Jimmy Mac - Seven Years

[ClaretTony]

It's seven years since we learned of the passing of arguably our greatest ever player.

I might not have seen him at his best but I always feel privileged that I did see him play for the Clarets.

[ElectroClaret]

Wow, doesn't seem that long.
The very embodiment of the term "club legend".

I believe I saw him two or three times when my dad took me on as a small child, but tbh I can't remember him, unfortunately.

Fond memories of Jimmy Mac.

[ClaretTony]

I always wonder if we had a McIlroy now, just how long would we be able to keep him and how much would we get for him?

He was undoubtedly one of the world's greatest players at his peak.

[claretblue]

my 1st game watching the Clarets was home verses Stoke City (March 1964).
Jimmy captained The Potters on his return to Turf Moor following his controversial departure.
I met him at a club occasion and was thrilled to speak with him.
A remarkable player and gentleman.

[claretblue]

Prince of Inside Forwards!

[Elizabeth]

my 1st game watching the Clarets was home verses Stoke City (March 1964).
Jimmy captained The Potters on his return to Turf Moor following his controversial departure.
I met him at a club occasion and was thrilled to speak with him.
A remarkable player and gentleman.

I remember going on this game with my dad who only wanted to go on to see Jimmy

[ClaretTony]

A story Jimmy himself once told.

When he was a young player at Burnley, he was out with another Irish player we had (I think it might have been Liam O'Neill). This bloke stopped them and asked if they were Irish and if they were footballers. They told him yes. The bloke replied with something like: "We've got a young Irish lad at Burnley now called Jimmy McIlroy who everyone thinks is going to be a good player but I don't think he'll be good enough."

He'd no idea he was talking to Jimmy and they didn't put him right.

[Claret Till I Die]

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Not the greatest of pics but here's a photo of Jimmy & my dad from July 1959

[ClaretTony]

They were good friends weren't they CTID? Yet Jimmy once said to me about Willie: "I can't understand a word that bloody Irishman says."

[Claret Till I Die]

They were good friends weren't they CTID? Yet Jimmy once said to me about Willie: "I can't understand a word that bloody Irishman says."

Jimmy was instrumental in my dad getting his first call up for NI

[quoonbeatz]

I randomly found the tribute programme from the Utd game in a cupboard just yesterday. Think that was the last time I bought a programme.

[Juan Tanamera]

My eldest brother took me to my first game as a seven year old in September 1960.
I have no idea if Jimmy Mac played but thinking back I like to think I did see him play and even though the seeds to be a future Claret were sown that day I really didn't have much of an idea what was going on.

[Frenchclaret]

I remember seeing Jimmy Mac in his very early days. By the time he finished playing for the Clarets he was much slower and prone to injury. However, he could still control a game and provide goals for others. He was throughout his career the greatest player I have seen playing for Burnley and will never be forgotten. He was also a gentleman and easy to talk to. God bless you Jimmy!

[claretblue]

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[CoolClaret]

He'd be ideal for one of our inside forwards in our current system!

RIP Jimmy.

[Tricky Trevor]

My first match was early March ‘62, a 6-0 win over West Ham and Jimmy scored the sixth. Saw most of his home games between then and his sale and a memorable 2-3 at Deadwood.
My abiding memory of him is standing still, ball between his feet, and daring the defender to dive in on him. When they did Jimmy was the other side of him in a flash and away. His pace from zero was amazing.
RIP Sir Jimmy.

[CleggHall]

Great player, most skilful, strong and tough, lovely man.
Finest Claret I was lucky to watch and cannot forgive Bob Lord for brutally scything him down.
RIP Jimmy Mac.

[ClaretTony]

One of the most difficult pieces I've ever written

https://www.uptheclarets.com/burnley-in ... -jimmy-mac

[Silkyskills1]

I was fortunate enough to see Mc play for us between the end of 1958 and his sad departure in February 1963. Such wonderful times for a schoolboy like me and he was very much my football hero.
Mentioned on here before that probably my favourite ever Burnley performance was at home to Man City, January 1962 on a wet pitch and a 6-3 victory. I was a couple of months short of my 10th birthday and his display that day, taking the opposition apart, was simply enthralling and thrilling. I didn't want the game to end. An honour to be in his presence.

[CleggHall]

Many thanks Tony, well worth reading a second time by everybody, a fine tribute to Mac.

[Conroy92]

What modern player would you compare him too for us that missed him?

[claret59]

When Jimmy was made available for transfer there was a lot of protest from us fans and as a young boy I went along to one of these held outside of Banoldswick Town Hall. There was a decent sized crowd there , as at other venues, and we naively thought we cold have some impact I seem to remember that Harry Potts said something in the press along the lines of 'Jimmy has brought this on himself," Whatever that meant?

I was fortunate enough to see him play many times and what a player he was. I always believed he did not get the wider recognition he deserved because although Burnley were a top club the they were not one of the City Clubs./ big boys.

[ClaretTony]

What modern player would you compare him too for us that missed him?

Mike Summerbee attended Jimmy Mac’s funeral and was asked that very question. Without hesitation he said David Silva.

As I posted further up the thread, I never saw him at his best but he clearly was world class.

One little story back in 1986 when we organised a dinner with Ian St John & Jimmy Greaves. We were talking to Greaves when Jimmy Mac arrived. He shot over to him and threw his arms round him. When he rejoined us, he said that Jimmy was the greatest footballer he ever played with or against.

[Conroy92]

Mike Summerbee attended Jimmy Mac’s funeral and was asked that very question. Without hesitation he said David Silva.

As I posted further up the thread, I never saw him at his best but he clearly was world class.

One little story back in 1986 when we organised a dinner with Ian St John & Jimmy Greaves. We were talking to Greaves when Jimmy Mac arrived. He shot over to him and threw his arms round him. When he rejoined us, he said that Jimmy was the greatest footballer he ever played with or against.

Thanks Tony.