ARTICLE: Our greatest goalscorer Willie Irvine dies

[MrTopTier]

My dad’s favourite player.
The reason he became a claret rather than a Utd fan.

RIP Willie Irvine.

[It Is What It Is]

RIP Willie you gave me and thousands of Claret fans some truly unforgettable memories.

[ecc]

Willie Irvine was before my time. Only my late father would know if I saw him play as I believe my first Burnley match was in 1968, his final year at TM.But reading Tony's article, I suspect I didn't see him play.

I am saddened for his family; I'm not sure many of us knew one of his sons was a UTC member.

And I am moved by the sadness of those of you who knew him and remember seeing him play.

His record was exceptional.To my shame, I didn't realise just how good he was.

My Dad often said the following two things:

"You know, people often malign Burnley and the surrounding area but if it's so bad why do so many former players choose to live there when they finish playing?"

"I often think we've had so many players from Northern Ireland because the landscapes are similar."

Part of our history has been taken away from us but Mr Irvine's suffering is over and that is what matters the most. May his loved ones and friends find the strength to cope with his loss.

RIP

[Silkyskills1]

Very sad to hear this news. Nothing to add to the glowing tributes expressed so far so I'll just revert to a little story I think I've mentioned on here before. This will be it's last airing.
When Willie was still an 'A' team player, already catching attention due to his goalscoring we had a fixture against Blackburn Rovers one Saturday morning. My eldest brother knew a similarly aged lad to Willie who was also trying to make his way into the game professionally and thought of quite well, a defender at Blackburn. His pre match banter was something along the lines of 'he won't get past me' and so on. Burnley won the game 8-2, Willie bagged 6 of them. The Blackburn player told his friends after the game 'I was marking him in the box and then he just disappeared, couldn't stick with him, never seen anything like it' Thankyou Willie Irvine RIP.

[Claretmisterg]

RIP Willie a great player and a true clarets legend.

[Bfc]

I walked past the ground earlier and saw the Club flag at full mast, which given it’s the weekend, is expected. But I hope the Club have requested the flag be lowered to half mast tomorrow, showing the Irvine and Clarets family, that Bill gets the mark of respect and tribute he rightly deserves.

[Tackler49]

Sad to hear the passing of club legend Willie Irvine his partnership with Andy Lochhead was something to see, he scored 59 goals in two seasons in the mid sixties and was a big fans favourite i remember one occasion he scored at the Cricket F/End he jumped into the crowd when he did he turned to us and said to us don’t go away I’ll be back and sure enough 5mins later he scored again he had a good career until he broke his leg Happy Memories RIP Willie

[Goodclaret]

Unfortunately, he was before my Claret times but every Burnley fan "knows" Willie Irvine via past reports, videos and older Clarets who had the pleasure of watching him play. Genuinely gutted about this news and all my thoughts and best wishes go to his family, friends and Claret fans who, as can be seen on this thread, have been affected by his passing. Some players just leave a stamp on a club and Willie sure as hell did that with us. Rest easy you true legend

[FCBurnley]

Sad to hear the passing of club legend Willie Irvine his partnership with Andy Lochhead was something to see, he scored 59 goals in two seasons in the mid sixties and was a big fans favourite i remember one occasion he scored at the Cricket F/End he jumped into the crowd when he did he turned to us and said to us don’t go away I’ll be back and sure enough 5mins later he scored again he had a good career until he broke his leg Happy Memories RIP Willie

Correction. Willie didn’t break his leg. Johnny Morrissey of Everton did. Thanks

[Lip]

[

A couple of pictures of Willie for everybody to enjoy attachment=0]IMG-20250727-WA0007.jpg[/attachment]

[Andingle]

https://youtu.be/yAKnoarYh20?si=nA3fxWOY0UsKtNCm

[ClaretTony]

https://youtu.be/yAKnoarYh20?si=nA3fxWOY0UsKtNCm

Some amazing talent on the pitch that day in the forward lines - my first visit to WHL

[dsr]

My mother and one or two of the other teachers at Marsden school used to go ten pin bowling with Willie Irvine, Andy Lochhead, and one or two of the other young footballers. Lunchtime was 12.0 to 1.30 and they usually got back on time!

[Targetman]

Some amazing talent on the pitch that day in the forward lines - my first visit to WHL

It was also my first visit there!

[Folkestoneclaret]

Willie scored the first Clarets goal I ever saw -at Highbury c1968. Met him and Andy Lochhead in more recent times in Bob Lord match hospitality. Both of them legends. RIP

[Bfc]

Anyone notice if the Flag was at half mast today?.

[Claret Till I Die]

Anyone notice if the Flag was at half mast today?.

It wasn't around 12.30pm..


.

[ClaretTony]

If these people running our club bothered to understand then they would learn that the club flag should only fly on a match day unless someone has passed away at which point it flies at half mast.

If that flag is not flying at half mast over 48 hours since Willie passed then it is totally disrespectful in my view.

[claret59]

My first reply was lost some where, deleted from above? ) I trust not as I remember his exploits in the A and B Teams, and CL.
We young fans of my generation could not wait for his first team debut. We wrote to Harry Potts to hasten the day when we could see him in the
First team.
This is sad news but brings back many great memories of a great claret..
RIP Willie and condolences to those who knew him personally.

[Bfc]

IF they don’t lower the Club flag to half mast, as a mark of respect. It won’t be the first time for the passing of a former player.
Were a member of the Clubs hierarchy to pass away, I hope they don’t lower it, for whoever. That would be very distasteful in my eyes.
It’s a shame someone couldn’t put a Club flag half way up a lamp post, across from the main entrance, to show our respect. I’d even pay for the cost of a flag, if 1 was put up.

[Row x]

My mother and one or two of the other teachers at Marsden school used to go ten pin bowling with Willie Irvine, Andy Lochhead, and one or two of the other young footballers. Lunchtime was 12.0 to 1.30 and they usually got back on time!

Out of interest, where did they go bowling. I went to Marsden primary school and I can't think where it would be, I'd have sneaked out if I'd known

[Bfc]

Row x, I think you’re mixing up 10 pin bowling at Finsley Gate and Crown Green Bowling, on a local bowling Green. You’d be in trouble getting to Finsley Gate, from school.

[Row x]

Row x, I think you’re mixing up 10 pin bowling at Finsley Gate and Crown Green Bowling, on a local bowling Green. You’d be in trouble getting to Finsley Gate, from school.

I'm not, it was dsr who mentioned 10 pin bowling

[wadeswondergoal]

Not the thread for stupid arguments.

[Bfc]

Apologies Row x

[Claret Till I Die]

My dad's funeral will be held at St John's Church Worsthorne at 2pm on Thursday 14th August, followed by drinks in the Bay Horse at Worsthorne.
Family flowers only please but donations to the Jeff Astle Foundation if desired.
Thank you for all the cards, flowers and kind words given to all the family at this sad time x

[Blue Skies]

Thanks Claret till I die. I have great memories of WI playing for the Clarets but as you mentioned the Bay Horse he once played at Holt House for them with 10 ten against Redrose at centre half. He had CT in his pocket not hard I know but his last minute strike in a 4 4 draw was superb. WI RIP.

[ClaretTony]

My dad's funeral will be held at St John's Church Worsthorne at 2pm on Thursday 14th August, followed by drinks in the Bay Horse at Worsthorne.
Family flowers only please but donations to the Jeff Astle Foundation if desired.
Thank you for all the cards, flowers and kind words given to all the family at this sad time x

Thanks CTID. I'm hoping to be there. I'm thinking about you all.