A helping of fine Clarets

Posted by Jon Champion on 27/08/2009

Fifty years ago this week, Burnley played the opening fixture of a season that would end with them crowned League champions for only the second time in the club's history. Manager Harry Potts guided his team to a 3-2 win at Leeds on that August Saturday, and that set the tone for a campaign of triumph.

The line-up contained several princely footballers, perhaps the most noble of all being Jimmy McIllroy, an Ulsterman blessed with poise, panache and presence. He remains Burnley's most capped and most revered player. His performances alone were enough to endear him to the town's population, but his place in their affections was secured when he turned down a lucrative transfer to Sampdoria - complete with the offer of a villa overlooking the Med - because his wife couldn't understand why they would possibly want to leave Burnley.

Now a spritely 77 and still a regular at Turf Moor, Jimmy will no doubt be tuning in to ESPN's coverage of the Clarets' lunchtime kick-off at Chelsea this Saturday.

The whole town has embraced Premier League football with the warmth and excitement of a community deprived of top-flight fare for too long. Relegated in 1976, the downward spiral was so severe that they nearly crashed out of the Football League. Only a last day victory over Leyton Orient preserved their status in 1987. The man who scored the most vital goal in the club's history - the winner against the O's - was Ian Britton, a former Chelsea midfielder. He will be at the Bridge this weekend as one of Chelsea's matchday hosts, even though he still lives in Burnley!

I doubt that Chelsea's millionaires are quaking in their expensively endorsed boots at the thought of Burnley's visit. However, Owen Coyle's men have already beaten two of last season's top five, and the victory over Manchester United showed the admirable sense of togetherness that this clever manager has fostered.

By way of reward, George Heys, a local butcher whose shop stands in the shadow of Turf Moor, has created a range of sausages to mark the team's achievements. The "Coyle Springer" is one of the most popular purchases, closely followed by the "Claret Clouter" and "The Beast", invented in honour of Danish goalkeeper Brian Jensen.

It was Jensen who saved two penalties at Stamford Bridge last season as Burnley knocked Chelsea out of the Carling Cup. It was Jensen who pushed away Michael Carrick's spot-kick only last week. And it was Jensen whose sheer presence was enough to persuade Louis Saha to fire his penalty wide of the post when Everton succumbed on Sunday.

League One Hartlepool supplied a dose of reality by taking Burnley to extra-time in the League Cup on Tuesday, but only Andre Bikey of the Premier League regulars had turned out from the start.

These are exciting times in East Lancashire. Burnley are living proof of the cyclical nature of professional football. They offer hope to clubs like Leeds and Newcastle because they have plumbed greater depths and still come back to thrive.

The relationship between fans and club is closer than most to the point that we'll be making every effort to find Burnley's ultimate supporter with our cameras. Dave Beeston changed his name by deed poll to show his allegiance and hasn't missed a game in 35 years. Now he's known as Dave Burnley - and he'll be cheering the team on with his daughter, Clarette. Dedication that knows no bounds!

Comments

	Post your comment
	Name: Email Address: Comments: characters left