JEANNIE Dougal, the widow of former Burnley Football Club manager Billy Dougal, has died just weeks before her 101st birthday.

Her late husband was a Clarets player, manager and physiotherapist.

Jeannie herself was a Clarets fan for more than 75 years, and last year when she celebrated her 100th birthday she said her only regret after an action-packed weekend that she had been too exhausted to go to the match at Turf Moor and cheer Burnley on in their 3-0 win over Oldham.

She was born in Falkirk, where she married Billy.

He joined Burnley in 1926 from Falkirk and he played for the first team 60 times over the next three seasons.

In 1929 he was appointed to the club's coaching staff and nearly 30 years later became manager.

In January 1958 cartilage trouble brought a premature end to his career and the family returned to Scotland, where Billy trained to be a physiotherapist.

He worked for Thames Athletic and Charlton before landing the job of assistant trainer at Turf Moor in the early '30s.

He continued as physiotherapist for the club until his death in 1966.

Jeannie had lived in Victoria Nursing Home, Burnley, for two years.

She would have celebrated her 101st birthday on January 23.

The funeral will be at St John's Church, Ivy Street, Burnley, on Tuesday, 16th, at 10.15am.

The family has requested that only family flowers are sent, but donations can be made to Pendleside Hospice.

Burnley Football Club has sent its condolences to the family.