Sad news - Jimmy McIlroy

bfcmartin · Post by **bfcmartin** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:51 am

Sad to tell you all Jimmy Mac has passed away this morning

dpinsussex · Post by **dpinsussex** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:53 am

Noooo RIP The Legend

Burnleybabe · Post by **Burnleybabe** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:54 am

RIP Jimmy

Deepest Condolences to all his family and friends

Met him a Couple of times, and he was very charming

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:55 am

so very, very sorry to hear this...I saw him play (for Stoke C at Turf Moor) and later met the great man at a function at the stadium.

Jimmy embodies everything we treasure as Clarets and will be forever admired!

RIP Jimmy Mac!

durhamclaret · Post by **durhamclaret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:55 am

God bless you Jimmy Mac, a real legend RIP.

Chuckypad · Post by **Chuckypad** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:57 am

Truly gutted to hear this

RIP Mac

The most iconic Claret of them all

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:44 am

I'm asbolutely devastated although I feel privileged that I was able to see this wonderful footballer play for Burnley.

He's free from his pain now but it is a sad, sad day. My thoughts with his daughter Anne, son Paul and their families and all his many friends.

Rest in peace Jimmy Mac and thanks.

Tall Paul · Post by **Tall Paul** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:45 am

RIP.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:48 am

Shite

RIP

ebby · Post by **ebby** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:48 am

Very Sad News.
My Aunty never watched Burnley again after they sold him.
R.I.P.

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:48 am

That brought a lump to my throat, terrible news for all concerned.
THE genuine club legend has gone. Condolences to those that knew him personally.

arise_sir_charge · Post by **arise_sir_charge** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:49 am

Terribly sad news, I never saw him play as he was way before my time but he is clearly a legend of our club.

My granddad spoke very highly of him. I did have the pleasure of meeting him though more than once though.

RIP Jimmy!

brigante · Post by **brigante** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:49 am

RIP Jimmy.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:49 am

At 86 it had to come eventually but still dreadfully sad news.
Condolences to family, friends and Clarets everywhere who were blessed to see him play.
RIP Jimmy Mac, thanks for the memories.

Sproggy · Post by **Sproggy** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:50 am

Sad news. RIP.

DCWat · Post by **DCWat** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:52 am

Sorry that I never got to see him play. Our Lofthouse, Matthews, Finney and obviously a true legend in every sense of the word.

Condolences to his family, friends and of course Clarets who will be mourning his passing.

Murger · Post by **Murger** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:54 am

RIP Jimmy

KeighleyClaret · Post by **KeighleyClaret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:54 am

Oh dear. I know he hasn't been in good health for a while but its still a shock. I first met him when I was in the Nursery class at Rosehill - he lived directly opposite and used to collect his son after school! We were a football mad school and Jimmy was our hero, still is for me. Easily the best player I have ever seen and one of the nicest men.

We have lost a Burnley Legend today but his family have lost much more. Sincere condolences to Jimmy's family, I hope you are comforted by the love and respect that will be poured out over the coming hours and days.

bfcmik · Post by **bfcmik** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:55 am

Very sad news. R.I.P. to a true Burnley legend!

randomclaret2 · Post by **randomclaret2** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:59 am

Very sad news.RIP Jimmy

Dom · Post by **Dom** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:00 am

Well before my time but a club legend, best wishes to his family. RIP.

edison · Post by **edison** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:00 am

Terribly sad news

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:01 am

Rip to a Burnley hero... Sad news for football and the town.

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:01 am

As a young, distant, Burnley fan, I cried when Jimmy McIlroy was sold to Stoke.

On seeing this news, the tears welled again.

The very embodiment and spirit of Burnley Football Club.

Thank you for your inspiration, given freely, throughout your life.

A sad, sad day.

mkmel · Post by **mkmel** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:03 am

The passing of a Burnley legend and from what I have heard a lovely gentleman

RIP Jimmy

basil6345789 · Post by **basil6345789** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:03 am

Great footballer, great man also.

Suratclaret · Post by **Suratclaret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:04 am

Like others on here, I was privileged to watch this wonderfully talented and inspirational footballer play many times for the Clarets. I don't think I have seen anyone else play for Burnley who was as good as Jimmy. I was also lucky enough to meet him on a number of occasions over the years and what a pleasure that was. To talk to my boyhood hero and shake his hand was a never to be forgotten experience.
We have indeed lost THE Burnley legend and football has lost a real talent. Thanks for all those memories Jimmy. May you rest in peace.

AngleseyClaret · Post by **AngleseyClaret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:05 am

IanMcL wrote:As a young, distant, Burnley fan, I cried when Jimmy McIlroy was sold to Stoke.

On seeing this news, the tears welled again.

The very embodiment and spirit of Burnley Football Club.

Thank you for your inspiration, given freely, throughout your life.

A sad, sad day.

Same here best ever Burnley player and my hero as a young lad, absolute legend RIP Jimmy Mac

Royboyclaret · Post by **Royboyclaret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:07 am

Desperately sad news. My favourite ever Claret and the greatest player ever to play for Burnley.

Rest In Peace Mac.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:08 am

Before my time, so I was never fortunate enough to see him play. But I have yet to meet anyone who watched Burnley in that era who didn't say that in a team of wonderful players, Jimmy was the best of the lot. I had the pleasure of meeting him mid 90s when he was a guest of the club for one of the matches and you could see the esteem he was held in from the older guests that day. I chatted to him for 5 minutes and found him such a modest and unassuming gentleman who happily posed for photos and signed autographs.

Today we lose our legend, our icon, our greatest ever. The saddest of days. RIP Jimmy McIlroy MBE.

RalphCoatesComb · Post by **RalphCoatesComb** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:08 am

R.I.P. Jimmy

Condolences to your family Xxx

CleggHall · Post by **CleggHall** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:09 am

The greatest player I have ever seen, his orchestration of the 59/60 championship side was a footballing lesson, a work of art and pure magic. Thanks for the memories Mac, you were a true genius and gentleman, RIP.

lakedistrictclaret · Post by **lakedistrictclaret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:09 am

I too had the privilege of seeing Jimmy play for Burnley once or twice as a young lad.

RIP.

Claretlad · Post by **Claretlad** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:09 am

RIP a sad day.

claptrappers_union · Post by **claptrappers_union** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:11 am

A couple of times, I walked down the stairs from the executive boxes in the Jimmy McIlory Stand with Jimmy after the match. I was humbled that he would start small talk. I didn't know him, but its nice when people held in such high regard in professions such as sport do that. Nice fella and a half decent footballer in his day, apparently.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:11 am

Terribly sad. Had heard he was unwell and was shocked to hear that too.

Met him a couple of times. I believe he was a great footballer but was clear he was an even greater man. Softly spoken and a true gent. Terribly sad.

I am sure he knew though that he will always be remembered fondly here. He made the town his home. But also remembered back in his birthplace.

Sad.

Wexford_Claret · Post by **Wexford_Claret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:11 am

The greatest. RIP.

ClaretPope · Post by **ClaretPope** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:12 am

Terribly sad news. An absolute giant of a player for BFC. He, reportedly, did his first public speaking gig at KSC 110 Club when presenting prizes for St Mary's Youth Club/KSC - he was very shy. I went to Lancs Cricket a couple of times with him and Paul; he loved cricket and was a decent player.

Pimlico_Claret · Post by **Pimlico_Claret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:12 am

It was because of players like Jimmy that my grandad started to follow Burnley back in the 50's,and we are now into our 5th generation of Clarets in our family.
RIP a true legend.

COBBLE · Post by **COBBLE** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:12 am

So sad. Doesn't seem so long since he used to attend the remembrance day service. He had that dignity about him that a lot of great people have.
I can still remember the shock and betrayal when Bob Lord sold him.

RIP Jimmy

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:13 am

RIP Jimmy, always seemed to have a smile on his face and really took to being a special part of Burnley as a town as well as a club.

Will we see a player quite so iconic in Claret at the Turf, and in the town, again? I'd say we'll be hard pushed.

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:14 am

A very sad day for Burnley and Burnley fans everywhere.
Rest in peace Jimmy. A true Burnley legend and a gentleman.
Very sad.

MT03ALG · Post by **MT03ALG** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:17 am

My treasured possession as a youngster was a Burnley Number 8 shirt - Jimmy Mac's number. I had the privilege of meeting Jimmy a few times. He was a quietly spoken, true gentleman and IMO Burnley's best ever player. RIP Jimmy.

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:18 am

Very sad news. RIP.
Never saw him play but met him a few times. Lovely man.

DAVETHEVICAR · Post by **DAVETHEVICAR** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:19 am

Very sad news RIP Jimmy
Condolences to his family and many friends.
Possibly the best ever player to wear the Claret and Blue of Burnley.
Was very privileged to have seen him play many times since 1958 until he left the club.

gandhisflipflop · Post by **gandhisflipflop** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:21 am

Met him when i was 10 years old for the first time as he was a guest when my grandad did the half time draw on my grandads 80th birthday in around 2000. He was my grandads hero. Years later my grandad was ill in 2011 shortly before he died and was being wheeled around marks and spencers when he bumped into jimmy mac, both their faces lit up as they hugged each other like they'd known eachother all their lives. He was merely a fan and jimmy remembered him. That just summed him up. Genuinely gutted about this and i hope his suffering is over. Rest in peace.

THEWELLERNUT70 · Post by **THEWELLERNUT70** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:22 am

R.I.P. The Greatest.
Condolences to all Jimmy's family and friends

I was born too late to watch him play, but met him many times over the years and he was always a lovely approachable man,a true gentleman. The last time I met him was with my eldest daughter at a function at the Turf. As Jimmy had spotted my daughter's long auburn red curly hair Jimmy came over to us and began chatting to us and took a real shine to her

I'm genuinely gutted by the sad news

RammyClaret61 · Post by **RammyClaret61** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:22 am

Very sad news. I spent many a summers afternoon in the Rammy cricket scorebox with Jimmy when he reported for the Sports Pink & Evening Star. A charming man. RIP Jimmy

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:23 am

Gutted to log on and see this.

My Dad's all-time favourite player.
I never saw him in C&B, though my first Clarets game was his first against us for Stoke.

Simply the Greatest.
R.I.P Jimmy.

Steve-Harpers-perm · Post by **Steve-Harpers-perm** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:25 am

Sad news my dads hero. I told him once at a sportsman’s dinner and he said tell your dad ‘he’s s silly bugger’. RIP Jimmy Mac.