[2] Adamson, a right-half, joined Burnley in January 1947 after playing non-league football in his native Ashington and working as a miner.
His early career was interrupted by national service, which he completed with the Royal Air Force, meaning his debut had to wait until February 1951, when Burnley played away to Bolton Wanderers.
He was an ever-present as Burnley won the First Division in 1959–60 and captained the side to the 1962 FA Cup Final which they lost against Tottenham Hotspur.
He had previously coached the England team in the 1962 World Cup in Chile and was the Football Association's preferred choice of manager ahead of Alf Ramsey but declined the offer.
Burnley were relegated at the end his first full season in charge, but returned to the top-flight in 1973, winning the Second Division title.