RIP Willie.
The Gentry RIP Willie Irvine
As a North End supporting 10 year old, Willie Irvine was my absolute hero, mainly as he was The PNE centre forward but more so because he was also a Northern Irish International, and I remember being allowed to stay up late one Wednesday evening to watch “Sportsnight with Coleman”. Willie Irvine of Preston North End playing against either England or Scotland (I’m sure it was England) was the featured highlights game. RIP Willie
Could be right there noel, staved relegation off for another year until 69/70 😞
Quoting from his autobiography.
Then there was the time that Tom Finney, later to be Sir Tom , congratulated me and told me how well I'd done. It was nothing to do with football though. After some games we'd go round to the Supporter's Club at the back of the West Stand for a drink. Most times it was a nice unwind, with maybe a few back slaps and congratulations and handshakes with the supporters if we'd done well. Just occasionally, of course, there'd be the supporter who'd had a few too many, and of course one came over when Rita (Mrs. Irvine) and I were sitting with Tom Finney and his wife after the game. Lovely man, Tom Finney, a real gentleman and always a pleasure to talk to; a man I looked up to and had the greatest respect for.
Of course this chap weaved his way over and had clearly decided that anything Irish was only fit to be insulted. He rudely lobbed an Irish coin on the table and said, " Here, you have it, it's no good to me, I can't spend it here, take it back to bloody Ireland with you and you spend it".
We all looked at each other and groaned silently. I had a quick think: I could either give him a few rude words and a smack or do something smart. There was a cigarette machine over in the corner so over I went, put the coin in, and out came a packet of ten cigarettes. Suddenly he looked quite nervous as I walked over to him with narrowed eyes. Casually I literally a cigarette, winked at him, then offered him one and, with a big smile, said politely, " Thanks, do have one, you've just paid for them." The oaf wandered off.
" Well done, Willie " said Sir Tom , " you handled that brilliantly. "
---oOo---
Then there was the time that Tom Finney, later to be Sir Tom , congratulated me and told me how well I'd done. It was nothing to do with football though. After some games we'd go round to the Supporter's Club at the back of the West Stand for a drink. Most times it was a nice unwind, with maybe a few back slaps and congratulations and handshakes with the supporters if we'd done well. Just occasionally, of course, there'd be the supporter who'd had a few too many, and of course one came over when Rita (Mrs. Irvine) and I were sitting with Tom Finney and his wife after the game. Lovely man, Tom Finney, a real gentleman and always a pleasure to talk to; a man I looked up to and had the greatest respect for.
Of course this chap weaved his way over and had clearly decided that anything Irish was only fit to be insulted. He rudely lobbed an Irish coin on the table and said, " Here, you have it, it's no good to me, I can't spend it here, take it back to bloody Ireland with you and you spend it".
We all looked at each other and groaned silently. I had a quick think: I could either give him a few rude words and a smack or do something smart. There was a cigarette machine over in the corner so over I went, put the coin in, and out came a packet of ten cigarettes. Suddenly he looked quite nervous as I walked over to him with narrowed eyes. Casually I literally a cigarette, winked at him, then offered him one and, with a big smile, said politely, " Thanks, do have one, you've just paid for them." The oaf wandered off.
" Well done, Willie " said Sir Tom , " you handled that brilliantly. "
---oOo---
I seem to remember Henryr 'back page headlines of the L.E.P stating 'Irvine made scapegoat' possibly against England at Wembley and was dropped .
Midweek game it was. Long time ago though!
Sad loss RIP Willie. I always thought of Willie ,not only as a great goalscorer but one of footballs characters.
Condolences to his loved ones.
Condolences to his loved ones.
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When I saw the thread title my first thought/memory was of the Mighty Quinn chant echoing from behind the wall on the Kop. Also as others have said the joy of "little Preston" ( as a second tier club then) having a full international when he played for Northern Ireland.
He wasn't a "big" centre forward physically ( unlike my all time favourite The Black Prince) but he more than made up for it as a skilful, tenacious player who gave his all for the team.
My thoughts and prayers to him and his loved ones.
Rest in Peace Willie.
He wasn't a "big" centre forward physically ( unlike my all time favourite The Black Prince) but he more than made up for it as a skilful, tenacious player who gave his all for the team.
My thoughts and prayers to him and his loved ones.
Rest in Peace Willie.
This is sad news - Willie Irvine was a superb footballer who is also certainly one of the most memorable characters to play for PNE in the last 60 years. He was signed in 68 for what was then a massive fee £45,000 from Burnley and immediately made his mark scoring on his debut in a 2-1 home night match win over Aston Villa and then following it up with a hat-trick on the immediately following Saturday in what was as I recall a 3-1 home win over Huddersfield.
Contrary to what someone said earlier he was not in decline when he joined us but was clogged into injury-related decline within a couple of seasons by some of the really awful defenders who were around in those days. His reduced effectiveness and the transfer to Blackburn Rovers of our own midfield enforced Ken Knighton were the prime reasons why we plunged into the Third Division in 1970.
Still my outstanding memory of Wille 'Our Willie's a Wizard' Irvine was the time in a match at Deepdate the ball was accidentally hit very hard into the referee's back who then collapsed on the pitch and needed attention before he could carry on. But while he was lying face down on the ground Irvine walked up to him and stood over him right foot raised over his head and arms folded like a big game hunter posing with his prey. Heaven knows what penalty you would get for that now but all it got then was a laugh.
RIP Willie Irvine - a great North Ender.
Contrary to what someone said earlier he was not in decline when he joined us but was clogged into injury-related decline within a couple of seasons by some of the really awful defenders who were around in those days. His reduced effectiveness and the transfer to Blackburn Rovers of our own midfield enforced Ken Knighton were the prime reasons why we plunged into the Third Division in 1970.
Still my outstanding memory of Wille 'Our Willie's a Wizard' Irvine was the time in a match at Deepdate the ball was accidentally hit very hard into the referee's back who then collapsed on the pitch and needed attention before he could carry on. But while he was lying face down on the ground Irvine walked up to him and stood over him right foot raised over his head and arms folded like a big game hunter posing with his prey. Heaven knows what penalty you would get for that now but all it got then was a laugh.
RIP Willie Irvine - a great North Ender.
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Willie Irvine was before my time.
Willie Irvine was before my time. A good piece by the Burnley fan there. RIP fella.
Anyway…The story made me imagine Irvine playing with PNE-PNE-PNE ringing in his ears. Which then made me then wonder if he actually did. Apologies to go off at a tangent…. but was that song around in 68-71? And if so, does anyone know when it started?
Willie Irvine was before my time. A good piece by the Burnley fan there. RIP fella.
Anyway…The story made me imagine Irvine playing with PNE-PNE-PNE ringing in his ears. Which then made me then wonder if he actually did. Apologies to go off at a tangent…. but was that song around in 68-71? And if so, does anyone know when it started?
Report in the Belfast Telegraph has a splendid photo of Willie in his PNE shirt:
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Northern Ireland and Burnley goalscoring hero dies aged 82
Northern Ireland international Willie Irvine has died at the age of 82 after a long illness.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
“ Come on without, come on within “……..
Off topic, ernest, but did you see Wyn Davies passed away last week?
Yes - curiously I had just finished reading his obituary in the Daily Telegraph when I saw the post here that reported the passing of Willie Irvine.
I remember Davies playing for Bolton. He scored their second goal just a couple of minutes from the end at the Kop End in their 2-1 win against us in the 4th Round of the FA Cup in 65 when Jim Smith missed a low cross from the right and Davies lashed it in from the edge of the six-yard box. I can still recall young Bolton fans taunting PNE fans after the final whistle and my late Uncle Tommy - a great North Ender - telling them they wouldn't get any further and they didn't because they were knocked out in the next Round by the eventual Cup winners Liverpool who were managed, of course, by a great North Ender Bill Shankly.
But the enduring memory I have of him is what happened the following season bizarrely the third in succession that we played Bolton in the 4th Round of the FA Cup - in 63-64 we drew 2-2 at their place before winning 2-1 at ours on our way to Wembley, in 64-65 that first time 4th Round defeat at our place and then in 65-66 a 1-1 draw at Bolton before coming back to Deepdale for another night-time replay. Halfway through the second half Davies scored again at the Kop End to put them 2-1 up and frankly we were on out way out of the Cup.
But then one of the most bizarre things I have ever seen on a football pitch happened - an aimless punt forward was dropping harmlessly into the hands of the Bolton keeper when Davies still pumped up from his goal rushed across in front of him and snatched the ball out of the air like a basketball player to give away a completely unnecessary penalty. Step forward Brian Godfrey to put the ball just inside the keeper's left-hand post so 2-2 and a match that was fading fast was alive again. A few minutes later Ernie Hannigan cutting into the penalty was felled and another penalty ensued - Godfrey again same corner 3-2 and we were on our way to the next round.
So I suppose we have thank Davies for the great 2-1 victory over Spurs in the 5th Round. But what he did was quite simply possibly the stupidest thing I have ever seen any footballer do. After he had been transferred to Newcastle he apparently scored a spectacular header in a match that led the commentator David Coleman to utter an all-time great 'Colemanball' - 'This man has a boot between his ears'. He certainly did that night at Deepdale.
I remember Willie Irvine but confused his time with Jim Forrest who replaced the best centre forward I’ve seen for North End, Alex Dawson. I think Irvine was just after Forrest , I can’t recall great detail so long ago as Ernest can. I’d also just finished reading about Wyn Davies passing. What a player he was headers as good as they come, reminded me of the great Charlie Hurley Sunderland CH . RIP to all and thanks for the memories.
Yes I think that’s right Dawson must have left in 67
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He was a main stay and PNE hero when I started watching PNE.
Fond memories.
RIP Willie
Fond memories.
RIP Willie
I remember being cross at the Coleman pronunciation! We pronounced it Ir vin
The beeb pronounced it err vine!!!
Right wound me up that,we get a rare mention and they pronounce the name wrong!!!! Another instance of that was Archie Jemmell for Archie Gemmell!
BBC bollocks.