TOMMY CUMMINGSFormer Burnley football club captain Tommy Cummings died on Sunday July 12, 2009, at the age of 80.He was one of the most popular personalities in the club's history and was an integral member of their 1959/1960 side which won the First Division championship.He was born in Sunderland and joined Burnley as a youth player, appearing in his first senior game in 1948 after which he made 479 appearances for the club including 434 Football League appearances. His final game for the club was in 1962.He is said to have scored one of the finest goals ever seen at Burnley's Turf Moor ground against Newcastle in 1952. It was a memorable solo run upfield culminating in a crashing shot from distance. Afterwards, Mr Cummings modestly said: "I just had nobody to pass to."He also won three England B caps, and after his playing career ended he went on to be player-manager ofMansfield Town - leading them to promotion from Division Four. He alsomanaged Aston Villa between 1967 and 1968, making way for Tommy Docherty.In December 1961 he succeeded Jimmy Hill aschairman of the ProfessionalFootball ers' Association, a post he held until March 1963.Later in life he bcame a licensee and ran a variety of pubs in and around Burnley.Burnley Chairman Brian Kilby said: "Tommy was very much a part of the fabric of the club during those golden years in the 1950s and 1960s and an integral part of the Championship winning team.Mr Kilby added that next year the club was planningto celebrate the 50th anniversary of that success and everyone was very sad that Mr Cummings would now not be there to share it with them.Writing on the Burnley FC website, Club Chief Executive Paul Fletcher MBE, said: "Even though I never saw Tommy play, his name is associated with one of the greatest goals ever seen at Turf Moore against Newcastle back in 1952. That goal is still talked about and those fans lucky enough to witness it will never have forgotten it."Mr Cummingsleft wife, Joy, daughter Lesley and son Bobby, grandaughter Lucy and great-grandson Bradley.
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