JACK Hixon is arguably the most famous scout in football.

He has unearthed dozens of young players who have gone on to become household names, not least former England skipper Alan Shearer.

But the 80-year-old also knew something about what it takes to become a top coach.

Stan Ternent was one of the lads discovered by Hixon on the football fields of the North East.

"I remember Jack saying that you will not have seen the best of Stan Ternent until he starts coaching," explained the Clarets boss who has certainly proved him right.

Jack Hixon's life in football is the subject of a documentary on BBC Two tonight at 7.30pm and it is a show that will be of great interest to Burnley fans.

Hixon's association with Turf Moor began in the early 1950s when he assisted the club's chief scout Charlie Ferguson.

It was when Harry Potts took over in 1958 that Hixon became the chief scout, bringing in no fewer than 25 players from the hot-bed of football where he lived.

Ralph Coates, Brian O'Neill, Arthur Bellamy, Les Latcham, Dave Merrington, Freddie Smith and Jackie Price were all Jack's lads in the days when the Clarets were among the country's elite.

Hixon's famous generosity, gentleness and modesty is evident throughout tonight's show and it is illustrated in the story about how he convinced the mother of 13-year-old Coates that he should miss his interview to become an electrician at the local colliery to go for a two week trial at Turf Moor.

Coates admitted: "I'm still not sure what he saw in me - the shortest, stockiest centre forward ever."

Burnley's connections with the North East in that era are legendary and they famously fielded a side of 11 players from that region against Newcastle United at St James' Park, with the home side having none.

The Clarets link with this legendary figure is still there, and not just in the shape of Ternent.

Skipper Steve Davis, like Shearer, was sent to Southampton by Hixon where he learned his trade before coming north.

It is through Shearer's exploits that he is best known to this generation and the former Blackburn star still keeps in regular contact with his mentor.

"One thing you can say about Jack is that he is very trustworthy," said Shearer. "I speak to him three, four or five times a week and not just about football, about everything.

"I probably speak to him sometimes more than I speak to my own family, but that's because of the friendship we have."

Hixon can still be found on the touchline at schoolboy games, doing what he loves and what he does best - spotting talent.

Both Burnley and Blackburn fans will be interested in watching BBC Close Up North's "Jack Hixon's Lads" tonight.