Burnley title winner Robson dies aged 82

TRIBUTES have been paid to Burnley legend and Championship winner Jimmy Robson, who has passed away at the age of 82. Born in Pelton, County Durham, Robson was persuaded by a school teacher to follow his dream of being a footballer after he had told him he was set for a career down the pit. A trial with Sunderland was arranged before he joined Burnley aged 15. After making his debut at 17, Robson, who started his career as an inside forward and ended it as a centre half, was a key part of Burnley’s First Division title-winning side of 1960. He also scored the 100th goal in FA Cup finals in the 1962 showpiece as Burnley lost 3-1 to Tottenham. After nine years and 242 appearances for the Turf Moor club, spells at Blackpool, Barnsley and Bury followed before a coaching career that took in 10 years at Huddersfield Town and a return to Burnley. Robson (below) was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s In 2015 and is the seventh member of Burnley’s titlewinning squad to die with the disease. His daughter, Dany, told Sportsmail: ‘He came down to Burnley on the train and when he saw all the chimneys and mills he wanted to go home. But back then you were not allowed to for six months and by that time he was enjoying it. ‘He met my mum at a dance hall and they got married on a Saturday morning with all the Burnley players there. That afternoon they played Arsenal and the crowd showered dad with confetti but they lost 2-0!’ In July, Robson entered a care home and it was then that financial assistance from the Professional Footballers’ Association dried up, as Sportsmail reported. ‘When dad was still at home they paid for some extra care for a number of months but the moment he went into a care home all financial help stopped,’ said Dany. ‘It’s too late for him now but it won’t stop us supporting other families going through the same thing.’ Robson lost wife Beryl in 2005. They had four children — Dany, Craig, Melanie and Gavin.