FORMER Town and Bristol City player Jack Connor has died aged 75 in Formby.

Born in Maryport, he signed for the club as an 18-year-old in October 1952 after being spotted playing junior football in his native Cumbria.

But his early career had to take second place to National Service, which was completed in 1954, when he signed full-time professional forms.

Connor had to wait until February 1954 for his first-team debut, but it was high-profile, in a 3-1 top-flight defeat by Manchester United at Leeds Road seen by 31,408.

He played left-half on that occasion, but also turned out at right-half, centre-half, inside-right and centre-forward in the course of 94 Town appearances.

The first of his 10 goals for Town came in a 3-3 home draw with Manchester City, also in the original First Division, in September 1955.

Connor, playing as centre-forward in a side also including Denis Law, netted twice in the famous 5-1 FA Cup third-round replay win over West Ham at a snowbound Upton Park in January 1960.

Two years earlier, he was centre-back when Town, managed by Bill Shankly, threw away a 5-1 lead to eventually lose 7-6 in their Division II clash with Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

Awarded a benefit by Town in 1958 (at the same time as Ray Wilson and goalkeeper Harry Fearnley), Connor joined Bristol City in October 1960 in an exchange deal which brought Scottish striker John McCann to Leeds Road.

He went on to play 408 times and score 10 goals for the Ashton Gate club before retiring in 1971, making him their 13th top appearance maker.

Connor then had a spell on the Everton coaching staff.

He leaves a wife Chris and daughter Jacqui.