Clarets and Nottingham Forest players last night stood side by side in tribute to 1950s star Billy Gray, a stalwart of both clubs.

The former Burnley and Forest winger and inside forward died at the age of 83, prompting a minute’s silence before the Championship clash at the City Ground.

Gray made 120 appearances for the Clarets, from 1953 to 1957, and was top scorer in his first campaign at Turf Moor.

He notched up 20 goals, over the season, and was a virtual ever-present for the following two seasons.

But, at the age of 30, as Burn-ley’s Championship-winning side began to take shape, he fell out of favour and was transf-erred to Forest.

His prowess reignited on the banks of the Trent though, as he helped the red half of Nottingham to a 2-1 FA Cup Final win over Luton Town in 1959.

Ray Simpson, Clarets club historian, said: “He was an all-round sportsman, a boxer, and table-tennis player who also played for England B earlier in his career.”

The Northumberland-born flyer had a brief spell at Leyton Orient before his first big break at Chelsea, where he stayed from 1948 to 1953.

Post-war Clarets boss Frank Hill made him a Claret and it was only the emergence of the Scot paceman Doug Newlands that limited his chances at Burnley.

In later life, Gray returned to Forest as groundsman during the Brian Clough era. He also managed Millwall, Brentford and Notts County.