THE word legend gets bandied around all too readily these days but on Monday we lost a true legend, in the old fashioned sense of the word.

It doesn’t matter whether you saw him play or not, there’s not a single Burnley fan in the world who doesn’t know the name Jimmy McIlroy (and not because we’ve got a stand named after him).

Like many of his teammates of the 1960s – and beyond - he stayed in Burnley after his career was over and it was always a great thrill growing up to have them pointed out to me by my late father as his heroes.

I, of course, have had my own heroes as the years have passed but that’s what all good football clubs are built on – the mutual love between fans and those who wear the famous claret and blue.

There’s been plenty of tales and quotes popping up on social media since Jimmy’s passing, all of which sum up why he was held in high regard by the people of Burnley.

Despite the offer of riches elsewhere – much more exotic climes as well – he always stayed in Burnley, even when he was set packing to Stoke City by then-chairman Bob Lord.

The move to Stoke led to a number of Burnley fans boycotting going on the Turf and some of those fans have never been on since he departed for the Potteries.

Typically Jimmy turned down the invitation to go to Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE, instead deciding to share his big moment with the Burnley faithful, having it presented on the pitch at half time.

It’s perhaps fitting that we’re playing in Europe this week, given that Jimmy was among the first group of Clarets to do so all those years ago.

Knowing how much Sean Dyche respects and understands the historical importance of this club, I am sure Jimmy will be at the forefront of all the squad’s minds as they head to Greece for the first leg against Olympiacos.

We’ll need to be much sharper in Athens than we were against Watford on Sunday.

After an impressive first half – aside from the opening five minutes or so – we threw it all away with another slow start in the second.

Our lack of creativity is a concern but we need to realise it’s only the second game of the Premier League season and you win nothing at this stage.