ARTICLE: Our greatest goalscorer Willie Irvine dies

[Clive 1960]

RIP Willie another Clarets legend sadly passed away...

[CaptJohn]

So so sad at this news. I'd met him a couple of times and the last time was when my daughter bought him a pint of Guinness in the Longside Corporate area. Wonderful goalscorer and a lovely man. RIP Willie.

[Claret Till I Die]

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

I used to go and have my dinner once a week with Tom & Nan when I first started at Mansfield school in 1978.

[sjb]

Simply the finest centre forward I have ever seen in Burnley colours since I started watching 62 years ago. Rest In Peace sir.

[Claret Till I Die]

Thank you for all the lovely tributes to my dad & hero. He's now at peace from that awful disease x

[ALP]

A very sad day, may he rest in peace. Sincere condolences to family and friends.

[BurnleyFC]

Devastating news.

A great player, Claret and person on the couple of occasions I was fortunate enough to talk to him.

Condolences to all his family.

[LordBob]

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.

[quoonbeatz]

Never saw him play obviously but I did meet him when we were on the ground tour some years ago. Lovely man.

[Juan Tanamera]

Heartbreaking news.
What heights could Willie have reached but for that devastating injury?
RIP to a Claret legend.

[Woodleyclaret]

A great player I had the pleasure of watching scoring for fun as a true Clarets legend
Rip Willie

[timscoot]

Very sad news. Condolences to his family .
A hero for my generation of Clarets . But also a lovely man .
Had some brilliant football stories too. His stories of being a roommate of George Best on Northern Ireland duty were brilliant !

[Bin Ont Turf]

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

I've read that story a few times over the years

Peace be with you, our Willie Irvine.

[Bfc]

CTID, please pass on my sincere condolences, to all the family and especially your Mum. I know you will all rally round her, as you have done all the time your Dad had been ill.
As you know, we had been friends for 60 years and I’ve so many special memories of him, both on the field and off it. I was also at the heartbreaking hat trick Cup game v Spurs.
I had the privilege of your Dad introducing me to his close friend and Brighton team mate Bert Murray, x Chelsea and Brighton forward, who later invited me to his pub Nr Pboro. An offer I took up and was given a free meal, as I was his guest. Bert will be heartbroken.
He told me, he was 1 of the Chelsea players sent home from Blackpool, for sneaking out of their hotel, for a very late night few pints, before they played us, the following night. Tommy Docherty, had his assistant sit in the foyer, awaiting their return, while Tommy sat on the bed in 1 of the rooms, covering the fire escape entry, which they did, thinking they wouldn’t be caught. They were ordered to make their own way, by train back to London. Bert said they made there way to Burnley and watched the match from the Longside.
The photos of us drinking together in the Bay Horse and the Miners on St Patrick’s Day. Sat together chatting with him and John Charles, another World Class Centre Forward/Centre Half, which I got a photo of the 3 of us.
I will cherish those and many many more memories of the man, who had time to chat with everyone, about football and leave them with their own special memories of him.
As you know, your Dad had so many stories, he would share with anyone he talked with.
One I’m sure he was proudest to tell, was him rooming with George Best, when on International duty.
Carrickfergus has lost one of its finest people.

RIP Bill.

[tally]

R.I.P. Willie.
You were and still are a Burnley legend.
Terrific goalscorer and player and a gentleman. Condolences to your family.

[Walton]

RIP to a genuine Clarets legend. Thoughts with you Darren as well as the rest of the family. UTC.

[FCBurnley]

Good memories bfc. As you know my daughter is a dear and close friend of Rita and she texted me with the news this morning. Of course I immediately posted my condolences on UTC but strangely they were removed !
Without a doubt Bill was the greatest goal scorer we ever had despite the awful injury he suffered at Everton. He gave so much pleasure to all Clarets of my generation both on and off the pitch
RIP Bill You will never be forgotten

[Cirrus_Minor]

Really sad news. A brilliant striker, arguably the best in claret and blue, and a gentleman as well. My condolences to Willie's family and friends.

[Burnleybabe]

Very devastating news.
I was lucky enough to know Bill through CTID.
He was the most gentle and kind man I have ever known.
All my thoughts are with his family and friends.
RIP Billy you will be missed by everyone who knew you.
And the huge Clarets family.
.

[jdrobbo]

A all-time Burnley Great: a Hero; a legend.

I really wish I could have seen Willie in our famous Claret and Blue but I’ve spoken to enough people who have told me just how wonderful a footballer he was.

And more, having been fortunate to have met him a number of times, be it at Clarets Mad meals, Turf Moor ground tours, or just at the Park View corner with Darren (whom was usually upto no good), he was just a bloody nice chap. He was so famous in Burnley, yet he carried himself just like any normal Burnley fan. He was a top bloke.

RIP, Willie.

My thoughts are with all in the Irvine family

[Den_Perry]

Sad news to lose a true gentleman and Clarets legend. My thoughts are with you and the rest of the family Darren. RIP Willie.

[Bfc]

FCBurnley, thanks for your comments. If I can, I will get my neighbour, to put the odd photo, especially the John Charles 1 onto your e mail address. How’s the lads Pro golf career developing?. Reply via my same e mail address please.

[claretgimmer]

RIP Willie, condolences to his family, thanks for all the memories, you were a true legend.

[Herts Clarets]

Thank you for all the lovely tributes to my dad & hero. He's now at peace from that awful disease x

Your Dad is at peace Darren. Great player. Great bloke. We will never see his like at Burnley again. I feel privileged to have known him when I did. RIP Willie Irvine. A legend.

[Cubanforever]

Wish I'd seen you play Willie, sleep tight

[Yorkshirelad]

Gone but never forgotten

[Turftalker]

Very sad news. I never saw Willie Irvine play, but I know how big a part he played in the history of our club. Moreover, from all these messages, it is most clear what a stand out gentleman he was.

Rest In Peace. My thoughts and prayers are with Willie Irvine's family and friends.

[claretspice]

Some years ago I went to a Burnley v Leeds game with a friend who was on a wheelchair. He was supposed to be in the corner between the Jimmy Mac and Longside but this was before we were properly organised for disabled supporters and he couldn't get in, which was a bit embarrassing given I'd sorted the ticket. I grabbed a club official who was walking past and complained and he was absolutely marvellous, went and sorted the issue and personally escorted him into the ground.

Except it turned out it wasn't a club official, it was Willie Irvine who had been doing his turn in hospitality. He could perfectly easily have said "sorry, this isn't me" but that clearly wasn't how he was wired. I never saw him play but he was clearly a lovely bloke.

[HurstGrangeClaret]

Logged in specially for this.
Willie was just before my time but all the tributes to him say so much more than I ever could.
RIP Willie and condolences to his family and loved ones.

[boatshed bill]

Very sad news. A super player.

[ClaretLoup]

I was fortunate enough to be on the Turf for his hat trick vs Birmingham towards the end of the 62/63 & also for his header vs Liverpool as mentioned in the article. I had the privilege of the man himself describe it to me years later.

One other feature of his play not mentioned so far was his bravery and fearlessness playing against some tough as teak defenders, Labone, Yeats and especially Jack Charlton whom he had a tussle with in one of the many Turf Moor battles with DL which he took great pleasure in describing to me.

[Lip]

I used to go and have my dinner once a week with Tom & Nan when I first started at Mansfield school in 1978.

They were a lovely couple always looked after me as well.Some fond memories of holidays with them and my mum and dad (Tommy and Renee) ..Sorry for your loss,Willie was always good fun when I went to Aunt Nans along with Les Latcham and Gordon Harris. Wonderful times times for me in my youth. Sorry for your loss to all your family..x

[Coates4england]

RIP my hero

[IPAclaret]

So very sad to hear this news. My grandad, who had seen all the great players, said he was simply the best, therefore I've nothing more to add.

Sincere condolences to family and friends.

A Claret legend.

UTC

[Quickenthetempo]

Rest in peace Willie.

Thoughts with all his family.

[FCBurnley]

FCBurnley, thanks for your comments. If I can, I will get my neighbour, to put the odd photo, especially the John Charles 1 onto your e mail address. How’s the lads Pro golf career developing?. Reply via my same e mail address please.

Both boys have great careers in pro golf but in club management rather than playing. Very proud of them

[wilks_bfc]

So very sad to hear this news. My grandad, who had seen all the great players, said he was simply the best, therefore I've nothing more to add.

Sincere condolences to family and friends.

A Claret legend.

UTC

Similarly wi the me, my grandad was a Scouser & Liverpool fan and saw plenty of greats and whenever I asked who was the best players he saw were, Irvine was ALWAYS on that list along with McIllroy

Condolences to all his family & friends

[ClaretCliff]

A sad loss. One of the Burnley greats from my youth. If only we had Irvine & Lochhead today.

[claretgilly]

RIP Willie.

You’d think the club might have paid tribute to him and his achievements by now.

[wadeswondergoal]

RIP Willie.

You’d think the club might have paid tribute to him and his achievements by now.

The club only care about bums on seats.

I doubt AP even knows who Willie was.

[fatboy47]

RIP Willie....nothing but great memories...a player from the very top drawer.

[LlandennyClaret]

RIP Willie.
Was thinking the same. Hopefully they are putting a more detailed piece together than just an announcement.

You’d think the club might have paid tribute to him and his achievements by now.

[LlandennyClaret]

RIP Willie.

You’d think the club might have paid tribute to him and his achievements by now.

Was thinking the same. Hopefully they are putting a more detailed piece together than just an announcement.

[BurnleyFC]

Was thinking the same. Hopefully they are putting a more detailed piece together than just an announcement.

I didn’t want to say it, but I think it’s fairly ridiculous that something isn’t on the official site by now.

[Row x]

The club only care about bums on seats.

I doubt AP even knows who Willie was.

Not the thread for stupid arguments

RIP Willie, one of my dad's favourites, always talked about him.

[wadeswondergoal]

Not the thread for stupid arguments

RIP Willie, one of my dad's favourites, always talked about him.

Stupid arguments?

A close family friend and a club legend dies and our own club don’t even put out any acknowledgement?

Take your thoughts elsewhere.

[claretgilly]

RIP Willie.

You’d think the club might have paid tribute to him and his achievements by now.

https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/con ... -1943-2025

[bodge]

Great that the club have a tribute online now for a club icon.

Wish I could have seen him play, RIP Willie.

[Vintage Claret]

RIP Willie

A little before my time but his record at Burnley speaks for itself.

Condolences to all Willies family and friends

[wilks_bfc]

Great that the club have a tribute online now for a club icon.

Wish I could have seen him play, RIP Willie.

It is, but nothing as yet has gone out on their socials, so unless you specifically went onto their website, you wouldn’t know