FORMER Burnley footballer Brian Pilkington took a trip down Memory Lane to celebrate his birthday with a cake and good wishes from Turf Moor.

The left-winger, who notched up 300 league, cup and European games, including winning the First Division championship in 1960, celebrates his 70th birthday on Wednesday.

He said: "They did me proud. It was a fantastic day. I sat for questions and answers and then they brought out a cake for me."

Brian has had a full and varied sporting career. He played for Burnley when he was 18, fitting in two years national service with the RAF, where he was based at Kirkham, at the age of 21.

And he netted the first goal against Manchester City to clinch the league championship at Maine Road in 1960.

The following year he was transferred to Bolton Wanderers for a fee of £30,000 in 1961.

Grandfather-of-two Brian, who won one England cap, said: "Footballers get paid too much these days, I don't think some of them can handle the responsibility.

"When I was at Burnley I was on about £20 a week and they sold me for a real profit, that's good business."

After retiring from professional football in 1966, Brian became the director of Chorley Football Club - a semi-professional team in the Unibond Premier League - a job he still enjoys today.

But Brian's birthday was tinged with some regret as he is being forced to retire as a magistrate because he is too old!

But he believes he still has what it takes to dole out the law.

Although legal eagles have put Brian on a reserve list, he doesn't expect to be called as a magistrate again.

He said: "I do feel that with my experience I still have a lot to offer. I've been doing this half my life.

"I wouldn't say that being a magistrate has been enjoyable but it has been very interesting."

Throughout his 35 year legal career as a South Ribble magistrate Brian has sat on the bench at Preston Crown Court and at the identical Magistrates' Courts in Leyland and Chorley.