Jimmy McIlroy facts for kids

James "Jimmy" McIlroy MBE (born 25 October 1931 – died 20 August 2018) was a famous Northern Ireland footballer. He played as a forward or attacking midfielder. Jimmy is best known for his time at Burnley, where he played nearly 500 games and scored 131 goals. Many people consider him one of Burnley's greatest ever players. He also played for Glentoran, Stoke City, and Oldham Athletic. After his playing career, he also managed Oldham Athletic and Bolton Wanderers.

Football Career Highlights

Playing for Burnley

Jimmy McIlroy was born in Lambeg, Northern Ireland. He grew up in a football family; his father and uncle were also footballers. Jimmy started his career at Glentoran before joining Burnley in March 1950. Burnley paid £7,000 for him, which was a lot of money back then!

He quickly became known as one of the best "inside forwards" in football. People called him the 'Brain' of Burnley because he was so smart with the ball. He was calm and always made sure his passes found a teammate. His clever footwork made him a favorite with the fans at Burnley's home ground, Turf Moor.

Jimmy helped Burnley win the First Division title in the 1959–60 season. This was a huge achievement! He also helped them reach the FA Cup Final in 1962, but they lost to Tottenham Hotspur. After playing 497 matches and scoring 131 goals for Burnley, he moved to Stoke City. Many Burnley fans were sad and shocked when he left.

Time at Stoke City

In 1963, Jimmy joined Stoke City. At Stoke, he played alongside other famous players like Stanley Matthews. His first game for Stoke was a tough one, as they lost 6–0. However, Stoke soon started winning.

With Jimmy's smart passing, Stoke won the Second Division title in the 1962–63 season. This meant they were promoted to the top league. He scored 12 goals in the 1963–64 season. He also played in the 1964 League Cup Final, where Stoke lost to Leicester City. Jimmy played his last game for Stoke in December 1965 before moving into management.

Later Career and Management

In January 1966, Jimmy McIlroy became the manager of Oldham Athletic. He even played a few more games for them. He brought some of his old teammates from Stoke City to Oldham. However, managing a team was very stressful for him. He resigned in 1968 after a tough start to the season.

He then worked as an assistant coach at Stoke City and later at Bolton Wanderers. He briefly became the manager at Bolton, but he resigned after only two matches. He disagreed with the club's board about selling players.

Life After Football

After leaving football management, Jimmy McIlroy lived near Burnley. He often went to watch Burnley's home matches, showing his love for the club. In 2008, he was given the Freedom of the Borough of Burnley. This is a special honor given to important people. Burnley also held a special match for him in 2009 to celebrate his career.

In 2011, Jimmy was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was for his great contributions to football and to charity work. He chose to receive his award at Burnley's Turf Moor stadium instead of Buckingham Palace.

In 2015, a documentary film called 'Spirit of '58' was released. It featured Jimmy McIlroy and other players from the Northern Ireland team of the 1950s. The film told the story of their journey to the 1958 World Cup.

Jimmy McIlroy passed away on 20 August 2018, at the age of 86. Burnley Football Club said he was "our greatest ever player."

Jimmy McIlroy Stand

To honor Jimmy McIlroy, Burnley's stadium, Turf Moor, has a stand named after him. The eastern stand of the stadium was rebuilt in the late 1990s and was officially named the "Jimmy McIlroy Stand." This shows how much he meant to the club and its fans.

Achievements

• First Division champions: 1959–60 (with Burnley)
• FA Cup runner-up: 1962 (with Burnley)
• Second Division champions: 1962–63 (with Stoke City)