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The Greatest Ever Claret. Yep, that sums it up for me. |
Wish I'd had the chance to see you play as you are revered by so many. |
I know you will be saying the all team deserve it not just me because that's the type of guy you are a true gent. |
I just said something like "Hello! sad day eh?" and told Mr Mac how big Dusty and me played football together in Hapton as kids and went on the same train to school. He listened and we agreed that Brian was one of the good guys. We shook hands, and went our different ways into the ground, and I just felt so proud. Jimmy Mac looked fit enough to still play ball. He was our hero, great to watch, and whenever you think about him you also think "If only he still did play for us". But most importantly he is a really nice man, and I really hope he enjoys his big day. |
I was very fortunate enough to see you in action during the late 50's and until your departure to Stoke in '63. It is hard to put into words what you and the team meant to the supporters of Burnley Football Club during those vintage years of League Champions, FA Cup finalists and wonderful European evenings on the Turf. Probably the best example I can give relates to my father who was a lifelong Burnley fan. When he heard the news of your departure he was so incensed, upset and shocked, he vowed never to pass through a Turf Moor turnstile again and, despite my best efforts during the 'Adamson era' he kept to his word. Jimmy, you leave many lasting memories of how the 'wonderful game' should be played. I can still vividly recall you with the ball at your feet by the opposition corner flag surrounded by 2, 3 or even 4 defenders. Moments later, following a shimmy or two and magic footwork you would be bearing down on goal, leaving the defenders in your wake. Then there was the penalty taking where you almost seemed to mesmerise the opposition goalkeeper, like a rabbit trapped in car headlights. Three or four steps up to the ball, a sway of the hips to leave the keeper rooted to his spot and you would stroke the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Absolutely brilliant. Thanks Jimmy and enjoy your day. |
I went all over the north of England on my Lambretta scooter to see him and the rest of a wonderful Burnley team in the snow, rain and fog and was worth every mile. And I was there on the terraces at Maine Road to see us win the Championship. No young person could have had a better role model than gentleman Jim. The prima donnas of today aren't fit to tie his bootlaces. Thank you sir, and congratulations on your award. |
He was and still is a credit to the club, a real gentleman and a thoroughly nice guy. God bless you Jimmy and thank you for all the pleasure you gave. |
There is no doubt that you were a truly great player and from what I have seen and heard over the years a truly great man. I am sure that you are enjoying this season as much as the rest of us and lets hope we can end it in the promised land and that we can also see you arise Sir Jimmy with another long over due honour. All the best and thanks for the memories. |
There has never been a greater player in Claret and Blue and no finer person has ever worn the shirt. The honour of Freedom of Burnley is overdue and well deserved, just the knighthood to go now. |
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Alan Green of the BBC said the following in this week's "Irish Examiner", "......... it was terrific to be reminded of the Irish connection to the town for it was announced last week that Jimmy McIlroy is to be given the freedom of the borough. Jimmy, one of the nicest men I've ever met in football, is still beloved in Burnley. And it is true Jimmy, you are one of the nicest men in football and very much beloved of not just the town of Burnley but the whole Clarets' diaspora. All the best |
I hope you really enjoy your day. All the best. |
Jimmy McIlroy a Burnley legend on and off the pitch, an honour well deserved. |
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I look back now and believe that Burnley supporters were truly spoilt in terms of the quality football entertainment which was put on by the Clarets then. The combination of the two Jimmies - McIlroy and Adamson was the brains and driving force for the team's success. They played with great vision and their ball skills and creativity would put to shame many of today's so called mega stars and overpaid prima donnas. I just hope that the current economic downturn brings some commonsense into the game and a level playing field where smaller clubs can compete on sporting merit instead of waving a cheque book. |
I am not old enough to have seen Jimmy in his playing days. However, like many fans of my age watching the TV footage of him terrorising defenses we can imagine the excitement he brought to the terraces of the turf. I have been lucky enough to meet Jimmy on a number of occasion as a lad when he was writing the sports articles for the paper. I was the Lowerhouse Cricket Club scorer and whether he came down to a game, or I called through the results, he was always a top man. Always friendly, always had a story to tell, and will ALWAYS be a Burnley legend. |
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I wish I'd seen you play in the flesh, but I don't need to have to appreciate what a LEGEND you were and what an INSPIRATION you continue to be. Up the Clarets! |
Up the Clarets! |
All the best for the future. |
I was born 8 years after Jimmy last played for the clarets so obviously never saw him play but there has never been any doubt in my mind that Jimmy Mac is the greatest claret of them all. |
Once again congratulations and best wishes for the future. |
My congratulations and best wishes to Jimmy Mac on receiving this great honour by the Borough of Burnley. Very well deserved. |
With best wishes for your health and future. |
I am a follower of 43 years but now live in Florida so I don't get to games now I listen and watch when ever I can an I am excited about this year. |
Sincere wishes and thanks. |
Whenever I have passed you in the street to say hello, as a child in the 60s or as an adult, you have always been gracious enough to return the complement even though you have no idea who I am. You are a very, very nice man. |
However that day I fell in love and was hooked by the Burnley number 8 - Jimmy Mac. What a player! The finest to ever grace the Turf without doubt. Deceptively fast, an incisive finisher when he wanted to be, master of the slowly struck penalty after sending the keeper (Springett) the wrong way, the original short-corner maestro, Mac had it all. Often with thigh heavily bandaged he took teams apart and I well remember him roasting England fullback Don Howe of West Brom when injury forced him to take berth on the right wing. His many excellent performances over the years are too numerous to recall. In that fine championship winning side of 1960, Mac, along with Jimmy Adamson, was both the creative engine and "icing on the cake". We were all amazed and mightily distressed when Bob Lord butchered him in his prime and sold him to Stoke. Why? What for? Since then Jimmy McIlroy, an Ulsterman, has led a mature and dignified life within the town he now calls home. It is most fitting that Burnley is finally honouring and recognising its finest son. A true gentleman, Jimmy Mac, we salute you! |
However the great man still goes to Burnley and must be pleased with the way we are playing now. Congratulations on your award. It should have come sooner. |
All the very best and much deserved recognition from all Clarets everywhere. |
Enjoy the day and know all Clarets think this award is fully justified and that you deserve it. HERO! HERO! HERO! |
"McIlroy, McIlroy, All the team's a better team thanks to McIlroy. He's a wizard with the ball, He's the greatest of them all, Keep 'em 'appy, GIVE IT TO MCILROY. And so say all of us. Congratulations. |
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Best Wishes and congratulations |
All the best and well deserved to a great player on and off the field. |
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I remember particularly the superb match at Tottenham, Spurs 4 Burnley 4. A tremendous match with marvellous players on both sides. Jimmy, you were my idol - and you still are. Many congratulations - if anyone deserves the freedom of the town, you do. |
So God bless and all the very best Jimmy Mac, it's the very least you deserve and thank you. |
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All the very best to you. |
Many congratulations on your latest honour. |
I worked alongside you somewhat (was in Circulation) in your newspaper days. You deserve your award. Congratulations Mr. Mac. I could say much more. |
I was born in 63 but through my formative years I heard wonderous stories of your skill and ability from my Great Grand parents, Grand parents and my Mum. It's great you have been honoured in this fashion. I though you got the Freedom of the Town the night we played Hamburg at the Turf. Enjoy your day. |
He often played carrying an injury but was still magic. Time after time he would cut through a defence to reach that dead ball line to feed superb crosses into the box. A legend but modest. Magical memories!! Congratulations and good health. Best Wishes for the future. Have a great day. |
It was a pleasure to watch you play in those days and it has been a pleasure to meet you on several occasions since then. Congratulations on receiving the Freedom of the Borough. a thoroughly deserved accolade for the best player in the history of Burnley Football Club. Best Wishes and Kind Regards. P.S. My father was one of the many supporters who refused to visit Turf Moor again after Jimmy McIlroy had been sold to Stoke City in the early sixties!! |
Once again congratulations and enjoy. |
For the ensuing five or so years we were privileged to witness and marvel at his outstanding football skills, where he was able to totally dictate and control the pace and direction of each game utilising his unquestionable vision. Whilst Adamson was organising his solid defence it was McIlroy who was the genius and creator for the Robson and Pointer goals, which came in abundance. Without a doubt, the wizardry and flair provided by McIlroy was the catalyst for making Burnley into the best club in the land and the envy of all other teams. In over a half a century of watching football I place Jimmy McIlroy alongside the two other outstanding players I have been lucky enough to watch ie. Tom Finney and George Best. Jimmy McIlroy is probably the greatest player to wear the claret and blue of Burnley and furthermore he is the Club's finest ambassador. An unquestionable legend. |
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I've seen some good players (and bad!!!) in my time supporting Burnley, the only regret I have is not seeing you play. I'm sure you would have walked into this current Burnley side!!! |
The team you played in (late 50's early 60's) was a great one containing many international representatives but for me you were the guile and the midfield skill; the play-maker, the heart of the team. You are always remembered and admired. |
Have a wonderful day. |
As a young boy growing up in the Rosehill area of Burnley in the 1950s we were privileged to have quite a few Clarets stars around us and I remember that you lived on the road opposite Rosehill school. As I recall there was a little park at the bottom of Moorland Road/Reynolds Street where we used to play football and I vividly remember you joining in for a while one day. Ray Pointer and Jimmy Robson often did...much to the disgust of the "Parky ". Those happy days are indelibly etched in my memory and I distinctly remember the adulation for you of my father (now 95 ) who still talks fondly of "Jimmy Mac " and who never went to Turf Moor again after you were transferred. As I too get older those happy days become more important and I thank you for your huge part in formulating those wonderful memories. God Bless You |
Congratulations on your special day, and thank you for your amazing talent and dedication to our team and the game. |
Live long and prosper |
I spent many hours at Turf Moor as a schoolboy notably. I was privileged to start supporting Burnley in 1959 when Jimmy used to come along to St James the Less school in Rawtenstall and coach us every Tuesday (come rain, snow or whatever). Jimmy was and still is a gentleman and deserves all the accolades he is receiving. |
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Best Wishes |
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But more than that Jimmy is still as ever, a wonderful, shy, unassuming perfect Irish gentleman, and he so richly deserves this accolade which his adopted town is bestowing. Thank you Jimmy for what you have brought into my life and the lives of so many. |
I saw you play for the Clarets for many years and you were the best without any doubt. In fact, you were so good that you overshadowed so many other excellent Burnley players. Thank you for the exciting play. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for staying so loyal to our fabulous club and the town. It's been a pleasure ! |
Well done |
You were the undoubtedly the star of a team that brought success to the club which fans from the 70's onwards can only dream of. Should my generation of supporters (now in my 40's!) be able to pick one player from the list of Burnley greats who we regret never having seen play "live", I'm sure you'd be top of the list for 99% of them. |
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Many people have spoken about Jimmy as a person as well as a footballer. That echoes for me. When I was about 10 or 11, and living in Nelson, I was visiting my uncle, who lived near the McIlroy's house in Rosehill. My uncle pointed out Jimmy's house. I said I'd like to get Jimmy's autograph but my uncle said I shouldn't disturb him in his home. But the next time I was in Rosehill (and not with my uncle) I did knock on the door. I'm amazed in retrospect about the politeness with which Jimmy addressed this young lad (me) and gave me his autograph, instead of telling me not to disturb him at home. Not only a great footballer, but also a gentleman. It's been a pleasure ! |
Congratulations and thank you Jimmy 'Burnley' McIlroy. One and the same thing to many and now it is official! |
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I am lucky enough to be old enough to see him from when I was six in 1958 till when Jimmy left in 1963. He was a key man in an excellent team. He could dribble past anybody and was an excellent penalty taker to mention just two aspects of his play. I remember him once tormenting Alan Hodgkinson of Sheffield United - Hodgkinson seemed to be diving all over the place on the goal line and all Jimmy was doing was standing over the ball on the penalty spot just wiggling his hips. I met him once or twice coming home from Rosehill - always the kindest of individuals. I won't be at the match tonight. I hope you have a lovely evening and are able to celebrate it watching a team play some of the football nearly up to the standard of that set by yourself in those bygone years. |
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You opened a Christmas fair on Sunday where you asked my 3 year old son if he supported Burnley. When we got home I told him all about you and when he grows up he will know just who spoke to him when he was at that Christmas fair. PS thanks for the autograph Jimmy. |
Unfortunately I wasn't old enough to see you play, but my Dad always spoke about what a superb player you were for us, and that you were the greatest player to ever wear the claret and blue jersey. Having met you several times at your home, I would just like to say what a down to earth person you are, who always has time to speak to the fans and sign autographs, and I wish you all the best for the future. |
I had the honour of meeting you in the mid 90s when I worked at the club for a few years, had a chat and you autographed a programme for someone I knew. The thing I can vouch for first hand, is that you are a true gentleman. May you enjoy many more years watching the Clarets and hoping that success comes our way once again. |
My best memory was in 1959-60 when an injured Mac played on the wing against WBA with his right arm strapped to his side making one if not the two goals that gave us a 2-1 win after being 1-0 down. Thanks for the wonderful memories and well done. It should be the freedom of Lancashire. |
I still remember the thrill of watching him knife through those defences. I was also standing on my stool to watch him at Wembley in the 1962 cup final. I feel privileged to have seen Jimmy play so many times and heartily endorse this recognition of a great gentleman and footballer. |