| Flynn, Brian |
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| Written by Warren | |
| Wednesday, 07 January 2009 | |
Name: Brian Flynn D.O.B: Wednesday, 12th October 1955. Port Talbot Previous Clubs: Neath, Leeds United, Cardiff City, Doncaster Rovers, Bury, Wrexham, Burnley Management: Wrexham, Swansea, Wales U21 & U19 Burnley Debut: Arsenal 2nd Feb 1974
FINAL APPEARANCE
TOTAL CAPS: Brian Flynn, the one that got away! From Cardiff City that is, Flynn who in 1970 was spotted playing for Welsh team Neath as well as turning out for the Welsh Schoolboys, was training with the Bluebirds, but they were a little slow on the uptake as Flynn signed on the dotted line for Burnley in 1971 on apprentice forms. In October 1972 Brian Flynn singed his first professional contract, but it would be another 18 months before he would grace the Burnley first team, and it would be at the same ground where Burnley legend Willie Irvine had made his debut 11 years previous, Highbury and Arsenal, this would not hit the headlines quite like the charasmatic Irishman, but by all accounts "the Mighty Flynn" had arrived. a 1-1 draw with Irish Legend Liam Brady putting through his own net to gift Burnley a point. Flynny would make a further two appearances away at Chelsea, and the FA Cup 3rd place play-off against Leicester City ( the last time a 3rd place play-off had been played). By the end of 1974/75 Brian Flynn had inherited the Claret No 7 jersey held by Peter Noble for the majority of the season, Brian also made impressive inroads on the International front, Making his international debut in the European Cup Qualifiers against Luxembourg(age19), coming off the bench, he would make another two appearances, both from the bench, Hungary in Budapest, and the away leg against Luxembourg, all which Wales won. By the end of the season Flynn had made his first start for Wales a 2-2 Draw against Scotland, where Flynn scored his first International goal, he also went on to play against England and Northern Ireland in the now defunct Home Internationals.
He would finish the season as one of the first names on the Wales team sheet along with now departed compatriot Leighton James, who was sold to Derby County for a then Club record of £310k. With an expected quick return to the top flight not materialising, Burnleys 1976/77 season was one of total disappointment, Burnley without Waldron, Morgan,James,Docherty,Collins,Morgan were caught in a relegation dogfight for almost all of the season, Brian Flynn would play all but one League games scoring just two goals, Flynn was Burnley's last current international, it wont be long before a bigger team comes in to take our prized Welshman away.
Our fears were realised in November of 77 when a proposed £200k move to Queens Park Rangers never materialised, as Brian "took too long" to give an answer! So it would be a move across the pennines and Leeds United for a slightly smaller fee of £175k. End of part one for Flynn at Burnley.
Leeds United and David Currie would be a perfect match for Flynn, who might just be the smallest ever player to play at Elland Road or indeed the Football league. At a time when Leeds were on up Burnley were on the slide, and with Burnley with new Manager Brain Miller at the helm, were for a second season stuck in the third tier of English Football, injury to Steve Taylor forced Miller's hand, bringing in the former Claret favorite back in on loan in the March of 82 with Burnley sat in 6th place only a few points of the top spot, but he only managed two games, Fulham away and a rough house Chester City, who apparently kicked Burnley and Flynn for the entire ninety minutes, Flynn would end up back at Elland road, injury put paid to Flynn helping Burnleys promotion push, End of Part two. Part three of Flynn's Burnley life, was about to take shape, as Burnley prepared for life back in the Second division, with some of the best young players ever to come through the ranks at Turf Moor. Flynn signed for £60k in November eight months after his initial loan spell, Miller would still be in charge but not for long, two months after Flynn's third debut Miller would be unceremoniously sacked, But with Claret Legend Frank Casper in charge, Internationals Hamilton, Cassidy and of cause the irrepressible Brain Flynn, youngsters Phelan, Steven, and Overson the future looked bright. But with Burnley young guns firing on all cylinders in the cups, Flynn would be ever-present since his move back form Yorkshire, paying in all the FA Cup games up to the Quarter finals and Replay against Jack Charlton's Sheffield Wednesday. But it would be Flynn and the Clarets performances in the League cup what would grab all the headlines, Flynn would be instrumental in the side that put Spurs to the sword at White Heart Lane, and the 1-0 second leg Victory against the mighty Liverpool, but with Birnley beaten3-0, in the first leg it would be Liverpool who went on to beat Manchester United in the final.
Reeves scored 15 goals in 28 games, strike partner Hamilton netted 21 in 53 games, with Brian Flynn the magician with the pass, and also an eye for goal as he grabbed 11 goals himself in a season where Bond paved the way for the exit of the rest of Burnleys prized assets. Part three would come to an end with Flynn's 6th Manager in his time at Burnley, John Benson, Bonds right hand man, and the man Burnley looked to after Bond got the Boot. With the money spent, Players went, one of which was Brian Flynn sold to Cardiff City for a fee of £15k, a place where it all could have started 14 years ago. Flynn managed 11 games in this his final season in a claret shirt, 5 of those from the bench, he managed just the one goal against Newport County, Burnley were on the slide, Flynn who played his last Claret game away at Deepdale a 3-3 draw and that was from the bench. Cardiff City, Doncaster Rovers,Bury all paved Flynn's way to his first crack at management, with a little help from a Claret. Billy Hamilton invited Flynn to coach his Limerick outfit in Ireland, something must has felt right. Doncaster Rovers and Dave Cussack came cap in hand ans asked their former captain to 'Help Out' 24 games and one goal later, Flynn had a higher calling Wrexham wanted the former Welsh International to be their next manager. A new chapter in Flynn's football career was about to begin. and he Kevin Reeves with him, a union which would serve football well.
This mattered little to Flynn who turned the Robin's around, he was hired as Player manager, and in his 12 years in that role managed 100 appearances, scoring 5 goals. The twelve years Flynn managed eclipsed the previous long serving manager beating John Neil who served just 9 years between 68 and 77. Flynns record at Wrexham was excelent, in 223 wins in 628 games with 179 defeats, over 33% of the games he took charge of ended in a win. The most famous wins would be in 1992, when Flynn's Wrexham beat Arsenal in the FA Cup, Wrexham 92nd in the league and Arsenal defending Champions of the Premiership. Flynn took a struggling team from the botton of the forth division to mid table in the newly formed League Two, then the boot April 2001 Wrexham and Flynn parted company. Burnley a place where Brian Flynn calls home, but with the Clarets veiw of looking after thier own, it wasnt long until, Flynn was seen back at gawthorpe, an open invitation by then manager Stan Ternent, to come down help out, 'always welcome' seemed the message. It wouldn't be lond before Flynn would be in work again, But Cardiff's hated rivals Swansea? yep Swansea another team in dire straights, needed a man with a wealth of knowllage, and no matter about his past, Flynn fitted the bill. One of his first devlves into the transfer market was, bringing in a young Lee Trundle on a free for former club Wrexham (Trundle would be sold on for 1mil). Flynn saved Swansea a victory on the final day of the season, ensured Swansea were safe. He left Swansea half way through the 2003/04. Now Flynn and his sidekick Reeves, are making big noises on the International front giuding WalesU21 team to the play-off of the U21 European cup, beaten by a very good England side.. Brian Flynn Welsh Legend, Burnley Hero.
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 27 January 2009 ) |
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