BURNLEY Football Club has waved a fond farewell to one of its greatest servants.

Head groundsman Arthur Bellamy has retired, aged 65, and was presented with a commemorative trophy, signed shirt and gold watch.

Arthur, though, was more than a groundsman at the club. Over his 50-year spell at Turf Moor, he's filled in almost every role, including player, youth team coach and even assistant manager.

Arthur, an apprentice welder, joined the Clarets as a 15-year-old after being spotted by famed north east scout Jack Hixon - who many years later would unearth former Rovers star Alan Shearer.

He signed professional terms in 1959, but it was four years later, following the shock departure of Jimmy McIlroy, that Arthur got his first team chance.

He was a mainstay of the Clarets side until 1972, amassing 236 appearances before joining Chesterfield for £10,000.

Four years later, he returned to Burnley where he bought a milk round and owned a chip shop before re-joining the Turf Moor staff in 1979.

He has since served the club continually in a variety of positions, including youth team coach, reserve team coach and assistant manager and, in later years, groundsman.

Arthur said: "I have been associated with the club for 50 years. I was a player for 14 years, went to Chesterfield, then came back and I've been here ever since.

"I remember every position because every time I go into the laundry, they think I'm after their job!

"I have been a player, then when I came back from Chesterfield, Harry Potts was manager and Brian Miller was assistant, he approached me because they were starting a B team.

"I came onto the coaching staff to help youth team coach Ray Pointer.

"Eventually, Ray got the sack and I got the job and you know the way it goes "You move up to through the backroom team until, when John Bond came, the groundsman finished at Gawthorpe and the pitches needed rolling. I became groundsman for a couple of years.

"Then Brian Miller came back in 1986 and I was assistant manager for a while, probably because I was cheap.

"I didn't get a rise, but I was happy to help out because we were struggling, weren't we?

"The day that Brian was thinking about finishing, he told me he had taken the club as far as he could and he wanted to put my name forward for manager.

"I said no. I wasn't cut out to be a manager and that's when Frank Casper took over.

"I carried on as assistant for a short while, but we were always struggling for money and eventually I took over as head groundsman.

"From then on I have been happy."

And he sent a special message to scout Jack Hixon.

He added: "I have real affection for the club, even though I'm not originally from this area.

"I have many people to thank, but the one I must mention is Jack Hixon, the scout who sent me down here many moons ago.

"He is 80-something now, but I will phone him personally and say Thanks Jack, you made it all happen for me'.

"You don't know how your life is going to pan out, but Burnley has looked after me and I'm grateful for that."