Former Burnley and Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper dies, aged 72 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Former Burnley and Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper dies, aged 72

6:40pm Monday 1st March 2010 in Barnoldswick By Jon Livesey, Reporter

LEGENDARY Clarets goalkeeper ‘Big Adam’ Blacklaw has died following a long battle with illness.

Former players and Burnley FC chiefs today paid tribute to Adam, 72, who kept goal for the First Division Championship winning side of 1959/60.

Following his death at home yesterday evening, his former teammates described him as an ‘outstanding player’ and ‘genuine’ person.

They said he would be ‘sadly missed’ but ‘never forgotten’ as he features in a whole host of happy memories.

Adam played 383 games for the Clarets between 1956 and 1967 and still stands 15th in the all-time list of senior appearances.

He was signed as a schoolboy from Aberdeen and made his first-team debut as a teenager in December 1956.

And he took over the reigns from the great Colin McDonald who had to retire through injury in 1959.

His death, which follows a battle with Alzheimer’s and motor neurone disease, comes in the 50th anniversary of the title success.

Clarets legend John Connelly roomed with the man he said was known affectionately as ‘Big Adam’.

He said: “Adam was a very genuine fellow and a real family man.

“I have some fantastic memories of him and he will never be forgotten because we’ll always speak about him.”

Under the stewardship of Harry Potts, Adam garnered a reputation as a fearless and dependable goalkeeper.

Jimmy McIlroy said: “I used to love it when high balls came into the box – Adam would come out and God help anyone who got in his way.

"He was a very powerful young man and would knock players all over the place to get the ball.”

Adam played at Wembley in the 1962 FA Cup final and was a key member of the Clarets team which played in the European Cup.

Burnley FC chairman Barry Kilby said: “He is synonymous with Burnley Football Club and I have a couple of personal memories about him as well.

“There’s the famous Battle of Naples, and an equally famous photograph of Adam falling down the stairs after there had been all sorts of trouble.

“I was playing for Padiham when Adam was manager of Clitheroe and for the second week running he had run on and grabbed the referee.

"He went to play for Blackburn Rovers as well at the back end of his career, but we’ll forgive him for that.

“Our thoughts go out to all his family and friends.”

Adam played three times for Scotland in 1963 and 1965, but caps were not awarded.

The Scottish FA provided him with international recognition at a special ceremony last year.

He spent three seasons at Blackburn Rovers between 1966 and 1970.

Adam ended his career with a brief spell at Blackpool and later played for and managed Great Harwood Town as well as Clitheroe.

He was a newsagent for many years in Brunshaw Road, Burnley, before taking over the Cross Keys pub in Barnoldswick where he later retired with his wife Sheila.

Adam leaves three children.

>> ADAM BLACKLAW 1937-2010

* Born: Aberdeen, September 2, 1937.

* Senior career:
1956–1967 - Burnley (318 games)
1967–1970 - Blackburn Rovers (96 games)
1970–1971 - Blackpool (1 game)
1963-1965 - Scotland (three games).

* He joined Burnley as an apprentice in 1954 having won three Scottish schoolboy caps and turned professional in October 1954.

* He made his first-team debut on December 22, 1956.

* He won a League championship medal in 1959-60 and an FA Cup runners-up medal in 1962.

* He joined Blackburn Rovers for £15,000 in 1967 and played 96 times in a three-year spell at Ewood Park.

* He finished his career with a one-game spell at Blackpool and finally at Great Harwood before becoming manager at the Northern Premier club.

* Adam represented Scotland at schoolboy, U23 and full international level.

* He made his full Scottish debut in a 4-3 defeat by Norway in 1963 and gained a further two caps in 1963 and 1965, a 6-2 win in Spain and a 3-0 loss in Italy.