JOHN 'Jackie' Chew, a member of Burnley's FA Cup Final team from 1947, has passed away at the age of 82.

And he will be mourned both at Turf Moor and at Rishton Cricket Club where he was captain and star batsman for many years.

His death, after a long illness, means that his old partner down the right, Welsh wizard Billy Morris, is the only surviving member of that Cup Final side.

"It is a very sad day," said Billy from his home in Colwyn Bay. "I have lots of fond memories of Jackie, how I used to try and mimic his Lancashire accent and he used to sing comic songs.

"We had a good understanding down the right and we got on well from the first time we met. He will be sadly missed and I will be speaking to his wife Ivy to send my condolences."

Jackie was still playing for the Clarets when Jimmy McIlroy came to Turf Moor, and the Northern Ireland legend said: "He was a really nice person and I never heard him criticise or run down any other player.

"He played outside right, Billy Morris was inside right and I was inside left. He was a really good striker of the ball and if he got in a shooting position he would finish it off."

Jackie was a key figure for the Clarets in the post-war era having signed as a professional in March 1946, after making guest appearances the previous year.

His son David explained: "He had actually been registered as an amateur at Blackburn Rovers in 1939 before serving in the RAF throughout the Second World War.

"I was born in the year they got to the Cup Final and I have seen the pictures in the papers of him holding me before the semi-final against Liverpool."

Jackie made his Burnley debut in the promotion winning campaign of 1946-47 and when he left the club in 1954 he had played 248 games, scoring 41 goals.

His partnership with Morris down the right was instrumental in the start of the golden age of Burnley and he and was in the side beaten 1-0 at Wembley by Charlton in 1947.

He played at both Bradford City and then Darwen before swapping his kit for his whites on a permanent basis and it was at Rishton Cricket Club that he enjoyed one of his best days.

In the Worsley Cup Final of 1964, he faced Burnley, who had the fearsome Charlie Griffith in their attack, and he produced a marathon innings to help his side to victory.

McIlroy added: "Jackie was not the tallest, about 5'7", but he stood there and took the knocks on his chest, on his arms, everywhere. It was typical of his courage, he was a really strong-willed person.

"He also showed that in his last years at Burnley when he wanted to go part time. He was looking to the future for something to fall back on and I think he was suspended for a time. But they had to let him back because they needed him."

Eric Whalley, Accrington Stanley chairman, counted him among his friends and he admitted: "It was Jack who taught me how to be competitive in sport but without ever going over the top.

"He had a great will to win and he was the first man I ever heard swear on a cricket field. If it had not been for his football I am certain he would have played county cricket.

"His son David went on to captain Rishton and he always used to come to games until he became ill in the last two or three years. He will be sorely missed."

David, the only child for Jackie and his wife Ivy, has countless happy memories of childhood.

"I remember we went on holiday to Bournemouth and bumped into then England captain Billy Wright.

"We had a constant stream of cricketers at our house like Weekes, Constantine and the Indian spinner Gupti. I was in absolute awe."

A service will be held at Rishton Parish Church at 12.45pm on Friday October 25, followed by cremation at Pleasington Crematorium. Family flowers only by request with donations to Ward Five at Blackburn Royal Infirmary or Rishton Church Roof Fund.