948 
| years2 = 1948–1960 
| years3 = 1960–1964
| clubs1 = [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] 
| clubs2 = [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] 
| clubs3 = [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] 
| caps1 = 7  
| caps2 = 461  
| caps3 = 119  
|  totalcaps = 587 
| goals1 = 0  
| goals2 = 1  
| goals3 = 0  
|  totalgoals = 1
| manageryears1 = 1961–1964 
| manageryears2 = 1964–1967 
| manageryears3 = 1967–1970 
| manageryears4 = 1971–1974
| managerclubs1 = [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] (player-manager) 
| managerclubs2 = [[Raith Rovers F.C.|Raith Rovers]] 
| managerclubs3 = [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]] 
| managerclubs4 = [[Raith Rovers F.C.|Raith Rovers]]
| nationalyears1 = 1952–1959
| nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]
| nationalcaps1 = 10  
| nationalgoals1 = 0
}}

'''George Neil Farm''' (13 July 1924 – 18 July 2004) was a Scottish professional [[association football|football]] [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] and manager.

Born in [[Slateford]], a suburb of [[Edinburgh]], Farm represented [[Scotland national football team|his country]] on ten occasions, the last three of which occurred after a gap of five years. He played briefly for Hibernian before making over 500 appearances for Blackpool winning the [[FA Cup]] once and collecting one FA Cup runners-up medal. With Blackpool he also finished runners-up once in the league to [[Manchester United]]. He made over 100 appearances for Queen of the South who he also managed in a promotion to Scotland's top division. he repeated that promotion managing [[Raith Rovers]]. He managed [[Dunfermline Athletic]] to a Scottish Cup victory and the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup.<ref name=legend>[http://qosfc.com/legend-1051 George Farm, Queens Legends, www.qosfc.com]</ref>

==Style of play==

Well-built, Farm possessed a distinctive way of holding the ball, preferring to catch it with one hand above and one below, as opposed to the more orthodox style of one hand on either side of the ball. He was a perfectionist, and could often be seen practicing long after his teammates had left.<ref name=legend/>

==Hibernian==

After playing junior football with [[Armadale Thistle F.C.|Armadale Thistle]], Farm began his professional career in 1947 at [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]]. After a year and only seven first-team appearances at [[Easter Road]], Farm signed for [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]].<ref name=legend/> Farm was kept out of the Hibs team by the good form of [[Jimmy Kerr (footballer, born 1919)|Jimmy Kerr]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/jimmy-kerr-1.185847
|title=Jimmy Kerr
|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]
|last=Donald
|first=Brian
|date=30 May 2001
|access-date=27 January 2011}}</ref>

==Blackpool==

Farm signed for [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]], then in the [[Football League First Division|England first division]], on a [[free transfer (football)|free transfer]].<ref name=Gillatt>{{cite book|last=Gillatt|first=Peter|title=Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year |publisher=Pitch Publishing Ltd|date=30 November 2009|isbn=978-1-905411-50-4}}</ref> He went on to break several appearance records. Farm made his league debut for Blackpool on 18 September 1948, replacing an out-of-form Joe Robinson, in a home draw against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]. Robinson did not play for Blackpool again, as Farm went on to play in 111 consecutive league games. The first game he missed, due to his receiving a first cap for Scotland, on 18 October 1952, Blackpool lost, 4–0 at [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]].<ref name=legend/> [[Harry Sharratt]] deputised for that game.

Farm also played in all 47 of Blackpool's FA Cup ties between 1949 and 1960. He was runner-up in the [[1951 FA Cup Final]] and winner in the [[1953 FA Cup Final]]<ref name=legend/>

On 29 October 1955, in a 6–2 home defeat by [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]], Farm became one of the few goalkeepers to score a goal. He injured a shoulder and replaced Mudie at centre-forward, where he proceeded to open the scoring with his head. That season, Blackpool finished league runners-up to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], the highest finish in the club's history.<ref name=legend/>

In February 1960, at the age of 35 and after over 500 first-team appearances for ''the Tangerines'' (all while in the top division), Farm was granted a transfer. Blackpool manager [[Ron Suart]], who had once been the goalkeeper's teammate, accepted a bid of £3,000 for the Scot from [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]].<ref name=legend/>

==Scotland==

Farm's ten full Scotland caps included a 3 – 2 victory over [[West Germany national football team|West Germany]] at [[Hampden Park]] in 1959. In both games he played against England, he opposed future [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] teammate [[Ivor Broadis]]. Farm was not part of Scotland's trip to the [[1954 FIFA World Cup]] finals despite having played in the qualification campaign.<ref name=legend/>

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition
|-
|1 || 18 October 1952 || {{fb|WAL}} || Scotland 2 – 1 Wales || British International Championship
|-
|2 || 5 November 1952|| {{fb|NIR}} || Scotland 1 – 1 Northern Ireland || British International Championship
|-
|3 || 18 April 1953 || {{fb|ENG}} || England 2 – 2 Scotland || British International Championship
|-
|4 || 6 May 1953 || {{fb|SWE}} || Scotland 1 – 2 Sweden || Challenge match
|-
|5 || 3 October 1953 || {{fb|NIR}} || Northern Ireland 1 – 3 Scotland || FIFA World Cup qualifier
|-
|6 || 4 November 1953 || {{fb|WAL}} ||  Scotland 3 – 3 Wales || FIFA World Cup qualifier
|-
|7 || 3 April 1954 || {{fb|ENG}} || Scotland 2 – 4 England || FIFA World Cup qualifier
|-
|8 || 6 May 1959 || {{fb|GER}} || Scotland 3 – 2 West Germany || Challenge match
|-
|9 || 27 May 1959 || {{fb|NED}} || Netherlands 1 – 2 Scotland || Challenge match
|-
|10 || 3 June 1959  || {{fb|POR}} || Portugal 1 – 0 Scotland || Challenge match
|}

==Queen of the South==

With his dedication to fitness and practice, 35-year-old Farm was still a highly capable goalkeeper (only eight months before he played for Scotland) when he was signed to [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] by manager [[Jimmy McKinnell, Jr.]] He went on to make 119 league appearances for the [[Dumfries]] club, replacing McKinnell to become player-manager in three of his four years with the club. He guided Queens to the semi-final of the [[1960–61 Scottish League Cup]]. He also steered Queens back to the [[Scottish Football League First Division|Scottish First Division]] with promotion as [[Scottish Football League Second Division|Second Division]] runners-up in [[1961–62 in Scottish football|1961–62]] with a team that included future Scotland centre forward [[Neil Martin (footballer)|Neil Martin]], right winger [[Ernie Hannigan]] (later re-united with Martin in England's top flight at [[Coventry City]]) and goals king of Queens [[Jim Patterson (Scottish footballer)|Jim Patterson]]. On their return to the top flight Farm played when his team defeated Celtic 1–0 at Celtic Park in the league on 10 November 1962. John Murphy scored Queen's goal.<ref name=legend/>

In January 1964, Farm was [[layoff|sacked]]. The local press was filled with comments backing Farm and criticising the Willie Harkness-led board. Harkness initially announced Farm had "left by mutual consent" before admitting the club's directors had met to "relieve Mr. Farm of his duties as manager". The board retained him as a player, even though Farm had promptly dropped himself the month before after Queens signed young goalkeeper [[Allan Ball]] to take over the number 1 jersey debuting on 14 December 1963 against Falkirk. Harkness and the board took charge of team affairs, but the club were relegated.<ref name=legend/>

==Raith Rovers (first spell)==

A trio of three-year managerial appointments followed between the mid-1960s and mid-'70s. Firstly, from 1964 until 1967, he was in charge of [[Raith Rovers F.C.|Raith Rovers]]. In his final season at Raith, Farm repeated his achievements at Queens by guiding Rovers to promotion to Scotland's top division.<ref name=legend/>

==Dunfermline Athletic==

Between 1967 and 1970, Farm took charge of [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline]], with whom he won 51 out of 107 league games,<ref>[http://www.parsdatabase.co.uk/Personnel/Managers/Farm.htm ParsDatabase.co.uk]</ref> in addition to winning the [[Scottish Cup]] in [[1967–68 in Scottish football|1968]] and guiding them to the semi-finals of the resulting [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1968-69|1969 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] campaign. Dunfermline lost by one goal on aggregate to eventual winners [[ŠK Slovan Bratislava|Slovan Bratislava]] (Slovan beat [[FC Barcelona]] in the final). This is the greatest achievement in Dunfermline's history, surpassing even that of [[Jock Stein]]'s time at the club.<ref name=legend/>

He was subsequently a first time inductee into the Dunfermline Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

==Raith Rovers (second spell)==

A second stint followed at Raith Rovers, from 1971 until 1974.<ref name=legend/>

==Retirement==
When Farm finally retired from football in 1974, he and his wife enjoyed a quiet life in Edinburgh. He was known in his later years as a commentator and journalist, but also spent a short spell as a [[lighthouse keeper]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/player_details.cfm?playerid%3D112906 |title=Scottish Football Association: The Scottish FA: Scotland |access-date=22 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930200920/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/player_details.cfm?playerid=112906 |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref><ref name=legend/>

In 1988, Farm returned to [[Bloomfield Road]] to take part in Blackpool F.C.'s celebrations to mark the [[English Football League|Football League]]'s [[centennial|centenary]].<ref name=legend/>

Farm died in 2004 in the city of his birth, five days after his 80th birthday.<ref name=legend/>

==Honours==

===As a player===
'''Blackpool'''
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1952–53 FA Cup|1952–53]]<ref>{{cite book |first1=Leslie |first2=Jack |last1=Vernon |last2=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78 |year=1977 |publisher=Brickfield Publications Ltd |location=London |isbn=0354-09018-6 |page=490}}</ref>

===As a player-manager===
'''Queen of the South'''
*[[Scottish Football League Second Division|Scottish Second Division]] promotion: [[1961–62 in Scottish football|1961–62]]

===As a manager===

'''Raith Rovers'''
*[[Scottish Second Division]] promotion: [[1966–67 in Scottish football|1966–67]]

'''Dunfermline Athletic'''
*[[Scottish Cup]]: [[1967–68 in Scottish football|1968]]

==References==
;Specific
{{Reflist}}

*{{cite book | first=Roy | last=Calley| title=Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992 | publisher=Breedon Books Sport | year=1992 | isbn=1-873626-07-X}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090302042752/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/george-farm-550186.html ''The Independent'' obituary]
*{{SFA Profile|id=112906}}
*{{NeilBrownPlayers|player/georgefarm}}
*[http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SeasideLegendsDetail/0,,10432~69265,00.html Seaside Legends] {{Dead link|date=June 2009}}
 
{{Queen of the South F.C. managers}} 
{{Raith Rovers F.C. managers}}
{{Dunfermline Athletic F.C. managers}}
{{Dunfermline Athletic F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Scottish Cup winning managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Farm, George}}
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Footballers from Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Scottish football managers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:Armadale Thistle F.C. players]]
[[Category:Hibernian F.C. players]]
[[Category:Blackpool F.C. players]]
[[Category:Queen of the South F.C. players]]
[[Category:Queen of the South F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Raith Rovers F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Dunfermline Athletic F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League managers]]
[[Category:Scottish Junior Football Association players]]
[[Category:Men's association football player-managers]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish sportsmen]]