FORMER Celtic player and manager Tommy Burns has died after losing his long-running battle with cancer, the club said today.

Burns, 51, originally contracted skin cancer in 2006. Although he received treatment, the disease returned in March.

Around a thousand fans turned out for the unveiling of a sculpted plaque commemorating the life of Celtic footballer Tommy Burns. The bronze tribute outside Parkhead shows all three aspects of Burns' career as a player, a manager and a coach.

The 51 year old died in May 2008 following a long battle with cancer. The unveiling follows a number of events to mark the memory of the legendary player since his death. Tribute matches and concerts have been held around the country and the Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust has also been set up in his honour.

The daughters of Celtic legend Tommy Burns have been speaking about the loss of their father and their determination to raise awareness of the cancer that claimed his life. Jenna and Emma Burns have helped raise £25,000 for a charity that supports people with cancer in Glasgow.

Speaking to STV News they said this is their family's way of giving something back. And the girls handed over a cheque to the Friends of the Beatson – a charity whose aim is the provision, in parallel with the excellent clinical care given, of practical comfort and support for Beatson patients who are suffering form cancer.