The Longside Reference

FA Charity Shield Main Road Aug 18th 1973 Manchester City 0 - 1 Burnley Goalscorer: Colin Waldron Att: 23.988

The 1973 Charity shield should have been played between Sunderland and Liverpool, but back then the competition was not perceived to be that glamorous so both teams decided to opt out

 Man City had won the comp in 1972 so were invited to play again and Burnley being 2nd Division champs were also invited.

The game was held at the holders ground (Main Road Manchester) so Burnley after thier own pre season whick took them to the south coast and Torquay, Penzance and Kettering where Burnley won two out of the three, just as the Charity Shield had become just another friendly,In Burnleys programme notes the game failed to get much of a mention, Burnleys first home League game of the season against Chelsea it managed just a footnote in Jimmy Adamson's programme notes, to say that preseason went well and we had no real problems, oh and we beat Manchester City in the Charity Shield.

The game was won 1-0 by Burnley with a headed goal by Colin Waldron, this was the second time Burnleys name had been inscribed on the trophy, after the Draw in 1960 with Wolverhampton Wanderers where each side shared the trophy for six months each.

Funnily enough the season after Leeds and Liverpool were originally asked to appear in the season oppener but refused. Burnley as holders were invited to play again, until the FA and Ted Croker stepped in and moved the venue to Wembley where it has been held ever since (apart from the re-bulding work at Wembley, then it was moved to Wales and the Millenium Stadium).  so immediately Leeds and Liverpool then decided to play leaving us out in the cold.