Shortly after the story of ex-Burnley player Tommy Boyle being honoured, we hear of the sad death of legendary goalkeeper Adam Blacklaw aged 72.

Adam, who played 383 games for the Clarets between 1954-67 and still stands 15th in the all-time list of senior appearances, died suddenly at home on Sunday evening.

He was famously a First Division Championship winner with Burnley in 1960 and his death comes in the 50th anniversary of that title success.

Aberdeen-born Blacklaw joined the club in 1954 and spent the next 13 years at Turf Moor.

From 1959 he was a first-team regular, helping Burnley win the League Championship in his first full season. Blacklaw, who was signed from his hometown club, made his first-team debut under Alan Brown as a teenager in December, 1956. He enjoyed an eight-game run as the replacement for the injured Colin McDonald and then in 1959 replaced McDonald on a regular basis following a career-ending injury for another of the Clarets’ goalkeeper greats. Blacklaw then made the number one jersey his own as he gave outstanding service under the stewardship of Harry Potts.

A fearless and highly dependable goalkeeper, Blacklaw missed just one game to help Burnley win the Championship. He also missed just one game in the following season and was then an ever-present for three successive seasons from 1961-64.

Blacklaw played at Wembley in the 1962 FA Cup final and was also a key member of the Clarets’ team that played in the European Cup and secured four successive top-four finishes in the old First Division.

The big Scot was a magnificent servant of the Clarets, playing his last game in December, 1966 before moving to Blackburn Rovers. Blacklaw spent three seasons at Ewood Park before ending his illustrious career with a brief spell at Blackpool.

His performances at Turf Moor did not go un-noticed in his native Scotland and after winning two under-23 call-ups he was called up the senior side. Blacklaw played for Scotland in friendlies in Norway and Spain in 1963 and then in a World Cup qualifier away to Italy in 1965. At the time caps were not awarded for those games but following a re-think by the Scottish FA, Blacklaw belatedly received the recognition he was due last year. Blacklaw travelled with family and friends to receive his Scotland cap from chief executive Gordon Smith and then national coach George Burley at a special ceremony at Hampden Park.

His death comes just two months before the 1959/60 team are to be honoured at Turf Moor in recognition of the 50th anniversary.

The thoughts of everyone at Turf Moor are with Adam’s family and friends at this very sad time.