Written in collaboration with Dave Thomas (It’s Burnley Not Barcelona and No Nay Never) this book tells the remarkable story of Willie Irvine from his boyhood days in
Willie was one of a family of 8 brothers and sisters and had several stepbrothers and sisters that he never knew. When his father died in 1944 with Willie only 11 months old it marked the beginning of years of early struggle and hardship. It was not unknown for Willie to have to go school barefoot.
When he did arrive at
From this truly difficult beginning Willie went on to become one of Burnley’s and Northern Ireland’s best ever centre forwards, and holds the Burnley post war scoring record of 29 league goals in a season. For good measure that same season he scored another 8 goals in cup competitions.
Willie went on to play for Preston and
Willie’s story is one of triumph over adversity and after his football career was over far too early, thanks to injury legacies, the story of the next part of his life is the story of his emergence from difficulties that would have floored lesser men.
It also tells the heart-warming story of how as the writing of the book has gone on; Willie has discovered things about his own family in
TOGETHER AGAIN is a substantial, illustrated, hard backed book of app. 230 pages and 100,000 words. Priced at £17.99 from shops, the first 500 copies will be available to advance purchasers, at a price of £22, personally numbered and signed by Willie.
Orders for these special advance copies should be sent to Dave Thomas at 12 Moorland View, Rodley,
There are plans for a special ‘TOGETHER AGAIN’ dinner, attended by other Clarets legends, in either late October or early November, to mark the launch of the book. The evening should be another of those very special, nostalgic, celebratory nights, with other
TOGETHER AGAIN, the story of Willie Irvine.