A special event took place took place (Friday) today to honour one of Burnley Football Club’s former players, Jimmy Hogan, with the unveiling of a headstone at his graveside.

Hogan, who hailed from just outside the town, played football prior to the First World War, and would later go on to establish himself as one of the most top coaches in European football, often cited as the major influence in the emergence of the great Hungarian team of the 1950s, which included the legendary Ferenc Puskas.

Gusztáv Sebes, the coach of the team known as the Mighty Magyars who defeated England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953, later said of Jimmy Hogan, ‘We played football as Jimmy Hogan taught us. When our football history is told, his name should be written in gold letters.’

Jimmy Hogan spent a brief period of time as a coach at Celtic in the late 1940s and early ‘50s, and there were representatives of both Celtic Football Club and the Celtic Graves Society at today’s event, including Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, Tony Hamilton.

Local Community Trust, the Turf Moor Memorial Garden, organised the unveiling of the headstone, and was also attended by the Mayor of Burnley, Councillor Mark Townsend, and was presided over by local priest, Father David Featherstone of St Mary of the Assumption RC Church, Burnley.

Representatives of many of Jimmy’s former football clubs, including MTK Budapest, Burnley, Aston Villa, Bolton Wanders, and Fulham were also there, along with members of Jimmy’s family.

Peter Briggs, chairman of the Turf Moor Memorial Garden, said: “This project has brought together a large number of individuals to support the memory of a footballing great.

“Too many people still haven’t heard of Jimmy Hogan and what he did for football. However, this small token may go some way to bring his story to more people and thank him for his efforts.”

Special graveside event to remember football pioneer, Jimmy Hogan