Jim Thompson - RIP

burnmark · Post by **burnmark** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 5:39 pm

The club have just announced his passing on social media:

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Jim Thompson.

Jim was a club employee for over 60 years and was a friendly and recognisable face at Turf Moor through those decades.

His loyalty to the club was even recognised in 2011 when he received the Football League Unsung Hero Award, to a well-deserved standing ovation at the high profile awards event.

We offer our condolences to Jim's family and friends.

RIP

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 5:40 pm

Saddened to just hear that Jim Thompson (not the ex-player but the man who was in charge of the turnstiles for years) has passed away.

My thoughts with his wife Violet and family.

ALP · Post by **ALP** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 5:44 pm

A superb Gentleman who I had the pleasure of chatting to on many occasions, he'd done most jobs behind the scenes and I remember him once saying he should have picked the team (whilst laughing his head off). Rest in Peace Jim, you were one loyal servant to the club.

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 5:55 pm

RIP Jim another who will be sorely missed ...

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 6:15 pm

A great character and a lovely man. He will be missed for sure. My sincere condolences to Jim’s wife, family and friends.

Andingle · Post by **Andingle** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 6:32 pm

A real genuine club stalwart , RIP Jim

Loyalclaret · Post by **Loyalclaret** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 6:33 pm

An instantly recognisable face around Turf Moor. First remember him from the reserve matches, when I was a young boy starting off as a Claret. Thoughts with his family and friends.

RIP Jim

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 6:38 pm

R.I.P Jim.
Remember him from years ago when the 35 club was going in the CS.
Very sad news.

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 6:41 pm

R.I.P. Jim.

Very sad news .

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 6:43 pm

Yes, sincere condolences to Jim's family.
RIP

Didn't he (among numerous other things) often work behind the counter of the old ticket office?
As mentioned, a stalwart in the true sense of the word.

elwaclaret · Post by **elwaclaret** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 6:47 pm

My memories of Jim Thompson date back to my first match. We picked tickets up at the ticket office and he made such a fuss of the 7year old me that I can still remember both him and the ticket office like it was yesterday. Haven’t seen him for donky’s years but he will live on in my memory of my first trip to Turf Moor (Notts County 1978).

RIP Jim Thompson. Thank you. God bless.
Thoughts are with his family and friends.

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 6:53 pm

RIP, as soon as I so his face I recognised him, very familiar figure on match days great example of a club stalwart.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 6:58 pm

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑
Tue Oct 12, 2021 6:43 pm
Yes, sincere condolences to Jim's family.
RIP

Didn't he (among numerous other things) often work behind the counter of the old ticket office?
As mentioned, a stalwart in the true sense of the word.

Jim worked as a chauffeur for the building society and also did the turnstiles at the Turf. He went into the ticket office when he retired from his full time job, around mid to late 80s. Nobody made a better cup of tea in there either than Jim.

I've not seen him for some time but he looked very frail when I did last see him and I reckon it's about three years ago.

Claretitus · Post by **Claretitus** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 7:01 pm

Genuine nice guy who always had the interests at the club at heart. RIP Jim. A Clarets legend.

durhamclaret · Post by **durhamclaret** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 7:27 pm

God bless Jim, a true Claret legend.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 7:33 pm

Sad to read this. JIm ran the ticket office when I worked at the club mid 90s and was almost always in my bar after the game for a pint and a chat. Genuinely lovely bloke who served our club for so many years.

RIP Thommo

Juan Tanamera · Post by **Juan Tanamera** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 7:38 pm

I've bumped into Jim a few times on visits for tickets etc and nothing but good to say about him.
An absolute gentleman and my condolences to his family.
RIP Jim.

Steve-Harpers-perm · Post by **Steve-Harpers-perm** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:16 pm

Really sad news. A really lovely bloke.

Bfc · Post by **Bfc** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:50 pm

As said above a genuinely nice man RIP.
I'd known Jim since 1962. Those days he worked for the Co-op in a warehouse, in Burnley town centre, which supplied food to all their shops. For many years, his wife Vi, was the laundry woman at the Turf.

Being in charge of all the turnstile operators held a lot of responsibility. It was Jim who checked and recorded the number shown on the recorder ( a bit like a car mileage recorder) of each turnstile before the gates were opened. Then he would check them after the gates were closed during the game. As there were a lot of cash turnstiles, Jim had to make sure, all the turnstile operators got their cash bags back to the Club Secretary's office. Then he had to check the numbers showing on the turnstile counter again and pass the details to Albert Maddox, before the attendance was revealed.

Bfc · Post by **Bfc** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:57 pm

It would be fine gesture for the Club to fly the flag at half mast, for a loyal servant.

Funkydrummer · Post by **Funkydrummer** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:17 pm

Smashing fellah, always willing to chat or help whenever I met him.

RIP Jim and thoughts are with family and friends.

Fretters · Post by **Fretters** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:26 pm

I worked on the turnstiles between 2000 and 2005 and Jim was brilliant. He'd regularly stitch me up with the dreaded late gate, but you could never be annoyed at him.

RIP to a top bloke.

Claret Till I Die · Post by **Claret Till I Die** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:51 pm

Jim seems to have been around the Turf for ever. Never heard him say a bad word about anyone..

Inchy · Post by **Inchy** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 9:20 am

Very said news. Remember him throughout the 90s in the ticket off

aggi · Post by **aggi** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:31 am

Sad news. Like many others I worked for Jim on the turnstiles and remember him being a nice bloke.

basil6345789 · Post by **basil6345789** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:45 am

Yes very nice chap. RIP.

standishclarets · Post by **standishclarets** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 11:41 am

Sad news indeed. I remember Jim fondly from my days working at the Head Office of Burnley Building Society. During the time we had a football team, playing other Building Societies all over the country, Jim would always travel with us, acting in the role as a 'mentor' and trainer (with bucket and sponge etc !!).

Down at The Turf he was always there and more than once came to the recue when a bit of help was needed in the ticket office. For me, he was always a top man. God bless you, Jim.

Gaia · Post by **Gaia** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 2:22 pm

Jim was good at dishing the late gates out on the turnstiles which weren't popular with some cause they wanted to watch the match. Was great working with Jim on the turnstiles over the years, felt like a family club.

Hbclaret007 · Post by **Hbclaret007** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 2:48 pm

Jim was really helpful with my late mother when she used to call in the ticket office and harangue them!
He was always an absolute gentleman. RIP Jim, sincere condolences to his family.

Woodleyclaret · Post by **Woodleyclaret** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 2:52 pm

Rip Jim .I remember him in the ticket office cursing the new fangled ticket generating computer always with a smile on his face

claretgimmer · Post by **claretgimmer** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 5:28 pm

Like many people have already said, a true gentleman, used to enjoy putting the club to rights chatting to him and Bernard when we were down at the club getting balls of the Bob Lord and replacing floodlight bulbs, no doubt he was a character. RIP Jim you were one of our finest

BurnleyPaul · Post by **BurnleyPaul** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 6:01 pm

claretgimmer wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 13, 2021 5:28 pm
Like many people have already said, a true gentleman, used to enjoy putting the club to rights chatting to him and Bernard when we were down at the club getting balls of the Bob Lord and replacing floodlight bulbs, no doubt he was a character. RIP Jim you were one of our finest

Bernard is still going strong, although his wife Ann did die last year. Am sure that the news about Jim will be just as hard for him as the loss of his wife. Even up to a year or two back Jim was driving to Bernard’s house regularly and I know just how close they were for so many decades.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 6:15 pm

BurnleyPaul wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 13, 2021 6:01 pm
Bernard is still going strong, although his wife Ann did die last year. Am sure that the news about Jim will be just as hard for him as the loss of his wife. Even up to a year or two back Jim was driving to Bernard’s house regularly and I know just how close they were for so many decades.

Bernard must be getting on now, it’s years since he retired.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 6:46 pm

I was trying to remember the bloke who used to come in my bar with Jim and its Bernard. Always looked as though he had just finished fixing something, even when he had a blazer and club tie on.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 6:50 pm

Herts Clarets wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 13, 2021 6:46 pm
Always looked as though he had just finished fixing something, even when he had a blazer and club tie on.

That's Bernard

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 7:13 pm

Sad. A Burnley FC stalwart.
Thanks Jim.

BurnleyPaul · Post by **BurnleyPaul** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 7:38 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 13, 2021 6:15 pm
Bernard must be getting on now, it’s years since he retired.

In his 80s…

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 7:43 pm

They should name the ticket office after him

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 8:06 pm

BurnleyPaul wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 13, 2021 7:38 pm
In his 80s…

I knew he’d been retired a long time. Bernard used to have a treasure trove in the cricket field stand, stuff that had been thrown away such as the official opening plaque for the Centre Spot.

People like him and Jim, and there are others, are what have made the club.

BurnleyPaul · Post by **BurnleyPaul** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 9:52 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 13, 2021 8:06 pm
I knew he’d been retired a long time. Bernard used to have a treasure trove in the cricket field stand, stuff that had been thrown away such as the official opening plaque for the Centre Spot.

People like him and Jim, and there are others, are what have made the club.

He still has a serious chunk of it at home…

I think that one of my favourite pieces is an unused bulb from the old floodlights. It’s absolutely ginormous…

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:00 pm

BurnleyPaul wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 13, 2021 9:52 pm
He still has a serious chunk of it at home…

I think that one of my favourite pieces is an unused bulb from the old floodlights. It’s absolutely ginormous…

He took me to see it all one day. You have to wonder why some people at the club would want to throw away some of the stuff that Bernard rescued.

Really pleased to hear he’s still going strong.

Claret Till I Die · Post by **Claret Till I Die** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:32 pm

Bernard, another name from the distant past.

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 11:13 am

his funeral today

RIP Jim...and thankyou!

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:04 pm

I hope his last journey takes him along Harry Potts Way past the place he spent so many years of his life.

Loyalclaret · Post by **Loyalclaret** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:17 pm

Pretty certain that it did. I was behind the hearse as it past Turf Moor. Of course there were fans and staff outside in respect

BurnleyPaul · Post by **BurnleyPaul** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:36 pm

Mainly family at the funeral.

A few ex-club staff were there but nobody I recognised as being “current”. Quite surprising really…

I took Bernard and, as I expected, he was in tears.

claretgimmer · Post by **claretgimmer** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 1:11 pm

So sad, Bernard and him were good friends would be hard for him.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 5:06 pm

I was really sorry I couldn't be there today for Jim. Goodness knows how long I've known him but it's the loss of someone else who cared so much about our club. You are right claretgimmer, Jim & Bernard were good friends.