A BURNLEY legend is ready to donate his first England cap in a “magnificent gesture” to the club he loves.

Former goalkeeper Colin McDonald, 78, will hand over his first international cap during a special ceremony at half-time of Clarets’ game against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

McDonald, who made 201 appearances for the club between 1954 and 1959, first played for England against the USSR at the Lenin Stadium in Moscow ahead of the 1958 World Cup finals.

Now the legend, who was forced to retire from football aged just 29 after an horrific leg-break, has handed the cap to club bosses to display at Turf Moor.

He said: “I am getting older and my grandchildren are catered for, so I thought it would be nice to let the club have one.

“I got eight caps and I loved my time at Burnley, so it only seems right that I give something back to the club that gave me so much pleasure as a player.”

Grandfather-of-ten McDonald, who now lives in Summerseat, remains a keen Clarets follower.

He added: “I don’t get down to Turf Moor much these days - my grandchildren keep me busy enough.

“But I do keep up with the results and I was thrilled when Burnley beat Chelsea last week.

“Hopefully now they can do the same against Arsenal and reach the Carling Cup semi-finals.”

Clarets chairman Barry Kilby said: “This is a magnificent gesture by Colin, a player who was revered by every Burnley fan of his era.

“He truly is a club legend and to take ownership of his very first international cap is an honour.”

PICTURED: Clarets squad from the 1950s. Back row: From the left, A Waring, E Binns, C McDonald, B Seith, D Blackburn. Third row from left, H Rudman, J Aird, D Winton, B Holden, D Thompson, J Adamson, R Attwell, H Mather, H Graigner. Second row from left, B Gray, J McIlroy, T Cummings, B Morris, L Shannon, B PIlkington. Front row from left, G Jones, A Cheesebrough, K Parrington, B Miller