He turned professional on his 17^th birthday and made his League debut for the Clarets in November 1970 in a 2-1 victory against Nottingham Forest at Turf Moor.

He was not a regular during that campaign, but he was still involved with the junior side and his tremendous wing play helped the Club to the semi final of the FA Youth Cup.

With Burnley in the Second Division, James played more games and after a brace against Fulham in 1971, he became a regular, taking over from Steve Kindon and having the international scouts flocking to Turf Moor.

His first cap for Wales came against Czechoslovakia in Prague in 1971 and he is still one of the youngest players ever to be capped for the Wales team.

In the 1972/73 season, Leighton James became a household name because of his and the team's brilliant performances, which were often featured on 'Match Of The Day'.

Two seasons in the First Division followed and James' dazzling exhibitions on the wings began to steal the show on a regular basis.

With Burnley struggling in the 1975/76 season, James was sold to Derby County, who paid £310,000 for him, a Club record at the time.

He made another move in 1977, this time to Queens Park Rangers, before he returned to Burnley for a second spell in 1978, when Harry Potts paid £165,000 for him.

Both James and Steve Kindon were reunited and the pair were instrumental in the Clarets' Anglo-Scottish Cup win that season.

But when Burnley were relegated to the Third Division, James was on the move again, this time to his hometown club, Swansea City, where under John Toshack the Swans went from the Third Division to the First with James an instrumental figure.

His third spell at Turf Moor came in 1986 and he was involved in one of Burnley's most dramatic seasons ever, finishing as top scorer with 10 goals in the 1986/87 season, which ended with the 'Orient Game'.

After that day, James played his part in the rebuilding process and played at Wembley in the Sherpa Van Trophy Final in 1988.

Leighton James was a professional for almost 20 years, played over 600 League games and scored more than 120 League goals. He also played for his country on more than 50 occasions and scored 10 goals.

He was without doubt one of the very best players of the modern era - a Claret of the finest vintage.