Jimmy McIlroy

[Targetman]

I believe it was 72 years ago today that Jimmy McIlroy made his Burnley debut away at Sunderland.
The score was 1-1, lets hope we can go one better with that tomorrow.

He was both a magnificent player and a magnificent person!
Those of us who are old enough to have seen him play were very fortunate.

[Royboyclaret]

Simply the best.

[Vino blanco]

A very fabulous, great player in a great team. The best I have seen at Turf Moor.

[Woodleyclaret]

I loved his penalties,rolled nonchalantly into the far corner.

[CleggHall]

I worked in Belfast in the late 60s, his penalties were less admired there, he missed a couple for NI including a complete roller to Ron Springett in England’s goal. However at Turf Moor he was invincible, will remember him at Sunderland tomorrow. Best and Mac were the finest players I have ever seen.

[FCBurnley]

When we played footie in Tod Rd school yard it was always a battle to bag being Jimmy Mac. What a player and what a man

[midsummersday]

A real class act,he made football to look easy,we have had plenty of top class players ,but jimmy mac was a class above.
Pity he had a fallout with bob lord and was sold to stoke city,but we had the best off him,as said also a lovely man.
iI got to meet him when he presented the winners medals at the old seedhill nelson,when we won the 7 a side,a great memory, a chance to
shake his hand.Sadly gone now ,but not forgotten by clarets that got to see his magic....like Hamburg at turf moor in the fairs cup,he ran them ragged
they just could not cope with his shimmies and nutmegs,setting up goals ,i think for ROBSON POINTER.....great moments ont turf

[Carwin261]

Also nutmegging Tottenham’s Dave Mackay.

[NoFixedAbode_Claret]

Before my time a tad. Always a bit frustrating that there isn't more old footage of him to view. As with many from that era.

[jedi_master]

I love threads like this as it lets me learn more about our best players. I’m 35 so 92 onwards is what I have been able to view. My Dad started watching in the mid 60’s so he has regaled me with stories of his favourites from that period and the 70’s, but he didn’t see McIlroy either.

What player from the modern era is he most comparable to in style would people say?

[Royboyclaret]

I love threads like this as it lets me learn more about our best players. I’m 35 so 92 onwards is what I have been able to view. My Dad started watching in the mid 60’s so he has regaled me with stories of his favourites from that period and the 70’s, but he didn’t see McIlroy either.

What player from the modern era is he most comparable to in style would people say?

There is'nt one, jedi_master.

Mac was unique, able to take three opposition players out of the game simply with a drop a shoulder.

We were so lucky to have his talent here at Turf Moor. In the way of George Best at Old Trafford, he really was that good.

[basil6345789]

A real class act,he made football to look easy,we have had plenty of top class players ,but jimmy mac was a class above.
Pity he had a fallout with bob lord and was sold to stoke city,but we had the best off him,as said also a lovely man.
iI got to meet him when he presented the winners medals at the old seedhill nelson,when we won the 7 a side,a great memory, a chance to
shake his hand.Sadly gone now ,but not forgotten by clarets that got to see his magic....like Hamburg at turf moor in the fairs cup,he ran them ragged
they just could not cope with his shimmies and nutmegs,setting up goals ,i think for ROBSON POINTER.....great moments ont turf

I knew Mac and what a superb man he was. He often said how good Robbo was and how easy he made it for him as he "always knew where he'd be". I took several copies of "Right Inside Soccer" to him, to autograph for my mates and he never failed to say "now nip 'round to Jimmy Robson's and get his autograph". He would've been a great TV show host - very intelligent, knowledgeable and approachable. Played a nice game of golf too!

[Royboyclaret]

I knew Mac and what a superb man he was. He often said how good Robbo was and how easy he made it for him as he "always knew where he'd be". I took several copies of "Right Inside Soccer" to him, to autograph for my mates and he never failed to say "now nip 'round to Jimmy Robson's and get his autograph". He would've been a great TV show host - very intelligent, knowledgeable and approachable. Played a nice game of golf too!

Just a shame it ended the way it did after an amazing 12 years at the Turf.

[claret59]

I was one of them fortunate enough to have see Jimmy play at his peak. Great as he was we knew he would be sold one day. Burnley were a selling club and his turn to raise some cash for the club inevitably arrived. (A player a season sold on.)
I remember going along to join in the disgust as him being sold. There was a public meeting outside Barlick Town Hall and this probably took place
at other venues too. It was all to no avail of course, Bob Lord would have his way and Harry Potts more than hinted that it was Mac's own fault that he had fallen out off favour. We fans thought that this was Potts showing his loyalty to Lord because he had no choice but to do so.

[Royboyclaret]

In this case I believe there was some justification in what Harry Potts was claiming.

In his final 6 months here Mac had become very much the Cristiano Ronaldo figure that we now see at Man United, almost a law unto himself. My Dad's version is that Mac had begun to travel back from away games with Director Reggie Cook and not with the rest of the players on the team bus. Bob Lord took exception to this and when the same thing happened after the defeat at Liverpool in the FA Cup it was the final straw.

Mac never played for Burnley again, but as fans, over the previous 12 years, we had witnessed the finest ever player to pull on the Claret shirt in post-war history. Mac was a genius and my memories of those 12 years will stay with me forever.