The Longside Reference

(This review is down to Jimmy Parker, who complained to me that his favourite player of all time wasn’t in the Legends section)

So Jimmy here it is.

Steve Kindon, Born in Warrington in 1950, with his bustling style soon became a Claret hero, His goals in the 1967/68 FA Youth cup run escalated Steve Kindon to the First team.

The 1967/68 cup run saw Burnley Beat Manchester United, Manchester City and Everton on the way to the Final, a two legged tie with Coventry City, Kindon’s Goal in the 2-1 defeat at Highfield Road proved all important as the 2-0 victory gave the Clarets the FA Youth cup for the first and only time in our history.

His Clarets League Debut wasn’t as successful though a 5-0 reverse to West ham United on 26^th August 1968, it would be over a month later until he got the chance of first team action again, this time he made it count as he scored the 2^nd goal in the 3-1 victory at home to once again West Ham United.

Kindon made 16 League appearances for the first team in his first season scoring 4 goals, he also got a goal against Swindon town in the league cup semi final (Burnley lost out at Old Trafford; Manchester after two games could not separate the teams).

The following season Kindon was ever present playing 42 league games bagging 17 goals in the process, the No11 shirt was well and truly his, he was part of  Jimmy Adamson’s team of the seventies.

1970/71 was stop start for Kindon, with Relegation at the end, Burnley did not win a league game until 31^st October And Kindon hadn’t scored in 11 of those 15 games, his total league goals for the season was a measly 3 goals in 30 league and cup games, a big come down from his previous seasons haul.

Reports in early 1971 was the Charlton Athletic had bid £180k for the Burnley cult hero called “Skippy”, a bid furiously turned down by manager Adamson, 4 goals in a season which saw Burnley condemned to Second Division football for a successive season, saw Kindon leave for £100k to Molineux and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Gold and Black suited Kindon, but it took time for him to settle at Wolves although he was to lose his Claret nickname “Skippy” to be renamed “The Tank”, after scoring on his Wolverhampton debut against Newcastle United, he only made brief appearances during the 72/73 season, he did start to show the talent he possesses in the 1973/74 league cup run which saw wolves reach Wembley but unfortunately Kindon never played in the game what Wolves won beating Man City 2-1.

Wolves with Kindon were relegated in 74/75, but bounced straight back with Kindon  playing his part, promotion back to the big time, but Kindon’s time would be at an end, he returned north to Burnley for £80k November of 1977.

The last game of 1975 Wolves played Leeds United, over 34,000 people their saw Kindon replaced late on, nothing special about that, until you realise it was Kindon who left the pitch to be replaced by the great Derek Doogan for his final appearance in the Black and Gold.

Burnley at the time of “Skippy’s” return , were rock bottom of the Second division, a place they would stay right up until the 31^st December, Kindon scored 12 times since his return as Burnley finished the season in a respectable 11 place.

It was a hero’s return, but it would be short lived only 3 league goals in the next season saw Burnley finish a league place below, Burnley’s top goal scorer that year would be Defender Peter Noble with 14 goals(7 from the penalty spot).

Celtic had been put to the sword this year though, Kindon scoring at Celtic park in the 1-0 win and the second leg at Turf moor, Burnley winning 2-1, he also bagged a brace in the 4-1 home leg of the final, Burnley winning 4-2 on aggregate.

Kindon who’s final season with Burnley was to be ended prematurely by Injury , would be transferred to Huddersfield Town in the December of Burnley’s disastrous campaign only six wins and 21 defeats saw Burnley relegated, while Kindon took to his new club with more success, he became top goalscorer there with 18 goals winning the Forth Division title in the process.

A serious knee injury ended his playing career early.

In his time at Burnley he scored 58 goals in 212(13) games, he also bagged31 goals in his time at Molineux in his 167 League outings.

A former youth team Under 23 and England B International, who for seven years running was to be named the fastest footballer in the league, who after finishing in the game became Huddersfield Towns “Promotions Manager”, and who now is one of the finest After Dinner speakers”, will live long in the memory of many Clarets fans who had the honour of watching this bustling, battling, winger/Centre forward.