A CLARETS goalkeeping legend is to be honoured in the village where he lived all his life.

Jerry Dawson, who appeared a record 522 times for Burnley FC, will be remembered with a plaque outside Cliviger sports pavilion.

The home grown player, who began his working life as Cliviger’s blacksmith, played between 1907 and 1928 and was part of the Championship winning team 1920-21 which went 30 games unbeaten.

It was said that before every home match Jerry could be seen walking through Towneley Park towards Turf Moor, wearing a flat cap with football boots slung over his shoulder.

The plaque donation will the final act of Cliviger Recreation and Community Association, known in the village for their fundraising activities, as they have decided to disband.The group have handed over the sports pavilion to the local Cliviger Parish Council and have requested the plaque be placed outside the building for those using the sports facilities to be reminded of Jerry’s achievements Gary Cocker, the former chairman of the association, said after 17 years of fund raising in which the group had raised over £70,000 for the village they thought the plaque would be a fitting farewell gesture.

He said: “It will be to remember a man who appeared to have been forgotten by both Cliviger and Burnley “The publicity about this football hero could help the young ones take an interest in sport.

“There are four youth teams playing football at Mount Lane and a plaque remembering Jerry should give them an incentive to use the pavilion and sports field.”

Jerry, who was capped twice for England, is also remembered for his unselfish act when withdrawing from Burnley’s cup winning team in the 1914 FA Cup Final after considering himself not fit enough to play through a rib injury.

After the team won it was decided by the Football Association he should receive a special medal for putting the team first before personal glory.

He worked for the club in a backroom capacity after his retirement from the game.

He died in 1970, aged 82.