The Longside Reference

Burnley Manager form May 1945 till September 1948

Name: Clifford Samuel Britton

Born: Bristol, 29th August 1909
Died: 1st December 1975

Cliff Britton was said to be a strict disciplinarian who's perfect team would be made up of 11 tea-total, non-smoking bachelors. He was appointed at the end of the second World war, after he impressed at Burnley's general meeting in Feb 1946, with his 3 year plan to gain promotion.

His first and most telling contribution th Burnley's second division team was the signing of centre half Allan Brown, he would be the lynch pin in Burnleys defence! Burnleys aptly named "Iron Curtain Defence" alongside Woodruff and Mather.

Britton took just one year to gain promotion to the first division with the " Iron Curtain" defence, and the goalscoring of Harry Potts. He also guided Burnley to their first ever Wembley appearance when he lead out his Burnley side to play London club Charlton Athletic in his first season.

In his first full season Brittons "Iron Curtain" defence conceded just 32 goals in  51 games, the last of those conceded goals was the one that took the cup to London, as Burnley lost 1-0 in the final in front of over 98,000 fans.

Former England international Cliff Britton would stay just one more full season after promotion to the top division, the 1947/48 season Burnley took to the first division with no new faces, Britton decided to keep face with the players who finished runner up in the second division the season before. Third place was a fantastic return for Potts,Billingham,Strong and co in division one with Cliff Britton at the helm.

Britton who's England career while at Everton would see him gain 9 caps, and a FA Cup final winners medal when his Everton team defeated Manchester City 3-0 at Wembley in 1932/33. That is where Cliffs heart would be, leaving Burnley in September 1948 for the Blue team on Mersey side.

He remained as Everton Manager until 1956, signing Harry Potts during his stay, he would become Preston North Ends manager late in 1956 replacing Frank hill who followed him into the Turf Moor hot seat when Cliff left in 1948.

Cliff Britain stayed on Deepdale for 5 years, leaving to join Hull City in 1961 where he steered the Tigers to the third division championship in 1960/61 staying on Humberside becoming Hull City's general manager in 1969.

1971 saw Cliff Britton retire from football, in 1975 Cliff Britton passed away.

Cliff Britton will be synonymous with the Iron Curtain defence and the man who brought first division football back to Burnley.