ARTICLE: Out of the cup at Liverpool as Mac says farewell to Burnley

[ClaretTony]

20th February 1963, 56 years ago today, Jimmy Mac played his last ever game for Burnley

See link
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[jdrobbo]

Those old enough enough to have seen our greatest ever, are very fortunate indeed.

[CleggHall]

A heart-breaker, there have been some downs as a Clarets supporter but Mac's sacking was a real blow, still makes no sense after all these years.

[Tricky Trevor]

Whilst in no way supporting Bob Lord in selling Jimmy Mac he was 32yo. In an age where players didn't go much beyond that, he’d also had a succession of injuries.
As it led to the Brian O’Neil/Bomber Harris midfield with hindsight it wasn’t that bad a decision.



Tin hat on, shinpads in waiting for the kicking.

[Silkyskills1]

Whilst in no way supporting Bob Lord in selling Jimmy Mac he was 32yo. In an age where players didn't go much beyond that, he’d also had a succession of injuries.
As it led to the Brian O’Neil/Bomber Harris midfield with hindsight it wasn’t that bad a decision.



Tin hat on, shinpads in waiting for the kicking.

'it wasn't that bad a decision'. Interesting to discover if there is one single person that might agree with that.

[Suratclaret]

Those old enough enough to have seen our greatest ever, are very fortunate indeed.

I do indeed feel very fortunate to have seen the great man play in a great team many times. To wake up on a Saturday morning with Burnley at home (and sometimes away if local), was such an exciting time for a young lad and the morning couldn't pass quickly enough. Great player, great times, great memories

[Royboyclaret]

Whilst in no way supporting Bob Lord in selling Jimmy Mac he was 32yo. In an age where players didn't go much beyond that, he’d also had a succession of injuries.
As it led to the Brian O’Neil/Bomber Harris midfield with hindsight it wasn’t that bad a decision.



Tin hat on, shinpads in waiting for the kicking.

In actual fact Mac had only just turned 31 years old a couple of months earlier and there was still plenty of football left in our greatest ever player.

That said, things were definitely changing at the Turf and Mac had almost become a law unto himself at the Club, for example travelling back from away matches in the car of his friend John Cook rather than on the team coach. Harry Potts told the Burnley Express that nobody was responsible for his departure other than Jimmy himself. Whether that was fact or just Potts speaking as a mouthpiece for Bob Lord is open to question.

No matter, Mac was the finest player I've ever seen in a Claret & Blue shirt by some distance and will always be remembered for his magnificent contribution to that great side that won the Championship in '59/'60.

[CleggHall]

[quote=" Royboy
No matter, Mac was the finest player I've ever seen in a Claret & Blue shirt by some distance and will always be remembered for his magnificent contribution to that great side that won the Championship in '59/'60.[/quote]

Agree entirely Roy, us oldies were fortunate to see Mac and that team, other greats followed but Jimmy was a one off.

[ClaretTony]

Whilst in no way supporting Bob Lord in selling Jimmy Mac he was 32yo. In an age where players didn't go much beyond that, he’d also had a succession of injuries.
As it led to the Brian O’Neil/Bomber Harris midfield with hindsight it wasn’t that bad a decision.



Tin hat on, shinpads in waiting for the kicking.

Past his best undoubtedly but one of the worst decisions ever made by anyone at our football club. Poor Harry Potts was no more than the messenger.

No one will ever know why because all of those involved have now left us. Lord didn’t like John Cook’s dad but I’m not sure Jimmy’s friendship with John, which remained until Jimmy passed away, was the reason.

Shocking decision.

[ClaretLoup]

Whilst in no way supporting Bob Lord in selling Jimmy Mac he was 32yo. In an age where players didn't go much beyond that, he’d also had a succession of injuries.
As it led to the Brian O’Neil/Bomber Harris midfield with hindsight it wasn’t that bad a decision.

Wash your mouth out.

1) Stoke were promoted in 1963, the following season Mcilroy scored 9 goals for Stoke , 2 less than Burnley top scorer Lochhead.

2) Mac missed one game in the 1962-63 season.

3) In an era when football clubs were entirely dependent on gate money in March 1964 the gate vs Leicester City was 12,664. For the visit of Stoke City it rose to 26,868. The following home game the local derby vs Bolton attracted 12,554 spectators.

Moreover in October thousands went to Ewood to watch Stoke as McIlroy was playing there. 30,517 were on for that one. Their next fixture vs Fulham 13,610 turned up.

[claretspice]

Wash your mouth out.

1) Stoke were promoted in 1963, the following season Mcilroy scored 9 goals for Stoke , 2 less than Burnley top scorer Lochhead.

2) Mac missed one game in the 1962-63 season.

3) In an era when football clubs were entirely dependent on gate money in March 1964 the gate vs Leicester City was 12,664. For the visit of Stoke City it rose to 26,868. The following home game the local derby vs Bolton attracted 12,554 spectators.

Moreover in October thousands went to Ewood to watch Stoke as McIlroy was playing there. 30,517 were on for that one. Their next fixture vs Fulham 13,610 turned up.

Many, many years before my time, but I've often wondered if the abolition of the maximum wage was part of the reason why McIlroy ultimately left. Not suggesting he was agitating for a higher wage, but presumably by March 1963 there were plenty of clubs (of whom Stoke may well have been one) who were willing and able to pay higher wages, and presumably isn't beyond the realms that Bob Lord was concerned about the potential impact on the wage bill of having a superstar player at the club.

[Sausage]

Many, many years before my time, but I've often wondered if the abolition of the maximum wage was part of the reason why McIlroy ultimately left. Not suggesting he was agitating for a higher wage, but presumably by March 1963 there were plenty of clubs (of whom Stoke may well have been one) who were willing and able to pay higher wages, and presumably isn't beyond the realms that Bob Lord was concerned about the potential impact on the wage bill of having a superstar player at the club.

Or perhaps it was just that Bob Lord was a massive bellend.

[FCBurnley]

I am just proud to have watched our greatest ever player ( by a long way AND we have had many other great players). I swear he kept the ball in the corner at Maine Rd (1960) for at least 10 minutes (maybe a slight exaggeration).