Probably the most reproduced picture of Adam Blacklaw is the one of him being sent the wrong way by a classic Danny Blanchflower penalty just eight minutes from the end of the 1962 FA Cup Final at Wembley. It was just about the last act of an epic season that ended with the Clarets as runners-up in both the First Division and the FA Cup.

Adam Blacklaw had played in every one of Burnley's 50 games with some of his displays between the posts having had to be seen to be believed. Clarets' supporters of a certain vintage will still remember vividly a flawless performance at Bramall Lane in the FA Cup Quarter Final against Sheffield United. Some of his saves were breathtaking and for long periods, the burly Scot was the only barrier preventing a heavy defeat and a cup exit.

The son of a ship's carpenter, the young Blacklaw played his schoolboy football in the forward line and represented Aberdeen Schools as a centre-forward. Like so many top goalkeepers, his career between the posts began only when he was persuaded to don the green jersey by a teacher. Also, like so many top keepers, he was a natural from the start, and was soon selected to represent Scotland Schoolboys against England at Filbert Street, Leicester.

His performance had the scouts drooling and Leicester City themselves wanted to sign the boy from Aberdeen. Burnley were quickest off the mark however and, even though he had no idea where Burnley was, Adam Blacklaw was recruited to the Turf Moor groundstaff in 1954.

After signing as a professional later that year, Blacklaw had two years to wait in the shadows of the immaculate Colin McDonald, before his breakthrough came. Following an injury to McDonald, Adam Blacklaw stepped in to make his First Division debut against Cardiff on a foggy, murky December day at Turf Moor in 1956, the Clarets winning 6-2.

It was another injury to Colin McDonald, in March 1959, that finally established Blacklaw as Burnley's number one. Tragically for McDonald his career was ended abruptly, while that of Adam Blacklaw was about to blossom.

His consistency and ability to avoid injury was remarkable and he missed just three league games over the following five seasons. It was his solid dependability during the championship season that once again brought him to the attention of the Scottish selectors, and in November 1959 he won the first of two Scottish under-23 caps in a 1-1 draw against Wales at Wrexham.

After playing a key role in the League Championship triumph, the European Cup campaign and the near miss in league and cup in 1962 Adam Blacklaw was involved in a bizarre last minute incident at Anfield in February 1963 in a FA Cup Fourth Round replay.

With time ticking away at the end of extra-time, with the score 1-1 and a second replay looming, Blacklaw kicked a clearance straight at Ian St John and then was forced to haul down his fellow Scot to prevent a certain goal. Up stepped Ron Moran, in went the spot kick and out of the FA Cup went the Clarets.

In June 1963, Blacklaw's consistently fine form at last brought him further international recognition and he won the first of three full Scotland caps against Norway in Bergen. Alas, a Denis Law hat-trick was not enough to prevent a 4-3 victory for the Norwegians.

After another season as an ever-present, Adam Blacklaw's position began to come under threat from his long-term understudy, Harry Thomson. Blacklaw was dropped after a heavy defeat at Leeds in March 1965 and Thomson seized his chance eagerly. Although Thomson's ongoing battles with authority offered Blacklaw continued opportunities, his days as automatic first choice were over.

In the summer of 1967 he joined Blackburn, spending three seasons at Ewood Park in the Second Division before he was transferred to Blackpool in June 1970. He played just once for the Seasiders, ironically deputising for Harry Thomson, before retiring from league football in 1971.

He appeared on the local non-league scene for a number of years before he was appointed as Burnley Cricket Club steward in 1980. He remained in the licensed trade for many years and is still a familiar figure locally, living and working in the Burnley area.