The Longside Reference

Name: Roger Eli

D.O.B: 11th Sept 1965 (Bradford)

Clubs:Leeds United, Wolves, Cambridge,Crewe, Pontefract, York City, Northwich Victoria, Scunthorpe, Partick Thistle, Burnley

Fee Payed by Burnley: Free agent

Signed by Frank Casper

Burnley Debut: 5th Aug 1989 Bolton (Lancs Cup)

Last Burnley appearance:23rd Jan 1993 Mansfield Town

Burnley stats: 97(36) Games 31 Goals

International Honours: None

Claret Honours: Fourth Division Championship 1992

 Claret Stat: Very few players can truly be called a 'Cult Hero', off the top of my head in the thirty or so years i can  mention four, Peter Leebrook (for his erm, 'incident' with the law, which lead to a very humorous terrace chant), Tony Hancock ( who's trick was to lift the ball straight up in the air and run around the defender, very surreal), Chrissy Pearce for the dancing,  and the most popular 'Cult Hero' in my time was Roger Eli.

Roger Eli was somewhat of a journeyman after coming through the ranks at Leeds United where just two appearances lead to a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers before a moves to Cambridge United, Crewe Alexandra, non-league Pontefract, York City then onto Bury where after release where he made just two substitute appearances a spell at Northwich lead to Frank Casper bringing the 'Utility' player to Turf Moor.

It would be Casper's first full season at Turf Moor as manager, and his first summer he signed John Deary, Peter Mumby, Tony Hancock, Joe Jakub along with Eli. The first season (1989/90) of Roger Eli's Burnley career saw him wear the shirts numbered 2, 4, 8, 5, 11 and  the substitutes jerseys, as a player that season Roger was moved from pillar to post filling in in umpteen positions in the league making twenty four starts with a further five from the bench.

This start didn't do much to endeavor Roger to the Burnley faithful whom were baying for success after years in the basement, but a run in the FA Cup where Burnley fans realised that Roger Eli was "Burnley's Secret Weapon", as after the  goal against Scunthorpe in second round replay at home, which set Burnley up for a third replay, again which was staged at Turf Moor.

This game played on a Tuesday night, saw Burnley win 5-0 with Roger scoring two of the goals, before being subbed to rapturous applause and the terrace chants of "Eli, Eli, Eli" and that was just the start, Eli with his hair cut which wouldn't look out of place in the 80s film "Breakdance 2 - Electric Boogaloo", but his leggy 110% no nonsense attitude and his basic desire just to play, Burnley fans now had a hero, although the following season where Roger would enter the fray from the bench on eleven occasions, he still managed ten goals in the league making him third top goal scorer behind Ron Futcher and John Francis.

One night in 1992 which stands up in Burnley's recent history was the 2-0 defeat at the Baseball ground, Derby, but before that all singing tribute to Jimmy Mullen and his Burnley side, Roger had a big hand or should i say head to pave way to that night, as it was his goal on 84 minutes past England Legend Peter Shilton which set up the replay. The goal itself won Burnley Supporters Club Goal of the season, Eli rose and met the ball sending a bullet header past Shilton the derby goalkeeper , this after some fantastic Burnley build up play, the sort of play which set Burnley up for the Fourth Division Championship.

That Championship season Roger played in thirty three games, 29 of which were starts and finishing the season with another 10 goals, making Roger Eli second top scorer behind Mike Conroy, another 7 goals came in cup competitions including five on route to the Northern Area final of the Auto-glass trophy.

Injuries to Eli, almost through the entire season in the newly formed Division Two, saw Roger play just eleven games, being substitute on nine of those occasions, the two roger started however he was brought off lack of match fitness because of those injuries resulting in such a poor return for "Burnley's Secret Weapon".

1993/94 With Jimmy Mullen's Burnley celebrating a second successful season, which ended in Promotion to the first division, was without Roger, who's injury problems and Burnley having quite a settled side made selection extremely hard, Roger missed the entire season.

With Burnley promoted, Eli was released, it must have been bitter/sweet for Roger who was loved by the Clarets fans, and he in turn saw Burnley as his home, Roger Eli retired from the professional game after short spells with Scunthorpe United and Partick Thistle in Scotland in 1999.

After a year playing in China, Roger set up his own business in 2005 "Ventura Office Supplies", which saw Eli become quite the businessman, after starting out with selling sportswear in the 90s, he has built himself quite an empire.

           www.venturaofficesupplies.com/

Two years after wearing the shirt, the fans gave Roger a send off fit for a hero, when against Bradford City in 1996, two years after his release, Roger walked out onto the Turf Moor pitch to make the half time draw, to a familiar terrace chant " Eli, Eli, Eli..." a marvelous reception for a player who player who the fans took to thier hearts and who will always be remembered as "Burnley's Secret Weapon".

But with Roger having his heart truly with Burnley FC, he regularly turns out for the Vintage Clarets, and is part Burnley FC Former Players Association where his business acumen and desire to give something back to Burnley just adds to his Hero status.

 http://www.burnleyfpa.com/index.html