JIMMY McILROY rolled back the years and brought on the tears as Burnley Football Club paid tribute to its finest to bring down the curtain on a century of football at Turf Moor.

McIlroy, the Clarets' greatest ever player, officially opened the stand named in his honour at the ground he graced in a 497-game career for the club.

And he was surrounded by his team-mates who had won the League Championship in 1960.

It was an emotional and triumphant occasion, particularly for older supporters who remembered McIlroy in his pomp, given greater significance by the fact that the 68-year-old Turf Moor legend was only recently brought back into the Burnley fold and has just recovered from a major health scare.

McIlroy was noticeably moved by the reception given to him and 10 former team-mates by the home fans in a best-of-the-season crowd of 14,218 ahead of yesterday's game against Oxford, which Burnley won fittingly with a last-minute goal from Andy Payton.

He said: "History has been made because an Irishman has been made speechless, almost.

"As I stand here terrified I still can't believe what's happening.

"I still can't find the words to thank Burnley Football Club's directors for bestowing this great honour on me.

"But I assure Mr Kilby I feel very honoured to be immortalised at this ground.

"I am also delighted that I have got my old team-mates here and I am grateful for the support they are giving me.

"Standing here on the pitch with them reminds me of many great moments we had together."

He added: "I am also delighted to be here because in August I had an appointment with a surgeon and I wasn't sure I would still be around at Christmas, so I feel marvellous just to be here. "I want to thank all those fans who have wished me well during my illness and seem pleased with this award."

And McIlroy was determined to share the glory with his playing colleagues who brought the glory days to Turf Moor and put Burnley at the pinnacle of English football.

"I don't know what you want to call this stand, but to me it will be the champions' stand every time I look at it," he said.

Switching from the past to the present, McIlroy then sounded a note of optimism about the modern-day Clarets, whose attempts to climb back through the divisions was aided by yesterday's 3-2 win which lifted them to fourth place in Division Two.

He added: "I just want to say that I am confident that next season, you will be supporting a First Division side."

McIlroy was joined by 10 of the title- winning squad on a memorable afternoon for Clarets old and new, who also paid tribute to coach Joe Brown and players Gerry McEvoy, Eddie Cliff, Mick Docherty, Peter Jones, David Hartley and Wilf Wrigley from the 1968 FA Youth Cup winning side at half-time.

Adam Blacklaw, Alex Elder, Tommy Cummings, Brian Miller, Trevor Meredith, Jimmy Robson, Brian Pilkington, Ray Pointer, John Connelly and Billy White were all given standing ovations as they walked round the pitch to gather in front of the Jimmy McIlroy Stand, where McIlroy cut a ribbon across the goal to complete the pre-match formalities.

Special presentations were also made at half-time by chairman Barry Kilby and vice-chairman Ray Ingleby to mark the long service of club president Dr David Iven and former secretary Albert Maddox.

Mrs Margaret Potts, widow of Harry Potts who managed the 1960 side, and Mrs Hilda Lord, widow of former chairman Bob Lord, also received awards.

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