Burnley, Northern Ireland Striker Willie Irvine Dies Aged 82

Willie Irvine, a legendary Northern Irish striker known for his prolific goal-scoring at Burnley, has died at the age of 82 following a long illness. Irvine scored 97 goals in 148 appearances for Burnley and was joint top scorer in English football's top flight during the 1965-66 season with 29 league goals, helping Burnley finish third. Despite a promising career, a broken leg at age 23 affected his form and led to his early retirement at 29 after spells at Preston North End, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Halifax Town. Irvine also earned 23 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring eight international goals. After retiring, he remained involved with Burnley, working at Turf Moor and providing stadium tours, becoming a beloved figure in the community. Tributes have poured in from Burnley, Preston North End, and Brighton, expressing condolences to his family and honoring his legacy as one of the finest goal scorers in Burnley's history.