ARTICLE: Our greatest goalscorer Willie Irvine dies

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:17 pm

I’m absolutely devastated with this news

https://www.uptheclarets.com/our-greate ... rvine-dies

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:20 pm

My thoughts are with his wife Rita, his sons and all the Irvine family.

As per the link, I’ll never see anyone like him again in a claret and blue shirt.

gandhisflipflop · Post by **gandhisflipflop** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:21 pm

Absolutely awful news. RIP to a true legend and my thoughts are with the entire Irvine family.

summitclaret · Post by **summitclaret** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:23 pm

Such sad news. A very fitting tribute Tony. RIP Willie. So many great goals at an amazing rate. I was very close to that awful tackle at Goodison, with my late Dad.

lakedistrictclaret · Post by **lakedistrictclaret** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:23 pm

Oh No.
One of my all time Claret heroes. I started supporting Burnley in 1965-66, when Willie was scoring for fun.

My sincerest condolences to all his friends and family.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:24 pm

I’m sat at Huddersfield with tears streaming down.

onewillieirvine · Post by **onewillieirvine** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:24 pm

No sadder day for all Clarets. The finest goalscorer I've ever seen. RIP Willie, Thanks for the memories

Holmechapel · Post by **Holmechapel** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:25 pm

Willie and Andy what a pair, RIP to a Clarets legend and a true gentleman.

DAVETHEVICAR · Post by **DAVETHEVICAR** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:25 pm

Very very sad news and one of my all time favourite Burnley players alongside fellow strikers Ray Pointer and Jimmy Robson.
In recent years I met him outside the ground and was lucky to have a photo with him outside his photo on the the wall of the stand

A wonderful kind and lovely man
RIP Willie
My thoughts to his wife sons and all his family and friends

Andingle · Post by **Andingle** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:28 pm

As somebody said to me earlier as Willie hopefully moves to a better place , they now have their forward.
God bless Willie

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:31 pm

Such a great shame.

RIP

Aclaret · Post by **Aclaret** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:33 pm

Sounds like a very difficult article for you to write Tony....just before my time was Willie but obviously ive read and seen much about him.....farewell Burnley legend may he RIP.
Condolences to his family and friends.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:33 pm

Such incredibly sad news at the loss of such an all-time Claret Titan.
My thoughts are with his family and friends.

R.I.P. Willie
Thankyou for the memories.

aclaretinstevenage · Post by **aclaretinstevenage** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:34 pm

Sad news indeed, I'll always remember the hat-trick away at Spurs in the cup and ending up on the losing side.

RIP Willie.

Carnsmerry12 · Post by **Carnsmerry12** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:34 pm

My favourite Burnley player by a country mile. Very very sad news indeed.

Claretnick · Post by **Claretnick** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:37 pm

Oh no, another truly great Claret leaves us. RIP Willie, sending condolences to his family and friends.

durhamclaret · Post by **durhamclaret** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:39 pm

God bless Willie, condolences to all the family, there’s only one Willie Irvine.

mikeS · Post by **mikeS** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:40 pm

Willie was one of the first visitors with his son to the Clarets Collected archive at the Library when it opened two years ago. We've lost a great Claret legend today and A true gentleman.

123EasyasBFC · Post by **123EasyasBFC** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:40 pm

Luppy · Post by **Luppy** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:41 pm

A claret legend and just a very nice bloke. Sad to hear. RIP Willie

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:41 pm

Absolutely awful news. I remember him showing us around the ground many years ago. A lovely man full of humour. My sincere condolences to his wife and family. I hope the club pay a fitting tribute to him. He really was the meaning of a “True Claret”.

Mondsley · Post by **Mondsley** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:44 pm

So sad. My boyhood hero.

RIP Willie

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:45 pm

The word "legend" is often misused , but certainly not in this case. A true Burnley Football Club titan. Awful news.

Thinking of his family at this time.
RIP Willie.

Darnhill Claret · Post by **Darnhill Claret** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:46 pm

RIP Willie.

Sincere condolences to all family members and also to others who knew the man.

KING.

LlandennyClaret · Post by **LlandennyClaret** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:47 pm

Very, very sad news. Was one of my dad’s favourite Clarets. I was lucky enough to meet him for a chat a few times. Lovely gentleman.
Condolences to his family and friends.
RIP Willie

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:47 pm

My thoughts are with his family at this very sad time. I was lucky to have had a few conversations with Willie, he was the first player I would.class as my hero.

What a gentleman, what a player and what a legend!

Rest in Peace Willie

Petersa · Post by **Petersa** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:48 pm

Sad news indeed

I cut my Clarets teeth as a young boy watching Central League games with my Dad. I remember a buzz even with a comparatively small crowd when the two Willie's, Morgan and Irvine, were announced, I think they were about 17.

Thanks Willie for memories that have lasted all these years.

Longford Claret · Post by **Longford Claret** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:48 pm

R.I.P. Willie one of the true Burnley greats.

Tricky Trevor · Post by **Tricky Trevor** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:00 pm

RIP Willie. Thank you for the pleasure you gave. One of the very finest goal scorers ever.
For any of our younger fans that rave over Andy Payton or Charlie Austin they couldn’t lace his boots, different class.
Deepest condolences to all family and friends.

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:02 pm

Holmechapel wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:25 pm
Willie and Andy what a pair, RIP to a Clarets legend and a true gentleman.

I was fortunate enough to get a ground tour with Willie and as we kept bumping into Andy Lochead and his group, the banter between the two was constant. Obviously, great pals

A sad day for all Clarets.

Condolences to his family.

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:06 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:17 pm
I’m absolutely devastated with this news

https://www.uptheclarets.com/our-greate ... rvine-dies

Just read your article, CT. Some of my thoughts are with you too. Not family but it seems like it.

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:07 pm

Sad news indeed RIP Willie Irvine ... thoughts with your family and friends.

CleggHall · Post by **CleggHall** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:09 pm

Hat trick at White Hart Lane in 4-3 defeat in the 1960s lives in my memory, RIP Willie.

Bop · Post by **Bop** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:09 pm

Met him in the Managers Lounge several years ago. A proper gent. RIP Willie.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:17 pm

Too young to have seen him play. Absolutely privileged to have met him most home games in the Guest Bar mid 90s with his son Darren. I know he has not been well for some time now but always sad to hear one of our greats leave us. RIP Willie Irvine.

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:18 pm

It's such a shame that there is so little footage of him displaying his brilliance. And to think that younger football fans of other clubs haven't heard of him. He was utterly brilliant. A completely instinctive goalscorer, but there was more to his game than that. RIP, Willie Irvine.

Vino blanco · Post by **Vino blanco** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:19 pm

That’s such sad,sad news. For me, Willie is right up there with the other real Burnley legends like Jimmy Mac, John Connelly, Brian O’Neil, Raph Coates. What a great goal scorer, he just had that natural God-given gift of being always there at the right time, right foot, left foot, head, it didn’t matter to Willie. RIP to a true Burnley legend, thoughts with his family and friends.

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:21 pm

God bless you, Willie Irvine. Rest in Peace.

My condolences to all Willie's family and friends.

One of my class mates (at a guess, 1966) was very proud to show us all the Northern Ireland shirt that Willie Irvine had given him.

DXS · Post by **DXS** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:23 pm

Worked with Willie for a few years and absolutely loved talking to him about football, we all hung on every word, what a fantastic bloke, condolences to his family, RIP Willie and thanks for all the memories

Cajun · Post by **Cajun** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:23 pm

My original Burnley hero - so sad to hear of his death. RIP

Pad1951 · Post by **Pad1951** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:24 pm

Rest in peace Willie,a true Clarets legend.
Thanks for the memories.

ashtonlongsider · Post by **ashtonlongsider** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:29 pm

Really sad to hear this news. Another boyhood hero gone. Willie our greatest goalscorer whose goals were achieved in a very short period of time and whose career was cruelly derailed far too soon. Condolences to his family and friends. RIP Willie and thanks for a lifetime of memories.

Middle-agedClaret · Post by **Middle-agedClaret** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:32 pm

Such very sad news. Willie was my boyhood hero, and the reason why I’ve supported Burnley all my life.
As a young boy in Berlin in the 1960’s, where my father was serving with 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, I played for a team coached by Joe Irvine, Willie’s brother. Joe was in the same regiment as my Dad.
I had no affiliation to any club at that time, and being young, impressionable and from N. Ireland it seemed fight to follow Willie’s team, I’ve never regretted my choice.
He was a truly great player and from all I’ve heard over the years ( including CT’s piece) a lovely man.
My condolences to his family.
RIP Willie.

Mike47 · Post by **Mike47** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:33 pm

One of my favourite players from that great team in the 60’s. I met him briefly in later years and what a lovely man he seemed. The book he wrote with Dave Thomas is one of my most enjoyable Burnley books.

turfytopper · Post by **turfytopper** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:36 pm

What a player, what a lovely guy, what an ambassador for Burnley having lived here most of his life.
Sincerest condolences to his family.

Lip · Post by **Lip** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:41 pm

R.I.P. Willie ,a childhood hero of mine ,great player and a very good friend. Willie came over to Burnley and lodged with my Uncle Tom and Auntie Nan. Thanks for the childhood memories of playing football with you on a Sunday morning at Towneley park. Never forgotten.. condolences to Rita and all the family. Xxx

COBBLE · Post by **COBBLE** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:45 pm

RIP Willie. No one scored a goal with greater joy. When you got your goal to match Andy's five? I was so relieved. My memories as a youngster were watching you train down at Gawthorpe.

Rodleydave · Post by **Rodleydave** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 5:58 pm

RIP Willie. Working with him on his book 'Together Again' years ago was a privilege and a pleasure. So many happy Friday afternoons when we met after he had finished work. Condolences to all the family.

CalamityClaret · Post by **CalamityClaret** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 6:03 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 26, 2025 4:17 pm
I’m absolutely devastated with this news

https://www.uptheclarets.com/our-greate ... rvine-dies

A lovely tribute. Before my time but what we wouldn't give for a bloke like that upfront. What an incredible goal record. Cheers Bill, RIP

Always a Claret

UTC

LordBob · Post by **LordBob** » Sat Jul 26, 2025 6:03 pm

My all time hero tragic his footballing career ended so soon I'll always remember when he and his brother Bobby who then played for Stoke City were made captains for the night RIP Willie.