Tommy Cummings scored only three goals in his entire Burnley career from his position at the heart of the Clarets' defence. One of those goals, on a snowy winter's day at Turf Moor over forty years ago, is still regarded by those privileged to see it, as the finest goal ever scored on the ground.

FA Cup holders and winners-elect Newcastle United were the opponents for a league fixture on 19 January 1952. Billy Morris had given Burnley a first half lead and Jackie Milburn had equalised mid-way through the second half. With just six minutes left, the game seemed to be heading for a draw when Cummings dispossessed Milburn on the side of the Clarets' area at the Bee Hole End.

The young defender surged forward, evading each tackle that came, until he reached the half-way line. He looked hopefully to left and right, seeking better-placed colleagues to take up the attack. None offered themselves and Cummings kept going forward, beating two more opponents before confronting the wily Geordie skipper Joe Harvey just outside the Magpies' penalty area. Harvey fared no better in his efforts to stop the Cummings' charge and as he broke into the United box, he unleashed a perfectly-struck left foot shot which crashed into the net past the helpless Newcastle goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson.

The crowd erupted, and it was several minutes later before the Geordies kicked off again after team-mates and opponents alike congratulated the Clarets' defender. Burnley won the game 2-1 and afterwards, mobbed by fans and pressmen, Cummings modestly explained it all away by saying "I just had nobody to pass to!"

Cummings' first club was Hilton Colliery Juniors, and such was the quality of that side they were invited to Strasbourg in 1947 to represent Great Britain in a Junior International tournament. While in France, the young Cummings' stylish play was much admired and he was coveted by scouts from a nearby professional club. He declined all approaches however, and returned to England to take up offers nearer home of trials with Blackpool and Tottenham. Both were rejected however, and in October 1947 he pledged his future to Burnley, also opting to continue his apprenticeship as a mining engineer.

After a year in the junior and reserve teams, Cummings made his league debut in December 1948 at Maine Road. His progress had been swift, but the catalyst had been the departure of iron men Alan Brown to Notts County, Cummings being seen as the natural successor to the influential pivot.

By 1950, Cummings was acknowledged as one of the fastest defenders in the English game. His confrontations with the top centre-forwards of the day, Milburn, Lofthouse, Ford, Mortensen and others were eagerly awaited and he more than held his own during his hard physical battles with the best.

In October 1950 he was on the verge of the full England side, being selected as reserve for the game against Ireland in Belfast. Later that month he proudly took his place in the Football League side against the Irish League at Bloomfield Road, being welcomed to International football with a broken nose courtesy of an Irish elbow!

He assumed the Burnley captaincy in 1951 from Harold Mather and his consistent performances kept him in the eye of the International selectors. He never quite made the full England side however, but won three England 'B' caps, the first in Edinburgh against Scotland 'B' in 1953, playing alongside Jimmy Adamson and Bill Holden with Jock Aird in opposition.

He was injured in the opening game of the 1956-57 campaign and was sidelined for much of the next two seasons after a cartilage operation. He was back in contention by 1958 however, and there was something of an embarrassment of riches in the Burnley defence with Brian Miller just having established himself.

Although Cummings missed a sizeable part of the championship season of 1959-60, by it's conclusion he was back in his favoured number five shirt and playing his part in the magnificent victory at Maine Road in May 1960 that finally brought the famous trophy to Turf Moor.

After two more seasons in the First Division, including an FA Cup Final appearance in 1962, Cummings played his last game for Burnley in a 2-2 draw at Bolton in August 1962, nearly 24 years after his league debut.

In March 1963, he was appointed player/manager at Mansfield Town and, although he didn't play very many games, he led the Stags to promotion from Division Four at the end of the season. Two years later the team missed promotion to Division Two only on goal average.

He was appointed manager of Aston Villa in the summer of 1967, but after an indifferent season he made way for the controversial Tommy Docherty in November 1968. He later returned to Burnley to put down roots in his adopted town.

For many years, Cummings was in the licensed trade, welcoming friends old and new into the pubs under his control. Now retired, his is an equally familiar figure on the local bowling greens and snooker tables, playing with the same competitive spirit which he brought to Turf Moor.

Cummings stands fifth in the all-time list of Burnley Football league appearances. He was in the very top bracket of centre halves and decidedly unfortunate not to win the full international honours that his class and style undoubtedly merited.

l Tommy Cummings succeeded Jimmy Hill as Chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association in December 1961, holding the office until March 1963.