Clarets legend Jimmy McIlroy is deservedly set to be granted the Freedom of the Borough during a special ceremony at Burnley Town Hall on Tuesday December 9th.

And Clarets fans will be able to honour the great man when McIlroy -  the club's greatest ever player and a genuine ambassador - takes to the Turf Moor pitch for a presentation ceremony with the Mayor of Burnley at half time during the Championship game with Cardiff on December 9.

Burnley Football Club will also produce a commemorative edition of Claret & You for the game, with Jimmy as the cover star o the official matchday magazine!

The Freedom of Borough recognises Jimmy's contribution to the borough of Burnley, both during his playing career and afterwards through his charitable work for the community.

McIlroy last summer, taking a bow at Glentoran

Burnley FC chairman Barry Kilby said: "This is a richly deserved honour and one that we fully support.

"Legend is an over-used word but it clearly applies in this case.

"Jimmy is still regarded as one of our greatest sons and he stands alongside such Lancashire greats as Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney and Nat Lofthouse as a real club ambassador.

"I cannot think of anyone more worthy of being given the Freedom of the Borough and I am sure all fans will join me in congratulating Jimmy on the honour."

Mayor of Burnley, Councillor Ida Carmichael, added: "Jimmy was an iconic player who made Burnley his home.

"He had opportunities to turn his back on his adopted home and move elsewhere but he was never lured away and remained loyal to Burnley all these years.

"He was part of the championship winning team and I'm sure he is as pleased as everyone else at how well Burnley FC is doing this season.

"The fortunes of Burnley as a borough are intrinsically tied to the fortunes of Burnley as a team, and that applies as much now as when Jimmy was playing."

Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said: "Jimmy was an inspiration to a generation of Clarets fans and I'm absolutely delighted that his contribution to the local community is being recognised in this way.

"Although he was born in Northern Ireland, Jimmy took Burnley to his heart and Burnley repaid the compliment.

"He is adored by fans of a certain age and just speaking his name alone conjures up memories of a golden age when Burnley Football Club was in its heyday.

"I'm extremely happy that the council has agreed to honour Jimmy by granting him the Freedom of the Borough.

"He absolutely deserves it."

Honorary Freedom is the highest honour the council can award.

Honours of this kind are normally restricted to residents who have made a significant contribution to the borough over more than 15 years.

The Freedom itself carries no privilege and is purely an honour, reflecting the eminence of the person on whom it is conferred or as recognition of significant and valuable services rendered to the borough by that person.

It's not something that is granted frequently, or often, and is really only awarded to persons who have demonstrated a significant contribution to a borough, town or city.

The last time Burnley Council conferred the Freedom of the Borough was in 1989, to HMS Active.