One of Turf Moor's favourite sons of recent years, Brian Flynn still lives in the Burnley area and has kept his home here since his playing career at Burnley began.

A Welsh Schoolboy International, he was first spotted playing for Neath Boys by Cardiff City, but the Bluebirds let him slip through the net enabling Burnley to sign him as an apprentice in 1971, and as a professional on his 17th birthday in 1972.

Flynn made his League debut in a First Division match at Arsenal in February 1974 and, by the following season, had begun to establish himself in the Clarets' midfield, his busy all-action style more than compensating for his lack of inches.

At only 19 years of age Brian Flynn won the first of over 60 full caps for Wales in a win over Luxembourg in the European Championships at Swansea in November 1974. Leighton James led the Welsh attack in that game and James was also a team-mate in Brian Flynn's first game for the Welsh under-23 side two months later against England at Wrexham. Ray Hankin was in opposition wearing the white shirt of England.

Flynn was not a prolific goalscorer and, in fact scored for his country in his third International against Scotland in May 1975 before he first found the net in a League match for Burnley in a 3-2 win at Everton in January 1976.

After the Clarets' relegation to Division Two in 1976, it was always going to be difficult to keep the up and coming stars. So it proved with Brian Flynn, who joined Leeds in November 1977 for £175,000 and immediately forged a superb midfield partnership with the great Tony Currie.

Instant control, constructive use of the ball and sheer endeavour made Brian Flynn one of the best midfield players of that era, but Leeds of the late 70s and early 80s were not the vintage Leeds under Don Revie.

After a brief loan spell at Turf Moor he rejoined Burnley in November 1982, and played his part in the epic cup campaigns of that season which ended so disappointingly in relegation to Division Three.

He left for Cardiff in 1984 and, after spells at Doncaster and Bury, teamed up with Billy Hamilton at Limerick in 1987 as a player/coach. Another spell at Doncaster followed, then, after working on the Football in the Community Scheme at Burnley, Wrexham manager Dixie McNeil took him to the Racecourse Ground in February 1988.

When NcNeil resigned early in the 1989/90 season, Brian Flynn was asked to take over as player/manager. After two traumatic campaigns and a rock-bottom finish in 1990/91 Flynn and his backroom team began to turn the ship around, making the football world sit up and take notice with a victory over Arsenal, the reigning League Champions in the FA Cup third round in January 1992.

After he took over as manager at Wrexham, Flynn played his part on the field as well as at the helm and he still managed to appear in two League games during 1992/93 having just celebrated his 37th birthday.

That campaign ended in promotion to the new Second Division and, after an outstanding career as a player who has performed at the very highest level, Brian Flynn is starting to demonstrate that he has the credentials to also go to the very top in football management.