FORMER Middlesbrough player Arthur Fitzsimons has died at the age of 88.

An inside-forward and winger, who supplied a number of goals for Brian Clough, Fitzsimons made 231 appearances for Middlesbrough, scoring 51 goals.

Born in Dublin, he moved to Teesside from Irish side Shelbourne in May 1949 and spent ten seasons playing at Ayresome Park.

He left Middlesbrough to join Lincoln City in 1959, and won 26 international caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring seven times.

He turned his hand to coaching and management after his playing career came to an end, working in Libya and Ireland, and was inducted into the FAI’s Hall of Fame in 2009.