It was October 1965 and Northern Ireland were taking on Scotland in front of 50,000 boisterous fans at Windsor Park.
Willie Irvine was then at the peak of his powers. A deadly striker, the Burnley player would end up as the leading scorer in the English First Division that season, as well as netting the most international goals in the ‘home championship’.
Playing alongside George Best and fellow Burnley legend Jimmy McIlroy, the game was tied at 2-2 with time running out when the ball was played in to Irvine in front of the Kop and he met it with an overhead kick, smashing it into the net.
It was Roy of the Rovers stuff. From humble beginnings in Carrickfergus, he was living the dream of every young boy, wearing number 9 for his club and country and being the hero that scored the last-minute winner.
Willie would go on cement his place in Burnley and Irish football folklore with his goalscoring exploits, as well as boasting a goal of the season strike for Brighton in 1972.
He would live out his life modestly in England, dedicated to the welfare of his family and community, until afflicted in recent years by the cruel onset of Alzheimer’s, blamed on so many years heading heavy footballs.
He died aged 82 last Saturday, fittingly at 3pm, as his beloved wife Rita sang Foster and Allen’s After All These Years, and tributes and memories have since flooded in from the football world.
Willie, whose brother Bobby also played professional football as a goalkeeper and is now also in a care home, was from a large family who lived initially in a little bungalow in Eden in Carrickfergus called ‘Happy Days’.
His father Alex, who played for Distillery, died when he was a baby and money was very tight – there was no running water, and the children went to school without shoes – but it was indeed a happy childhood dominated by football.
Willie lined out at Linfield Swifts with his brother but switched to Barn United in Carrick, appearing for the men’s team at the age of 15, and when a group of promising schoolboys were brought over to England for trials, he was the only one who landed a contract.
Signing for Burnley, he broke records for fun as he rose through the grades.
A classic goal poacher, he had the knack of being in the right place at the right time and his speed gave him the edge over much more physical defenders.
That speed was never quite as devastating after breaking a leg in a bad tackle in 1967, but he continued to score goals for Preston, Brighton and Halifax before retiring at the age of 29.
For Northern Ireland, he also scored eight goals during 23 caps, with highlights including playing alongside his brother against Spain in 1963 and being part of the team that beat England at Wembley in 1972.
After his football career was over, at a time when players were rewarded nowhere near as well as today, he ran a wood yard, worked in aerospace engineering, and combined window cleaning and youth work for a time.
Everywhere he went he was inundated with questions about his football career and he was always happy to share stories and memories.
“He was a humble man who just loved having fun,” his son Jonathan said.
“He made me laugh all the time, he was such a happy bloke. He didn’t bear grudges or if did, he didn’t tell anyone. I try to live my life like him.”
Son Stephen also spoke of his dad’s love for his wife and family and how proud he was to play for Northern Ireland and his various clubs.
“As a footballer he was an absolute legend, a real hero,” he said.
“As a dad he is irreplaceable. Even though we knew it was coming, it’s tough – the fact we are not going to see him again, it’s brutal.”
The family also hope his experience with Alzheimer’s will help raise awareness of the impact of heading a ball on footballers.
They were assisted hugely during his illness by Dawn Astle, daughter of England footballer Jeff, who started a foundation following his death aged 59 to carry out research into brain injuries in sport and provide support for sufferers.
“As kids we were always heading the ball, playing head tennis, and you can’t comprehend the damage it does,” Stephen said.
“In my dad’s days the footballs were like medicine balls and the issue really needs publicised because people shouldn’t have to be going through this.”
The funeral of Willie Irvine, who is also survived by son Darren, will take place on Thursday August 14 at St John’s in Worsthorne, and the procession will pass his beloved Turf Moor in Burnley where he remains a club legend.
** The Irish News publishes a selection of readers’ obituaries each Saturday. Families or friends are invited to send in accounts of anyone they feel has made a contribution to their community or simply led an interesting or notable life. Call Aeneas Bonner on 028 9040 8360 or email a.bonner@irishnews.com.
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