The former Burnley goalkeeper was unwell and unable to accept the award at the end of last season.

But thankfully recovered and back to full health, the 87-year-old was a special guest for a presentation at the Barnfield Training Centre, where he met Burnley’s current goalkeeping staff and coach Billy Mercer.

In a moving trip down memory lane, McDonald – along with wife Anne – was back at the Gawthorpe base where he trained as a Burnley player.

And in a historic moment, the goalkeeping great caught up with three Clarets who have followed in his footsteps as an England player – Tom Heaton, Nick Pope and Joe Hart.

McDonald was capped eight times by England and as an ever-present in the 1958 World Cup Finals in Sweden won the award as the tournament’s top goalkeeper.

After making his Burnley debut in April, 1954, McDonald was the Clarets' number-one for the next five seasons, playing a total of 201 games for the club before a broken leg, sustained playing for the Football League in March, 1959, effectively ended his career.

Without such an injury, the goalkeeper, born in Summerseat near Ramsbottom, may well have become one of the legends of the English game.

But at Turf Moor his standing is beyond doubt, as demonstrated by the award presented to him by Heaton on behalf of supporters’ clubs representatives Tony Scholes, Chris Wells and Alan Beecroft.

Colin's visit will be featured in the new edition of 'Turf More', available to view free of charge on the Clarets Player platform, later this week.

POS	Team	PL	PTS
15	FOR	5	5
16	BUR	5	4
17	BRE	5	4

POS	Team	PL	PTS
15	FOR	5	5
16	BUR	5	4
17	BRE	5	4

Special Award For A Special Player

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