The Longside Reference

Any hopes Burnley had of a quick return to the top flight were short lived, an opening day draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers who would go on to become second division champions, Burnley gaining just 8 points before the 1-0 win at Plymouth Argyle on 30th October.

In this bad spell, Burnley lost 1-0 in the League Cup second round to Torquay United from the Fourth Division at Plainmoor.

Ray Hankin left for Leeds United in September for £180.000, his last game on the 18th was a landmark in Burnley's history, for when Malcolm Smith replaced Billy Ingham, he would to become the Clarets first ever loan signing.

Burnley played thier 3000 league game on 16th October against Charlton Athletic a  4-4 draw which saw new signing Terry Cochrane add to his debut goal a week previous against Orient.

A Peter Noble penalty the only goal of the game against Oldham Athletic on 6th November would be the last time Burnley would take all the points until late  February the following year, During that time Burnley would lose seven matches, drawing the other seven, leaving Burnley in 21st place, and looking relegation to the third tier of English football for the first time in Burnleys history.

Southampton was the game where Joe Brown's affiliation with the club to a close, he played in the 50s, and returned to coach the Clarets in 1961, and sixteen years later he would receive the sack after just 13 months in soul charge of the first team.

Harry Potts' first game was a 2-1 victory at home to Carlisle United, Terry Cochrane and another penalty from Noble would secure the man who was at the helm for Burnley's glory years of the 60s, new time in charge would get off on the right note.

But with the Carlisle game out of the way Potts took the clarets on the  road to Notts County and Hull City where Burnley were comprehensively beaten 5-1 and 4-1 respectively.

But with only two defeats in the last twelve games saw Burnley safe and a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at least the Claret supporters something to cheer about, it was the first League meeting between Blackburn and Burnley for eleven seasons, since Blackburn finished dead last in 1965/66.

Tony Morley scored his first and second goals for the Clarets against Notts County on May 7th 1977, and with Paul Fletcher's goal in the 3-1 victory secured Burnley's second division status.