Jim catches a break after 32 years of coaching work

After a coaching career spanning three decades, Jim is retiring at the age of 52.

Affectionately known as "Big Mac", he started his coaching career at Broxburn and Uphall Hearts Supporters Club as its youngest president.

Concentrating on goalkeeper coaching he immediately made an impact on his first pupil John Veitch, the nephew of former Hearts and Morton star Tommy Veitch, who said: "Big Mac made training fun, hard but fun, with lots of little games which incorporated the technical aspects of the game."

After suffering an injury playing for Broxburn Rangers in 1982, Jim had time to develop his training methods, however, it was apparent to him that there was a lack of coordinated coaching for young aspiring goalkeepers. He said he felt goalkeepers were often the forgotten players.

Keen to increase his knowledge in the art of goalkeeping, Jim regularly travelled to study techniques employed by other coaches, visiting Greece, Canada and UK clubs including Dundee United and Liverpool.

During participation in a course run by the Dutch FA, Jim created his flagship concept of dual development, in which as well as developing a goalkeeper's game attributes, the coach could also nurture the person.

After finishing the KNVB course in Holland Jim became the first UK resident to hold a goalkeeping licence from the Dutch FA.

In 2003 with former Hearts legend Henry Smith, Jim established Scotland's first independent goalkeeping school, Last Line.

His success with Last Line did not go unnoticed and Hibernian FC recruited Jim to take charge of their grassroots programme for seven to ten-year-olds.

Jim went on to become goalkeeping academy director at Musselburgh Windsor FC, where he created a female section of the academy.

Now he has retired from football, Jim works as a baker and will also return to his passion for writing, much of his inspiration coming from his experiences in football.

Scott Robertson, former chairman of Musselburgh Windsor FC, paid tribute and said: "Jim has dedicated over three decades to better the goalkeeper, he has strived to improve not only a player's physical, mental and technical abilities, but also to develop the young person's confidence and self-esteem. Jim MacLean is a unique individual who has touched the lives of many."