A FORMER top amateur footballer in Burnley who played professionally in Australia has lost his battle with a rare form of cancer.

Burnley United’s James 'Jimmy' McBreen lost his battle with Cholangio-carcinoma – cancer of the bile duct aged 58.

He suffered a heart attack on March 28 while battling the disease, which affects only two in every million people.

Jimmy, a former St John's Primary School pupil, was hand picked for top flight Australian football by ex-scout Peter Irving.

He snapped up the opportunity when he was 24, with his then wife Cathy Wood, from Nelson.

The former St Theodore’s pupil went on to become a fans’ favourite at the now-defunct Newcastle KB United.

Jimmy’s sisters, including former landlady of The Crooked Billet pub, in Worsthorne, Gail Caine and Louise Carter, paid tribute to their ‘generous and life loving’ brother.

Louise, of Carholme Avenue, Burnley said: “Jimmy was a huge character who insisted on living life to the full.

“He was a football legend in Australia, still playing at 57.

“He wasn’t scared of dying, he said he had lived his life better than two men ever could.

“He was a very generous man who was always thinking of others.”

Jimmy played as a striker for Newcastle KB United before moving to National Soccer League side Wollongong United and Apia – an Italian club based in Australia.

His son Daniel, 34 followed in his footsteps and plays for Central Coast Mariners.

Outside of football Jimmy built up his own financial advisory business called James McBreen & Associates in Sydney.

Louise said: “Cholangiocarcinoma is a very, very rare form of cancer.

“Initially we were told he only had days to live, but doctors were amazed he could still function towards the end.” More than 300 people attended Jimmy’s funeral in Australia on Wednesday.

A second service was also held at St John’s RC Church in Burnley where around 100 people attended.

As well as his sisters, he leaves 11 nieces and nephews, his wife Leone, son Daniel, one-year-old grandson Noah and an unborn grandson.