20-08-2018, 16:59
RIP Jimmy, sadly not a name enough people know when speaking of the greats of yesteryear- Burnley`s greatest ever player
The footballer Jimmy McIlroy, who has died aged 86, was an elegant cornerstone of Burnley’s First Division title-winning side of the late 1950s and one of Northern Ireland’s greatest internationals.
A perfectly balanced, highly intelligent inside-forward with masterly ball control and an ability to make the telling pass, McIlroy was quick enough on the field when he needed to be. But vulgar haste was anathema to him. He was capable of holding and shielding the ball until the right alternative showed itself, and he could beat his man with elegance and ease.
At Burnley he struck up an immensely fruitful partnership with his great friend Jimmy Adamson, who captained the team magisterially from right-half and, eventually, centre-half. Contrasting characters, the two were the inspiration of a fine team that won the First Division championship in the 1959-60 season, when McIlroy made 31 appearances and scored six goals.
His other great partnership came in the remarkable Northern Ireland side of the late 50s, in which he struck up a wonderful relationship with the equally fluent Danny Blanchflower, the side’s captain and right-half. The two of them shared great technical skill and a sophisticated approach to the game that made them the creative force in a side which, astonishingly, beat Italy in Belfast to knock them out of the World Cup eliminators in 1958.
The footballer Jimmy McIlroy, who has died aged 86, was an elegant cornerstone of Burnley’s First Division title-winning side of the late 1950s and one of Northern Ireland’s greatest internationals.
A perfectly balanced, highly intelligent inside-forward with masterly ball control and an ability to make the telling pass, McIlroy was quick enough on the field when he needed to be. But vulgar haste was anathema to him. He was capable of holding and shielding the ball until the right alternative showed itself, and he could beat his man with elegance and ease.
At Burnley he struck up an immensely fruitful partnership with his great friend Jimmy Adamson, who captained the team magisterially from right-half and, eventually, centre-half. Contrasting characters, the two were the inspiration of a fine team that won the First Division championship in the 1959-60 season, when McIlroy made 31 appearances and scored six goals.
His other great partnership came in the remarkable Northern Ireland side of the late 50s, in which he struck up a wonderful relationship with the equally fluent Danny Blanchflower, the side’s captain and right-half. The two of them shared great technical skill and a sophisticated approach to the game that made them the creative force in a side which, astonishingly, beat Italy in Belfast to knock them out of the World Cup eliminators in 1958.