Clarets legend Jimmy McIlroy hailed his adoring supporters yesterday as he collected his MBE on the Turf Moor pitch.

The 79-year-old turned down the chance to be presented with the award at Buckingham Palace, saying he did not want to disappoint any of his extended family.

The modest former winger said: “Ever since I came here, the way the everyone has treated me, the club, the people of Burnley, the supporters, I just wanted to let them know that I appreciate what they have done for me.”

He still had a royal reception for the occasion as Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Lord Shuttleworth, the Queen’s representative in the county, accompanied by club chairman Barry Kilby, carried out the presentation.

Lord Shuttleworth is himself a self-confessed Burnley FC fanatic.

Jimmy was presented with his medal for services to football and local charities.

Before the ceremony Jimmy said he would have found it difficult to pick who would accompany him to the palace, for his investiture, and so had asked about the possibility of holding the ceremony in Burnley.

Just like half a century ago, the Turf Moor faithful rose as one to applaud one of their own, a player who helped to secure the League Championship in 1960 and was an FA Cup finalist two years later.

Earlier this year Jimmy, who still lives in Burnley, was given the freedom of the borough. In the early 1990s the former Beehole End was also renamed in his honour at the ground when it was rebuilt.

Jimmy became a sports journalist at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph after retiring from football.

He played 439 times for the Clarets and scored 116 goals for the club.

He is also Burnley's most capped international, appearing for his native Northern Ireland on 51 occasions, scoring 10 goals.