A former Claret in the
Premier League
Andy Oakes
Andy
Oakes was released by Burnley in 1995 after a two year stint as a trainee. Currently he is
playing for Derby County due to Mark Poom's injury, and has starred in the win against
Sunderland and an impressive draw against Leeds.
Over the years I have attended a vast amount of youth games
at Gawthorpe, seeing Trevor Steven, Brian Laws, Vince Overson, John Mullin, Chris Brass,
Paul Smith and many others rightfully make the Clarets first team. Now, Andy Oakes was
quite simply the best young goalkeeper Burnley have had for years, helping Burnley to win
the F.A. Lancashire Youth Cup at Maine Road in May 1995. He was renowned as the best in
the then strong Lancashire League, which included youth sides from Liverpool, Manchester
United, Everton, Bolton and Manchester City.
So why was he not signed up? Why did Burnley, just like they
did with Lee Dixon in 1983, let gold slip through, yet prefer to keep gravel? I do not
know the facts about Lee Dixon, but I do know the facts about Andy's departure, and now my
blood pressure is rising!
Andy was released for reasons other than his football
ability by the Club; mainly a breach of the law whilst in his car counted against him.
This led to a clash with a member of the coaching staff, who wanted to terminate his
apprenticeship straight away. The axe was left suspended, only to come crashing down at
the completion of his two year term.
Anyway how did Andy end up at Derby? Hailing from Cheshire,
he went playing for non league Winsford. Then former Claret Warren Joyce took him to Hull
City, where he excelled, and then Derby very wisely signed him and brought him to Pride
Park.
James Webster, a former Clarets youth and reserve player,
now at Rossendale United, remembers Andy with affection, as does John Borland, another
former Claret at Rossendale. James reminded me of the fact that Andy always wore track
suit bottoms in every game. Seeing him play on MOTD the other week, he seems to have left
these now in the dressing room; or does he want to be famous for his skinny legs!
To end the article on a serious note, I urge Burnley
Football Club in the future, when making a decision on a young player to think of his
potential as a player, and if it comes to it, his transferable value. The aforementioned
should always be considered before anything else.
Now what would Burnley have got for Andy
Oakes?
Mike Reid
March 2001
