The Longside Reference

"They came to York in their thousands, they're going home as champions!"

 Seven long years in the basement ,enough for even the Freakiest Austrian, but for Burnleys loyal fan base it was punishment of the severest nature .Almost going out of existence itself in 1987 ,to be also rans in the division what was home to the 'greats' such as Rochdale and Stockport .

But "Jimmy Fixed it for us" a home made banner lifted at Brunton Park ,Carlisle,by a young Clarets fan said it all. Jimmy Mullen a legend to all Clarets ,for he did what four other Managers failed to do ! He lifted Burnley out of the Fourth Division ,at the first time of asking . Jimmy Mullen was brought to Burnley a year earlier replacing former No2 Mick Docherty had left to join Stan Ternent at Hull City ,to act as assistant to Frank Casper. it was Frank Casper who brought the nucleus of the side to Burnley what was to be victorious under his former No2 .

The season started with links to the Orient game well and truly severed with the release of Ray Deakin and Neil Grewcock , 'Rocket' Ron Futcher also left ,leaving a void  up front ,what was to be filled by a man who would write his name in the Claret record books , That man was Micheal Conroy .

Another man who would go down as a Claret legend was bought that season, a measly £60K secured the services of Stephen Davis a elegant centre half ,signed after an initial loan spell the season before.

During the Championship season Burnley used no less than five goalkeepers, Chris Pearce who started the campaign as No1 ,was to be replaced by his No2 David Williams ,But also Lonee's Nicky Walker (from Hearts), Andrew Marriott (from Nottingham Forest), And the late Mark Kendall (who signed as goalkeeping coach,but played on three occasions).and twenty two out field players of whom seven would not be offered contracts at the end of a remarkable season.

The season saw seven debut's ,Micheal Conroy, Andrew Marriott, Steve Harper, Adrian'Spaceman'Randall, Mark Kendall, Nicky Walker and Mark Yates .

Also on a sad note Burnley trainee Ben Lee tragically died at turf moor ,the game at York was postponed on the 10th of March as a mark of respect to a young man who was said to have had a great future ahead of him. RIP