Arthur Bellamy was working as an apprentice welder at an iron works near his home and playing for the works football team when he was spotted by the Clarets' north east scout, Jack Hixon. He was invited for a trial and still only 15, first came to Burnley in February 1958, in the same week that Harry Potts was appointed as the club's new manager.

He signed as a professional in June 1959, but, surrounded by an abundance of talent at Turf Moor, had to be content with battling his way through the junior sides. He was a member of Burnley's 'A' team that won the Lancashire League title in 1961/62 and also contributed to the Reserve Team's Central League Championship in the same season.

Then, in March 1963, came Arthur Bellamy's big chance, following the re-shuffle needed in Burnley's First Team after the shock departure of Jimmy McIlroy. He made his First Division debut at Maine Road, as struggling Manchester City were demolished 5-2, and rounded off an impressive first appearance by scoring the Clarets' fifth goal. He kept his place and made a significant contribution to a highly satisfactory third place finish behind Tottenham and title-winners Everton.

He was not a regular the following season, but, in his first game of the campaign, scored a marvellous hat-trick against the champions at Goodison Park, in a magnificent 4-3 victory for the Clarets in September 1963.

Arthur Bellamy was not a prolific scorer during 10 seasons in the Burnley First Team, but one goal he did score was crucial and memorable - for the wrong reasons! He put through his own goal to equalise for Swindon in the League Cup semi-final replay at the Hawthorns in December 1968. A young man called Peter Noble popped up with Swindon's winner and it was the Wiltshire side who were Wembley-bound, and not Burnley.

Bellamy kept his place during the relegation season of 1970/71 and also in the club's first campaign in the Second Division for a quarter of a century. Then in April 1972, just two days before his 30th birthday, he played his last game for the Clarets in a 4-3 defeat at Roker Park against Sunderland, the team he had idolised as a youngster.

In July 1972, he signed for Third Division Chesterfield for £10,000 and made his Saltergate debut in a 4-1 victory against Oldham on the opening day of the new season. He was a virtual ever-present during his time at Chesterfield, which was all spent in the Third Division, although a fifth position finish in 1973/74 could have been a promotion place had not three out of the last four matches been lost.

He was released in April 1976 and returned to Burnley where he bought a milk round and later a chip shop before he rejoined the Clarets staff as 'B' team coach in 1979. He has since served the club continuously and was assistant manager during Brian Miller's second spell in charge of the First Team.

These days, Arthur Bellamy is still a very familiar face around Turf Moor as head groundsman.