49 Facts About Willie Irvine

William John Irvine was born on 18 June 1943 and is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a centre forward.

Willie Irvine did well at school, but chose to pursue a career in professional football and initially played for local club Linfield.

Willie Irvine lost his place in the Burnley team after suffering a broken leg during a cup tie in 1967, and never properly regained his form for the club.

Willie Irvine was later transfer listed, and joined local rivals Preston North End in March 1968.

Willie Irvine ended his football career with a spell at semi-professional Great Harwood, before retiring at the age of 29.

Willie Irvine won 23 caps for his country, scoring eight goals.

Willie Irvine spent time in hospital after taking an overdose of medication, but recovered and later worked as a community worker before becoming a window cleaner.

Willie Irvine later worked full-time in an aerospace factory, and gave guided tours of Burnley's stadium, Turf Moor, on matchdays.

Willie Irvine was born on 18 June 1943 in the village of Eden, County Antrim, on the east coast of Northern Ireland.

Willie Irvine was born to Alex and Agnes Irvine, and had 17 half-brothers and half-sisters from his mother's previous marriages.

Willie Irvine was 11 months old when his father, who had played football for Distillery, died after being involved in a motorcycle accident.

Willie Irvine came from a poor background and when he was young the family resided in a small wooden bungalow that had neither electricity nor running water.

Willie Irvine's mother worked often, and Irvine was looked after by his elder siblings.

Willie Irvine soon warmed to his new neighbourhood; he enjoyed visiting Carrickfergus Castle and often spent time at the harbour.

Willie Irvine initially concentrated on playing as a goalkeeper for the school team.

Willie Irvine's elder brother Bobby, who went on to represent Stoke City and was a Northern Ireland international, played for the opposition.

At 14, Willie Irvine enrolled at Carrick Technical School, where he studied German, physics, chemistry and woodwork.

Willie Irvine excelled in his studies and was urged to go to university, but his family could not afford the fees.

Several months later, Willie Irvine left Linfield and joined local men's team Barn United, who competed in the Northern Ireland Amateur League.

Willie Irvine suffered an injury to his ankle but recovered in time for the final trial match against local rivals Blackburn Rovers.

On 11 May 1963, Willie Irvine was asked by manager Potts to travel with the first team for their final away fixture of the season at Arsenal.

Willie Irvine was a boot boy, and was originally only intended to assist Ray Bennion in transporting the team kit to and from the game.

Willie Irvine started at centre forward in place of Lochhead, who was unable to play because of a leg injury.

Willie Irvine did not play again for Burnley until 30 March 1964, when he was chosen to play at inside-right in the away tie against Bolton Wanderers.

Willie Irvine was dropped from the starting line-up for the away match at Birmingham City on 12 September 1964.

Willie Irvine took his goalscoring form into the cup competitions, netting five times in three FA Cup ties, and scoring the winning goals against Southampton and Stoke City as the team reached the fifth round of the EFL Cup before being knocked out by Peterborough United.

Willie Irvine was the highest scorer in the Football League First Division that season, the first, and to date only, time a Burnley player had achieved the feat.

In June 1966, Willie Irvine had an altercation with Burnley chairman Bob Lord after returning late from a Northern Ireland match.

Willie Irvine scored his first goal of the new year on 31 January 1967 in the FA Cup third round replay against Everton at Goodison Park.

However, early in the second half, Willie Irvine was tackled by Everton defender Johnny Morrissey.

Willie Irvine was forced to remain on the sidelines as Burnley finished 14th in the First Division and reached the fourth round of the Fairs Cup before being knocked out by Eintracht Frankfurt.

Willie Irvine was one of five Burnley first-team players to leave the club during that year.

Willie Irvine was injured ten minutes into the match but played for most of the first half before being substituted.

Willie Irvine had a chipped bone and ligament damage, requiring him to undergo an operation in February 1969 that forced him to miss the rest of the campaign.

Ball was reluctant to play Willie Irvine after discovering the knee injury from the previous season.

Willie Irvine scored in the match, and manager Pat Saward was effusive in his praise of his new signing.

Willie Irvine added to his tally with home and away goals against Halifax Town, where he would go on to play the next season, and a strike against Aston Villa that was named as runner-up in a Goal of the Season competition by television programme Match of the Day.

Willie Irvine continued to score in a higher division, netting five times in the first eleven matches of the season.

Willie Irvine made a total of 11 first-team appearances for Halifax Town, scoring one goal for the club.

Willie Irvine received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland senior team in April 1963, one month before he made his professional debut for Burnley.

Willie Irvine was involved in his first win with the Northern Ireland team when they defeated the Netherlands in a World Cup qualifying game on 17 March 1965.

Between 2 October 1965 and 30 March 1966, Willie Irvine scored in four consecutive international fixtures.

Willie Irvine continued to play for Northern Ireland, winning caps against Mexico, England and Scotland, but it was almost two and a half years before he scored again in international football.

Willie Irvine played against England three days later before winning his 23rd and final cap in the goal-less draw with Wales, the team against which he had made his international debut, on 27 May 1972.

Willie Irvine subsequently moved into a midfield position, before becoming a centre forward during his time in the Burnley youth team.

Willie Irvine is married to wife Rita, whom he met in a public house in Burnley.

Willie Irvine has lived in the village of Worsthorne since retiring from football in 1974.

The shop was reasonably successful, and Willie Irvine opened a second branch in Keighley, West Yorkshire.

Willie Irvine was discovered in time by his wife and admitted to Burnley General Hospital, where he underwent an emergency procedure to pump his stomach.