A clued-up Clarets fan’s knowledge on the club was not enough to see him through to the grand final of BBC One’s Mastermind quiz.

Thomas Perry’s chosen specialist subject was the history of Burnley FC when he competed in the semi-final of the long-running TV quiz show on Friday.

The vehicle refinisher, from Rawtenstall, fared well in the opening round, answering nine questions correctly and passing just once.

But his general knowledge let him down in the next round and he finished with a score of 14, finishing in last place.

Introducing Mr Perry, presenter John Humphrys said he would be answering questions on ‘the small town football club who have left their mark on English soccer’.

Mr Perry, a grandfather who lives in Goodshaw Avenue, was quizzed on his local club for 90 seconds.

He got off to a good start, naming Robbie Blake as the goalscorer in Burnley’s first home game in the Premier League against Manchester United in 2009.

Mr Perry also knew Jimmy Adamson was the first Burnley player to be voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association in 1962.

But he passed when Mr Humphrys asked: “Following the resignation of Albert Pickles in 1932, who became the first former player to manage the club?”

And he answered incorrectly when asked which Liverpool player had scored a ‘bizarre’ own goal in an FA Cup tie with the Clarets in 2005.

Mr Perry’s bad luck continued in the general knowledge round, during which he passed five times.

At the end of the semi-final he was in last place, with Julia Hobbs, an administrator from Ilford, coming in first with 22 points.