THE first substitute in Burnley Football Club’s history has died, aged 74.

Ian Towers — who made 51 appearance for the Clarets between 1960 and 1966 — died in South Africa, where he moved to continue his playing career after leaving the North West.

When substitutes were allowed in the Football League during the 1965-66 season, Towers was named as sub for the first three games.

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In the third, a 2-2 home draw against Arsenal, he replaced the injured Willie Irvine for the second half, coming out with no number on his shirt.

The Blackhill-born winger’s path to regular first-team football was only blocked by the quality of his team-mates, during a halcyon period for the Clarets.

Lancashire Telegraph columnist Irvine said: “He was a tremendous lad. Towers was full of mischief all of the time. As a footballer, he was very, very quick .”

Towers joined the club as a schoolboy and made his First Division debut in April, 1961. He was the Clarets’ 12th man in the 1962 FA Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium.

Days later, he earned his second Lancashire Senior Cup winners’ medal, scoring twice in the win over Liverpool at Turf Moor.

Following the departure of John Connelly to Manchester United in 1964, Towers enjoyed a sustained run in the side before the emergence of Ralph Coates once again restricted his appearances. Towers joined Oldham Athletic in 1966 and moved to Bury in 1968. He leaves behind wife Pat, two sons and two daughters.

A spokesman for the Clarets said: “Burnley Football Club is saddened to learn of the death of former winger Ian Towers. We would like to pass on our condolences to his family on their sad loss.”