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1972/73
'I can see clearly now'

On the eve of the new season, the last US ground combat unit quit Vietnam. But Hanoi was in no hurry to make a deal. Having won most of the propaganda battles, the North Vietnamese leaders knew that the heat was on Nixon. With his public restive and a re-election campaign imminent, Nixon realised he had to reach a quick settlement. So while Kissinger talked of ‘peace with honour’, he was prepared to allow the B52s to flatten a path to the peace table. Not that the 1973 deal in Paris did South Vietnam much good. Starved of US military might, it quickly capitulated to the North’s nationalist ambitions. Many Americans were quite unconcerned by this point. They were ready to settle for peace at any price. Maverick chess genius Bobby Fischer might have been an exception, though. For him the World Chess Championship match with Soviet Grandmaster Boris Spassky was something akin to World War III.

As for Britain, they had they had their own international conflict to resolve. This was the spat with Iceland over fishing rights. Cod might not move in mysterious ways, but the Icelandic gunboats certainly did. In September two British trawlers were sunk. Although the Royal Navy was called in, the Icelanders were not deterred. Courageously, recklessly the Icelandic gunboats continued to cut the trawlers’ nets right under the noses of the protecting frigates, darting back and forth in alarming but brilliant high seas raids.

Then of course there was terrorism. 1972 was a big year for terrorists. Black September stormed the Olympic compound in Munich, eventually killing all nine Israeli hostages. Twenty-six were killed at Tel Aviv airport by three kamikaze Japanese hit men. January’s ‘Bloody Sunday’ prompted the IRA to escalate their campaign of violence. The Aldershot bombing followed in February and soon mainland high streets would experience the force of the IRA. Heath’s imposition of direct rule from Westminster in March was intended to break down the log jam between the Loyalists and the SDLP. It was meant to be a prelude to power sharing. The IRA’s announcement of a cease-fire in June even gave brief cause for hope. It was a false dawn. Within two weeks, British troops were back in open confrontation with sectarian factions on both sides. Whereas on the continent, the arrest of Ulrike Meinhof brought the Baader-Meinhof reign of terror to an end.

According to Simon Frith, 1972 was the year when the "rock / pop division seemed absolute." In the blue corner we had "middle-class rock – pretentious and genteel, obsessed with the accumulation of expertise and equipment." To illustrate just how pretentious some ‘progressive’ rockers could become, Jon Lord of Deep Purple announced, without the faintest hint of irony, "We’re as valid as anything by Beethoven." Hmm. And in the red corner there was working-class pop – ‘banal’ and commercially driven. This was always a snobbish distinction, often churned out by plodding prog rockers. Stand up, ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris ('The Old Grey Whistle Test'). Sure, Yes or Emerson, Lake and Palmer were of a different order to the Osmonds or David Cassidy. But was this difference based in quality or just style? Where did black music sit? And where, for that matter, did T Rex, Status Quo, Slade, 10CC or Roxy Music fit in? Mind you, we can’t dodge the issue of quality. Take the case of Little Jimmy Osmond and his 'Long Haired Lover From Liverpool'. Surely, Jimmy provided the biggest challenge yet to our abhorrence of child abuse?

As for David Bowie, he seemed oblivious to type, constantly re-inventing himself. Always driven more by individuality than by badge or cause, neither his campness nor bisexuality held a torch for Gay Liberation. Arty image-hopping was more his thing. His resurrection of Iggy Pop was a curious departure, though. The Stooges’ nihilistic high-octane rock seemed quite unconnected with Bowie’s more mannered work. And yet Bowie was turned on by Iggy’s savage energy. The 1973 album 'Raw Power' was the fruit of their collaboration. Try listening to Iggy’s remix, though. It scuttles along like a stabbed rat, an angry, proto-punk classic, much like the best from the MC5 ('Kick Out The Jams'). It makes you realise how poorly served Iggy was by Bowie’s original production.

Bowie was the big style guru, too. He needed to be. The seventies was a fashion holocaust. Remember the Laura Ashley stuff? The long dresses with flowery patterns and high necks? All very Beatrix Potter. Retro, rural and as fetching as a cow’s bum. The blokes had the worse deal, though. Take the thin checked jackets with the wide lapels, the florid shirts, the blinding kipper ties, the rainbow ‘Tank Tops’ and the ever-widening flares. Did we abandon mirrors in 1971? Had we no shame?

Jimmy Adamson seemed fairly shameless. Having put the mockers on the 1970/71 season with his expansive claim, in the summer of 1972 he was at it again. His pre-season boast was, "I think we’ll be among the promotion contenders." There didn’t seem too much to support his claim. The 1971-72 season had been a huge disappointment. After a good start, the Clarets had faded badly. With the miners holding Heath to ransom, there had been little cheer in that chilly winter of power cuts. Unsurprisingly, interest tailed off. There were growing cries for Adamson’s resignation, too. By mid April less than 9,000 were turning up. Admittedly, Adamson’s fortunes changed towards the close of the season. The last six games were won, but this only secured Burnley seventh position.

Neither Kindon nor Thomas had featured in the revival. Their days seemed numbered. Kindon was sold to Wolves in the summer for £100,000. Thomas’ departure was merely delayed. Harry Potts finally upped sticks. He received a £28,000 pay off, having given fourteen years continuous service as manager and ‘upstairs’. John Angus called it a day, too. But not all moves had been outgoing. Adamson added two new aces to his pack, goalkeeper Alan Stevenson for £50,000 and international full back Keith Newton for ‘free’. Their contribution would be immense.

The pre-season form was uninspired. The home Watney Cup tie with third division Bristol Rovers drew over 10,500. Although Burnley played their strongest team, minus the listed Thomas, they were a poor second to the bubbling Rovers (0-2). Bruce Bannister of ‘Smash’ and ‘Grab’ fame (the name that would be given to his 1973/74 scoring partnership with Alan Warboys) nailed the Clarets with the second goal. The game had been highlighted on 'Match of the Day'. Perhaps that’s why seven hundred fewer supporters turned up for the opening home game with Carlisle. Again, Burnley did not do themselves justice but they came from behind twice to seize a point. Due to Probert’s injury, Thomas was given a final opportunity to impress. Another point was taken from Craven Cottage before table-topping Aston Villa came to Turf Moor on 26th August. It was the day on which the twentieth Olympic Games opened in Munich. Alice Cooper topped the singles charts with 'School’s Out' and Plod Stewart’s 'Never A Dull Moment' was the best selling album. It was also the day when the Clarets stopped under-performing.

As at Fulham, Leighton James gave Burnley a flying start. In only the second minute, he picked up a pass from Thomas on the edge of his own penalty area. Setting off on an accelerating sixty yard run, James evaded defender after defender as he homed in on goal, but instead of going for glory he released Doug Collins, on the left side of the Villa box. Collins’ instant left footed drive barely left the ground as it whistled past Jimmy Cumbes (1-0). However, Villa were soon back in the hunt. At left back, Charlie Aitken lofted a long ball into the Burnley area. Combative as ever, Andy Lochhead headed powerfully across goal and there at the far post was Chico Hamilton, who squeezed the ball past Stevenson (1-1). Keith Newton then showed that anything his opposite number could do, he could do just as well. Supporting Collins on the left touchline, Newton flighted a cross into the area, Casper headed down and Fletcher, placed centrally, blasted a volley in from eighteen yards before Cumbes could twitch (2-1). Thomas then decided to get in on the act. Having taken a short corner on the left, Thomas received the ball back from Casper. Dribbling past two Villa defenders, Thomas reached the by-line and crossed perfectly to the near post for Dobson to outjump Aitken and head in (3-1).

At half-time Burnley left the field to rapturous applause. Burnley then completed a magnificent quartet late in the game. Stevenson cleared long and high into the Villa half. Fletcher headed on, leaving Casper to rifle a shot into the far corner (4-1). Now there was belief. Now Jimmy Adamson’s boast didn’t seem at all silly. In fact, he won the Bell’s Second Division Manager of the Month Award after victories over Preston and Portsmouth (both 2-0) had taken Burnley to the top.

In September, Burnley fell back into third place after a series of draws. They also nearly let a four goal lead slip against Blackpool (4-3). The month ended with a fixture at a gloriously sunny Kenilworth Road. It was in a week when dispossessed Ugandan Asians began flooding into Britain, having been expelled by that ‘decent chap’ Idi Amin. It was in a week when Heath proposed a voluntary pay and incomes policy in an attempt to curb the inflationary pay demands of the miners and power workers. It was the day on which T Rex’s 'Children of the Revolution' was number one.

Again, Leighton James was the inspiration. His outrageous thirty yard effort dipped and bent but somehow squirmed through Willie Carrick’s hands to give Burnley an early lead. But Luton were soon back on terms after Collins was penalised for ‘hands’. John Aston tucked away the resulting penalty. At half-time it was 1-1. In the second period, Colin Waldron returned Carrick’s compliment with a disastrous pass back, which totally stranded Stevenson. Vic Halom pounced to put Luton into the lead. Burnley’s first league defeat then seemed inevitable. But we reckoned without James. Shrugging off the booing, James cut in from the right and unleashed a fierce dipping drive. This time Carrick had no chance as the ball flashed into his right corner (2-2). Just as James’ star was rising, Thomas’ was falling. Within three weeks he would be on his way to QPR for £165,000. Immediately afterwards, Bob Lord announced that the club would proceed with earlier plans to build a £200,000 stand on the Brunshaw Road site.

On October 7th Burnley returned to the top when they beat Swindon 2-1 at Turf Moor. They would hold this position until early March. Such was their brilliant form that the 'Match of the Day' cameras were enticed to Hillsborough on the following Saturday. Wednesday were going well in second position. They were well served by their wingers, Scottish international Willie Henderson and former Hammer John Sissons. In central defence, they had a certain James Mullen. But in this battle of reputations, Leighton James once more proved he was the bigger man for the occasion. His stunning long-range drive found the right top corner of the Wednesday net at the uncovered Kop end to give Burnley both points.

Burnley’s resilience was underlined at Middlesborough in November when they scored twice in the final ten minutes to secure a draw (3-3). However, they let themselves down one week later at Turf Moor, when a Gerry Queen goal turned the game on its head and enabled lowly Orient to steal the points. It was merely a blip as Burnley proceeded to complete four successive 1-0 victories, giving them a four point lead at the top.

They consolidated this position over Christmas. Helped by the dismissal of two Blackpool defenders, Frank Casper’s brace saw off the Seasiders (2-1) on Boxing Day. Unsurprisingly, Burnley went into their return game with Villa on January 6th in good heart. Villa had just put together a five match unbeaten run, putting themselves in fourth place. They were still in with a shout for promotion and almost 40,000 of their fanatical supporters piled in urge them on. This was the week in which Britain joined the EEC. It was also a week in which 400 Londonderry children attacked British troops. David Bowie’s 'The Jean Genie' shadowed Little Jimmy Osmond from second position in the charts. Carly Simon’s tilt at Warren Beatty 'You're So Vain' headed the US singles charts while Slade had our best selling album ('Slayed').

Despite the ferocity of the home support, Villa were totally outplayed. The Sunday Express reported, "Magnificent Burnley took an arrogant stride nearer to the First Division when they crushed promotion hopefuls Aston Villa in their own backyard. The overwhelming brilliance of Burnley had the biggest League crowd of the season at Villa Park seething with frustration as their own heroes were made to look like mere pretenders for the title. Angry spectators demonstrated against the directors’ box and the huge crowd began to stream away twenty minutes from the end."

The rout began as early as the seventh minute. Newly promoted midfielder Billy Ingham and left back Keith Newton, were the heroes. Ingham’s free kick found Newton whose low shot just eluded Cumbes’ dive to his right. Geoff Nulty then scored the second from close range after Fletcher had headed Caspers’ cross into his path. Ingham nearly got a third after he and Casper had opened up the Villa defence with a brilliant one-two. James was anxious not to be left out of the fun. Having lobbed the ball over two defenders, he skipped around them catching the falling ball on the volley. Only a brilliant save from Cumbes denied him. At half-time, Burnley were well in command (2-0). After just three minutes of the second half, Burnley sealed the result. James low cross was inch perfect. Star performer, Billy Ingham did the rest. Villa managed something of a late rally but Stevenson was equal to the best that Ray Graydon could produce. It was a stunning performance. The whole team purred like a Rolls.

Although the Cup competitions offered little distraction, Burnley maintained the momentum until the end. Championship rivals QPR beat them 2-0 at Loftus Road with first half goals from Mick Leach and Don Givens. Reverses were also experienced against Wednesday (0-1) and Nottingham Forest (0-3). But the Forest defeat was the only interruption to an eight match winning sequence, which took Burnley to the final game of the season at Preston on the 28th April. Despite Burnley’s brilliant run of results, QPR had tracked them all the way. Burnley still needed a point from the Preston game to secure the Championship. By contrast, Preston needed a point to avoid the drop.

This was the time of the Watergate scandal. Nixon publicly accepted responsibility for the incident but denied any part in either the break-in or subsequent cover up. Four of his aides, Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Kleindienst and Dean all resigned. Nixon tried to tough it out. He would need more than Teflon, though, to keep him in the White House. It was also the day on which Old Trafford gave Dennis Law a free transfer and when Bobby Charlton bowed out at Stamford Bridge. Dawn’s 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'was the singles chart-topper while Pink Floyd were continuing to peddle their plodding 'Dark Side Of The Moon' to the British masses.

Saturday 28th April was sunny and very warm. It was a fitting day on which to celebrate a championship. As it turned out, no one was disappointed. Not even Preston. The home side took the lead when leading scorer Alex Bruce shot past Stevenson after a forty yard run by Alan Lamb. It was a classic counter-attacking goal. For Burnley had most of the possession in that first half. However, they had difficulty in breaking down the packed North End defence. But Preston failed to puncture the celebrations. Ten minutes after the break, Waldron’s header rebounded to him twenty five yards from goal. Without hesitating he struck a left footed volley cleanly and crisply into the Preston net. Cue party time. Burnley were back where they belonged.


Here’s what some of the e-Clarets remember about that Preston game.

"Remember the final game at Preston when we needed a point to be old Second Division champions and they needed one to stay up? They scored first, we equalised and let’s just say the game fizzled out after that for about half an hour of very timid midfield play. Nobody present cared in the least, and just to make sure no unnecessary time was added on the pitch was surrounded by Clarets waiting to invade for the championship celebration several minutes before the end of play. The pictures of it are rather fun now, with the Claret and Blue army in those days looking like the thuggy big brothers of Les McEweon (formerly of the Bay City Rollers)."

Vini Corrigan

"I remember that game well. Preston narrowed the pitch to the minimum width to try to stop Leighton James. And didn’t Burnley fans take the goalposts home at the end?"

Ewan Pidgeon

"Apart from Waldron’s goal, my main memory is of (James?) standing by the corner flag with one foot on the ball and the Preston players just stood looking at him - until the referee eventually got bored and blew his whistle!"

Martin Pickering

"Boiling hot day - memorable in many ways not least by my mate Cronie (the crank) wearing a bright yellow polo neck and a long black (crombie?) coat. It was packed, a hundred degrees and, yes, the game was fixed. Leighton James went through in the dying minutes with just their keeper to beat and passed to the goalie at two miles a hour."

Andy Turner

"Yes, but wouldn’t it have been funny if he had whacked it in and sent them down?"

John Colbran

"I was there too. I think ‘fixed’ is too strong a word, unless you are using it in the sense of hyperbole, because when there’s half and hour or whatever to go and it’s a boiling hot day and both teams have what they need what is the natural outcome going to be? Would it have been another story had it been BRFC?

There was some unusual activity around the goals after the game. Some people pretending to be monkeys."

Michael Waterworth

Tim Quelch
1999

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