The Longside Reference

Champions, on the wettest of nights at Turf Moor ( my first game), a draw with Chesterfield was enough to secure the Championship for Burnley.

But off the field things were changing Bob Lord who put the majority of his shares up for sale, keeping just 100. John Jackson and Dr David Iven and their consortium bought 3000 shares taking control of the club, Jackson a board member since 1976 became Chairman while Dr Iven who had been at the club since the forties became vice Chairman, in December 1981 Bob Lord died, the man who was at the helm for some of Burnley's Greatest times and the man at the heart of Burnley's greatest mistake; the selling of Jimmy McIlroy in 1963. But a man of Burnley, a man with great insight, a man who Burnley owe a great deal.

John Jackson on the 25th of November 1981 at the Centre Spot, Jackson Presided at the inaugural meeting of The Burnley Football Supporters Club, a committee was set up, and Burnley's far flung fans had a voice, before Internet and E-Mail, when phone calls and hand written letters were the only way to find out information of you club, Burnley Supporters Club raised funds, sorted cheaper travel, formed a bond where social friendships were made, away from the longside. The reason i type this when apart from the date, is that the supporters club would have a huge part in securing Burnley's future, in the seasons that will follow.

Back to the season, when Lord put his share up for sale, Burnley were looking at the relegation places winning just one game in the first eight league matches. and sat rock bottom of the second division, but with Jackson installed in the chair, Burnley's fortunes changed, going on a run where Burnley were undefeated in the league for 20 games, winning 11,from Oct 10th till March 6th, including  6 wins on the bounce, a defeat away at Exeter City turned out to be just a blip, Burnley continued to surge up the league losing just once more ironically against Southend at home, the irony  was that it was against Southend on th 14th of May where Burnley secured promotion.

Burnley's team against Southend cost £288k! that's £12k less than Burnley received from Everton in 1974 for Martin Dobson, who would return to Turf Moor for £100k.

At the last home game of the season Chesterfield were the visitors Turf Moor, second in th table Carlisle who before the game were sat two points behind the Clarets and with a home game against Chester City still to come.

Needed Burnley to lose, even a draw would suffice for Carlisle, but they had to beat Chester by 7 clear goals, but a draw is what Burnley got, losing at half time, Kevin Young drew the Clarets level three minutes after the break, in a wet and windy night, where 18.000 had turned out to see the Clarets finish on  a high. The Claret faithful left the Turf wet and happy, as the future looked the brightest it had seemed for years,

Burnley's playing staff for the start of the campaign had just eight players who cost a fee 6 of those are listed above, Eric Potts and Steve Taylor were the other two.

While Burnley's production line youth turned out Phil Cavener, Paul Dixon, Micky Phelan, Brian Laws, Vince Overson, Andy Wharton, Derek Scott, Kevin Young, while the apprentices that year had Mick Phelan, Trevor Steven, Mark Allen, Steve Kennedy, and  David Miller.

While Burnley re wrote the record books for winning every league they appeared in, Billy Hamilton also topped the goal scoring charts to become the third divisions top goalscorer.

With Bob Lord now at rest, Burnley seemed to be in good hands, a life long Claret in the Chair with a fans eye view on how he wanted to mould Burnley's future, a Claret Legend in charge of the team, the youth set up bringing through players who could take the Clarets to the very top.