No free photograph
Willie Irvine
Northern Irish footballer (1943-2025) · United Kingdom · On the map · Footballers · Died at 82
William John Irvine was a Northern Irish professional footballer who played as a centre forward. Born in Eden, County Antrim, into a large family, he grew up in the nearby town of Carrickfergus. He did well at school, but chose to pursue a career in professional football and initially played for local club Linfield.
Willie Irvine is read about 12 times a day, in 11 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 7 July 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 60 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?People around Willie
Close ties
- Willie Morgan Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1968
- John Angus Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1968
- Gordon Harris Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1967
- Brian Miller Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1966
- Jimmy Robson Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1965
- Adam Blacklaw Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1967
- John Talbut Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1966
- Jimmy McIlroy Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1962
George Best Teammate at Northern Ireland national team, 1964-1972
Pat Jennings Teammate at Northern Ireland national team, 1964-1972
John Connelly Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1964- Archie Gemmill Teammate at Preston North End F.C., 1968-1970
- Terry Neill Teammate at Northern Ireland national team, 1963-1972
- Derek Dougan Teammate at Northern Ireland national team, 1963-1972
- Derek Temple Teammate at Preston North End F.C., 1968-1970
- Alan Kelly Teammate at Preston North End F.C., 1968-1971
- Ray Pointer Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1964
Jim Furnell Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1962- Tommy Cummings Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1963
- Martin Harvey Teammate at Northern Ireland national team, 1963-1971
- Jimmy Nicholson Teammate at Northern Ireland national team, 1963-1971
- Gerry Ingram Teammate at Preston North End F.C., 1968-1971
- Trevor Meredith Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1964
- Walter Joyce Teammate at Burnley F.C., 1960-1964
Career 8
Media & music
Photos 4
As a boy, Irvine often visited Carrickfergus Castle.
Highbury Stadium, where Irvine made his Football League debut in 1963
Irvine scored his first goal in European football at Stuttgart's Neckarstadion on 20 September 1966.
Irvine scored his final two international goals in the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel.About this person
After a spell in amateur football, Irvine travelled to England for a trial with Burnley at the age of 16. He was offered a professional deal and spent three years playing for the youth and reserve teams, before making his senior debut at the end of the 1962-63 season. Over the following seasons, Irvine became a regular feature of the Burnley team and in the 1965-66 campaign, he scored 29 goals and was the highest goalscorer in the Football League First Division.
On the same team as Willie
Alan MannusAlso played for Northern Ireland national under-23 association football teamStephen CraiganAlso played for Northern Ireland men's national association football teamLee TuckAlso played for Halifax Town A.F.C.
Stuart ParnabyAlso played for Halifax Town A.F.C.
Tommy CaseyAlso played for Northern Ireland men's national association football teamMichael HughesAlso played for Northern Ireland national under-23 association football team