SATURDAY January 15, 2011 was overcast and grey. Hardly a warm East Lancashire welcome for Eddie Howe.

But as photographer’s flashlights flickered towards Burnley’s manager elect in the Bob Lord Stand, a moment of poignancy lit up the rest of Turf Moor.

Jimmy Adamson, a star championship-winning player of the 1950s and early 60s, star coach after hanging up his boots, and star promotion-winning manager for almost six years in the 70s was making a surprise appearance at the club he served for almost 30 years.

Fans in front of the newly opened Jimmy Adamson Suite, and all around the ground, turned towards him and applauded.

There was a new manager to welcome, ahead of the visit of QPR. Howe had all but put pen to paper to become Brian Laws’ successor.

But supporters of all generations dare not miss this moment. Even those who had never seen the long-legged midfield figure kick a ball still knew how significant his attendance was.

They are the same people who still marvel at Jimmy McIlroy.

They knew they could count on one hand the number of times he had been back to Turf Moor since leaving in January 1976.

It is understood Adamson had not parted on the best of terms with then chairman Bob Lord, and was unsure of the reception he would receive if he went back.

Paul Fletcher and Colin Waldron, two of his former players, did manage to persuade him to attend Burnley’s FA Cup third round home tie with Liverpool, only for it to be postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

He must have felt someone was trying to tell him something, because six years passed before his next visit.

But as he stood, with his family around him, on the outside steps of his suite – a lasting gesture from the Clarets for all that he did for the club - it was clearly worth the wait.

Waving to his adoring public, it was like the return of the prodigal son.

There was barely a dry eye in the house. The limelight was taken away from Howe.

The likes of Andy Payton and Jay Rodriguez will always be upheld by supporters as homegrown heroes.

But in terms of longevity and loyalty to one club, Sir Alex Ferguson is the last of that breed. We will never see his or Adamson’s like again.

Not in the modern game.