The Longside Reference

 Burnley's return to the top flight after a two year absence began at Sheffield United on 25th August with a fine 2-0 win. Peter Noble, close-season signing form Swindon Town, made his Burnley debut in this game, substituting for the injured Mick Docherty.

 Thew Clarets had gone into the league season as Charity Shield winners, defeating Manchester City 1-0 at Main Road with another timely goal from Colin Waldron.

 The season unfolded with a seven match unbeaten run ending at Ipswich on 22nd Sept. During this period the Clarets delivered a 7-0 thrashing to East Fife in the Texaco Cup helped with a hat-trick from Paul Fletcher

 After a promising start the league season fell away somewhat, and in that period before Christmas, a run of 20 league games brought only four wins. The FA Cup had commenced however, and two fine away wins in January saw the Clarets progress to the fifth round, and a home tie with Second Division Aston Villa.

 An opportunist goal from Paul Fletcher gave Burnley victory and brought a home tie against giant killers Wrexham in the quarter final.

 Over 35.000 people, the biggest gate at Turf Moor for many years, crammed into the ground to see another narrow 1-0 victory, this time a goal by Frank Casper doing the trick. Hillsborough next stop !

 Having already won the Charity Shield, the Clarets had also progressed to another final, six straight wins having seen them safely through to the Texaco Cup Final against Newcastle United.

 Meanwhile the Club's league form suddenly turned with a solid 3-1 win over high-flying Everton at Turf Moor on March 16th. The following week, seven days prior to the FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle, the Clarets visited Elland Road to play runaway leaders, Leeds United who were in full cry in pursuit of the league title. Not for the first time, Burnley spoiled the party for the yorkshiremen. Tow find goals from Paul Fletcher, including 'the goal of the decade', and acrobatic overhead kick that will be remembered as long as football is played by those who saw it, helped the Clarets to a 4-1 win.

 The semi-final at Hillsborough on March 30th has been well documented. Newcastle were a bit too goo, Malcolm McDonald a bit too fast and Frank Casper carried an injury. It could have been so different if Geoff Nulty's header early on had gone in instead of hitting the bar,If only..., if only....

 To add insult to injury, the Magpies also triumphed in the Texaco Cup Final played at St James Park on 24th April, although, sandwiched between these Cup ties  Burnley did win at St James Park in the league on 10th April, A small crumb of comfort perhaps.

 The season ended on the 27th April with another game against Newcastle United, a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor giving the Clarets a respectable sixth position, only two points behind third placed Derby County.

Taken from Burnley v Scunthorpe Match Programme, 12th December 1989, extract compiled by Ray Simpson and Wallace Chadwick