MEMORIES of the glory days of Burnley FC came flooding back as soccer legend Harry Potts was honoured outside the club's Turf Moor ground.

A section of Brunshaw Road which runs past the ground's front door was renamed Harry Potts Way during a ceremony watched by a crowd of more than 200 fans before Saturday's game against Crystal Palace.

Harry's widow Margaret, her family, representatives past and present from the club and local dignitaries gathered in the rain to unveil a street nameplate in honour of the club's most successful manager.

Harry led Burnley to the Football League championship in 1960, took the club to the European Cup quarter-finals and to the FA Cup final in 1962.

"It's a great tribute," said Margaret. "All the family are delighted by it. It's been quite emotional to realise how much he meant to the supporters and everyone else in the town."

She said her husband would have wanted his winning team to be honoured rather than himself as an individual. "He was a very modest man and would have probably thought this was all a lot of fuss," she said.

"All this is rather strange to his grandchildren. To them he was simply grandad. He spent a lot more time with them than the children because when they were young he was busy with the club."

She said Burnley FC and football in general had changed beyond all recognition since the halcyon days when her husband was in charge.

"At the time we were at the top we used to get the national media up here," Margaret said. "They realised they were a good team but I don't think they got the recognition they deserved. There's a lot of things he would have found difficult to accept in football now. At the time it was very much a family orientated game. Burnley hasn't lost that altogether but life's changed since then as well."

Club chairman Barry Kilby said: "Harry Potts was a highly respected servant of Burnley Football Club both as a player and manager for over 30 years. He was the architect of the great 60s team. He is held with great affection in the hearts of the people of Burnley. "This idea is a mark of that esteem. The club has a rich heritage and it's one of our strengths. We have to live in the real world of today but it's always does us good to remember the past. A lot of younger fans don't know who Harry Potts is, but I'm sure true Clarets dads will tell them."

Among the audience at the ceremony was the Mayor of Burnley,= Coun Rafique Malik and staunch Clarets fan Burnley MP Peter Pike.

The idea to name the road in Harry's memory came from the club's Official Supporters Club London branch. It approached Mr Pike who made the formal request to the council which was accepted.

Fans arriving for the game gave unanimous approval. Geoffrey Pegg, 55, of Todmorden commented: "I've been a Burnley fan since the early 60s. I think it's a great idea. The club was very successful then and had big crowds. He did a lot for this club."

Terry Rothwell, 52, of Bacup said : "He deserves it. I used to love coming to see the club play in those days."

John Pearson, 69, of Rawtenstall added: "It's marvellous. I remember those days. The team was wonderful. I've been coming here since 1937." Carol Lord, 37, of Rawtenstall: "It's a good way of remembering him. I don't think they live up to his standards these days. He was our last great manager."