Jimmy's philosophy should be admired

As a free transfer from a Second Division club, suddenly I was rubbing shoulders with a collection of internationals. But my first impressions were vivid and would stay with me for the rest of my life. All these exceptional players had the same characteristics. Normal guys with their feet on the ground. Hard working, disciplined, talented, with tremendous attitudes.

Where did all this come from? I soon found out. Walking onto the famous Gawthorpe training pitches I first came across Jimmy Adamson. He was the first team coach. My respect for him was instantaneous. He was preaching good touch, control, accurate passes and enjoy the game. To believe in yourself. I came home that first day and my feet never touched the ground.

I was only on a two-week trial but my confidence had just taken a massive boost. It made me feel 10 feet tall. After the trial I was offered a contract by manager Harry Potts - £20 a week. I thought I'd won the pools. I know what you are thinking. They paid me far too much!

Thirty five years on, and I still remember that first day with great affection. It got me thinking. Where did Jim's love affair with the club start?

"I arrived as a 17-year-old from Ashington's East Chevington club in Northumberland. In those days Ray Bennion and Billy Dougal were on the coaching staff and their influence was vital to my development. When Burnley reached the 1947 Cup Final I was also helping out in the club office. I went with the official party to Wembley but when Chris Duffy scored for Charlton I was really upset. I left my seat and the stadium. It hurt."

Jim's career was disrupted when he was called up to do his National Service but on his return he was determined to have a real crack at making it as a professional. A master stroke by Bennion, dramatically put his career on an upward curve. Jim was switched to a midfield role and he made his debut against Bolton in a 1-1 draw.

"I thought I'd done OK" said Jim. "In fact when Nat Lofthouse was bearing down on goal, I managed to nick the ball away for a corner. I was feeling pretty pleased with myself but keeper Jimmy Strong reckoned I should have found a colleague. It brought me right down to earth!"

Jim's real success as a player came in the late 50's and early 60's. Now captain of the club he led the team to the First Division Championship in the 1959-60 season. The final game was at Manchester City in front of 60,000 impassioned supporters and goals from Billy Meredith and Brian Pilkington sealed the win. Wolves were breathing down their necks and were the more fancied team, so the Championship trophy wasn't presented until the following week at the Keirby Hotel.

In 1961 Jim was voted the Footballer of the Year. He was sub for the England team against Scotland but didn't get on. His only chance of international recognition.

Burnley were pipped by Ipswich for another Championship in the 61-62 season and were also runners-up in the 62 Cup Final when Spurs won the trophy.

During his playing days Jim would always be remembered as a classy, skilful, intelligent player. With Jimmy Mac alongside him in the engine room, it's difficult to even contemplate any of the opposition having a touch of the ball!

But throughout his playing days Jim was hungry for more knowledge. He attended coaching sessions and was one of the first to gain his full FA Coaching Badge at the tender age of 28. His relationship with the then England boss, Walter Winterbottom, was to prove highly significant. He was soon taken on board as a staff coach at the newly developed Lilleshall Complex.

"I met Walter during those sessions at Lilleshall. We got on well and he invited me to go to the World Cup Finals in Chile in 62 as his assistant". He was only 32 years of age and still playing for Burnley. No wives though were invited and certainly no pre World Cup relaxation family trips in Dubai, that's for sure. "More's the pity" according to his lovely wife May, happily married to Jim for 51 years.

After this fantastic experience came the offer of a lifetime.

Jim continues: "My name was put forward to become England manager when Walter left the position. It was tied in, but it would have meant the family moving to London. May and I decided that it would prove too much of an obstacle especially with a young family. In hindsight, we regretted that decision".

Who knows? Maybe an ex-Claret could have been lifting the Jules Rimet trophy in 1966!

Jim's playing career finished aged 34. He gave everything to the claret & blue jersey and it cost him. Battered knees, back pain - you name it, he felt it. But it was always agreed that Jim would go onto the coaching staff when he retired. Straight in as First Team coach with Harry as manager, lesser individuals would have found it difficult to coach the same players who were once colleagues. But in that 1963-64 season the transition couldn't have been smoother. He was allowed to get on with the job without interference and the team finished in a very respectable 6th position.

Jim was appointed manager in 1970. He went on record saying that Burnley would become the "Team of the 70s" - he had so much belief in the squad. But these words came back to haunt him as relegation followed. The inevitable cries went up for his removal but good sense prevailed and within two years, Burnley were back in the big time and in style. Only four defeats were suffered during that 1972-73 season, whilst accumulating a record number of points and the Championship trophy.

Jim's knowledge of the game was outstanding, his attention to detail, impeccable. Nothing would get in the way. He was single minded and was way beyond anybody else of his generation with his coaching acumen. The Clarets proved their worth finishing the next season very successfully, only narrowly missing out on a European place.

Inevitably, all good things come to an end. There was no indication that anything was amiss, however, until, as Jim recalls: "There was a bit of a fracas in the dressing room after an FA Cup defeat at Blackpool in 1976. I wasn't there at the time as I was presenting my report to the referee. But the next day, I was informed that my services were no longer required."

There was interest soon afterwards from Man City to take over the manager's position but scurrilous undertones prevented that appointment. Out of the game for eight months, he returned to his native north east to boss Sunderland for a two-year spell and a similar time was spent managing an ageing Leeds United side.

He finally called it a day in 1978, at the age of 52. Never again did he have the desire to get back into the game.

Of all his achievements I asked him what was his most treasured.

"Without doubt, that night at Maine Road when the Championship was won. The atmosphere, the build up to the game, the pressure of actually having to perform on the night. We couldn't have any slip ups or Wolves would have nicked it. But it all came right and we were so relieved and delighted that the famous trophy would be coming home to Turf Moor."

Typical of the man. The team was more important than the individual.

His Player of the Year award is now on display at Towneley Hall. Any up and coming youngster who has dreams of one day emulating the great man, would surely gain inspiration from a visit.

So how should Jim's outstanding achievements be recognized? Captain of the 1st Division champions in 1958-59, England squad member, Footballer of the Year 1962, Captain of the FA Cup Final team 1962, Assistant Manager of England 1962, Manager of Second Division Championship winning side 1973.

Thirty years of loyalty to one team. Modestly, he tells me that he doesn't want any fuss. But shouldn't those fantastic successes be honoured in some way? A tribute to the effort he's put in on behalf of the club?

Perhaps the Burnley fans have suggestions as to how best to show our appreciation. We'd like to hear.

Just one thought to finish. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all present managers and coaches had a similar philosophy to the one Jim preached throughout his managerial and coaching career?

He wanted, no insisted, that the players in his teams would "Play with smiles on their faces and chuckles in their boots!"

Nothing more to say really, is there?