Ex-Claret Ian Towers dies

Ian (74) was one of the players who came to Turf Moor from the North East in the late 1950s and was spotted playing for Durham Schoolboys.

He made his debut for the Clarets in April 1961 and went onto make 51 appearances, scoring 14 goals. He became Burnley’s first substitute in August 1965 when he replaced Willie Irvine in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal. Towers moved onto Oldham in 1966, with 45 goals in 95 appearances for the Latics, before he linked up with former Clarets John Connelly and Jimmy Robson at Bury.

He left Gigg Lane in 1970 and moved to South Africa to join Cape Town City before a knee injury cut short his playing career.

He turned his hand to coaching and was employed at Ajax Cape Town, a club formed in partnership with Dutch giants Ajax to find young footballing talent in South Africa.

Ian, who regularly returned to England for visits, leaves wife Pat, two sons and two daughters.