The Longside Reference

1964-65 a season of mediocrity! 42 games played, 16 wins, 16 defeats, and 10 Draws we scored 70, we conceded 70! we finished the season a lowly 12th.

There were successes, the was boardroom wranglings, there was approaches for players, management, and the ghost of Jimmy Mac was still about and not to mention of Ken Bates (The future Leeds and Chelsea Chairman).

It was a mixed up season on and off the pitch! With Sunderland asking for permission for manager Harry Potts, and former Captain Jimmy Adamson, upset Chairman Lord to the point he was to report the Makems to the League for " Flagrant breach" of league rules, the pair were going nowhere, Jimmy Adamson was offered and accepted a coaching role, another of the looking after our own mentality.

With Lord still public enemy No1 with some of the Burnley faithful because of the Jimmy Mac affair, would still be haunted by the magical Irish man who is regarded as the best ever Claret, this time it would be his father in law Luther Wilkinson (Former Vice Chairman) at odds with Lord over the transfer of his shares in the club,( the prospective buyer Wilkinson was transferring shares to was, would be Ken Bates!) something Lord would have to on another occasion this year this time local businessman Eric Cookson.

Lord built Burnley, and he would not lose control without a fight!

 On the plus side this season would see a forward partnership with Youngsters Lochhead and Irvine notching 43 goals between them (Lochhead 21 Goals in 38 games and Irvine 22 Goals in 33 games). And still young enough to be part of the Burnley team th FA asked to represent England in a youth tournament in Germany.

 (This season is written in more detail in both Willie Irvine's book (top)and the Harry Potts book(bottom), both avalible from author Dave Thomas at beehivethomas@aol.com and his website dave@burnleyfcbooks.co.uk)

The U21s went all the way to the final in West Germany beating Ajax , Auswahl Marl and Italian giants Juventus on the way only to lose out to Red Star Belgrade. But still a fantastic effort.

Adam Blacklaw (above), made his 15oth consecutive appearance against Manchester United on the 6th October 1964, and former colleague John Connelly, Blacklaw came out on top with a clean sheet it finished 0-0 

Burnley also blooded Ralph Coates, Les latcham, Dave Merrington and Goalkeeper Harry Thompson who would be christened God in a green jersey a year later.

Burnley's squad was getting younger and younger, the youth set up which was the envy of the whole league, with only Elder in the current squad costing a fee. 12th place was a disappointing return, but with the youngsters of Irvine, Lochhead, Morgan, Coates,Merrington, and Thompson no one doubted that this year was just a blip.

Robson hero so many times before was sold to Blackpool,  David Walker who had the thousand yard stare and put the fear of god into apposing players,Bordeaux Clarets 2nd fave all time player was also sold on to Southampton. Stockport County took John Price of Burnleys hands too. The blond bombshell Ray Pointer would also play his last game for the Clarets, his injury jinxed last couple of years saw Pointer just 13 league games his last a 3-2 defeat at Sunderland.