There is some footage in the new video of
our home FA Cup victory over Coventry in February 1952. Coventry were then a Third
Division team and played in stripes. Burnley won this 4th Round tie 2-0 with
goals from centre forward Bill Holden and winger Billy Elliott. Almost 41,000 turned up at
Turf Moor to see it. Blackburn finished us off in Round 6 at Ewood (1-3).
1967-68 Burnley 2 Coventry 1
Opening game of the season, Coventry’s first tilt in the top
flight. Having taken them to these dizzy heights, Jimmy Hill resigned as manager to take
up a TV career. Bobby Gould was then Coventry’s hot shot. As for the game, Irvine and
Casper sealed the points in front of 21,483. During the season the gate would dwindle to
current proportions. Coventry got their revenge at Highfield Road (5-1) in December.
Lochhead was our solitary scorer.
1970-71 Coventry 3 Burnley 0
At Coventry, Adamson went for a 4-4-2 formation with Casper and
Fletcher playing up front. Regrettably, it did not come off, but not for want of trying.
After Hunt’s speculative opener, Coventry made sure of victory with two late goals.
Adamson reported, "I just want to say to all supporters of our club that they would
have been proud of the team and the way they fought against Coventry at Highfield Road.
They ran themselves into the ground, battled magnificently and did not surrender without a
terrific effort in every department. With some luck we might have reversed the score but
just when we were getting on top Ernie Hunt surprised us with a 40-yard lob that caught
Tony Waiters off his line. Additionally I must agree with the national newspaper expert
who picked out Bill Glazier as the outstanding player for the Sky Blues. This was
goalkeeping at its best. But why do they always do it against us?"
1974-75 Burnley 3 Coventry 0, 31st
August 1974
Peter Noble takes on Dobbo’s mantle and excels. Newton stifles
Tommy Hutchinson and Waldron and Thomson keep a tight rein on Colin Stein and Brian
Alderson. Neither Willie Carr nor Dennis Mortimer do much. Leighton James does a lot,
though. He runs Coventry full-back Peter Hindley, ragged. He sets up another thumping
header from Ray Hankin, too. Not content with that, it is his corner which puts Peter
Noble on the score sheet at last. And just to finish it off he scores himself with a sweet
drive. 3-0 and we’re on our way.
Coventry City 0 Burnley 3, 1st
March 1975
Burnley simply stuff the ‘Sky Blues’ out of sight. They
have a bit of a fight for twenty minutes or so, then James delivers. He’s given a
hard time by the home crowd. Always a sure sign of respect. He’s given even a harder
time by the home defence. Always a sure sign of desperation. And the first time they give
him a few inches of space, he cleans up, cracking an unstoppable rising drive just inside
the right hand post. Any hope of a second half recovery is strangled at birth. Noble is
first to a right wing corner, flicking in a header at point blank range. Fletcher’s
effort is just garnish. Flynn’s late left wing corner finds him in acres of space.
Fletch buries his header with power and precision. The Coventry PA announcer describes
Burnley’s performance as ‘rampant’. How could I possibly disagree?
1975-76
We won at Coventry 2-1 on October 4th thanks to a late
free kick by James. We then threatened to pull out of the relegation mire during that
month, managing to remain unbeaten over six competitive games. We even knocked Liverpool
out of the League Cup. But November was a disaster – all five league games were lost.
Coventry were our last opponents in Division One. Symmetrical I suppose, given that we
were their first. Joe Jakub made his league debut in a 1-3 defeat. Derrick Parker scored
our only goal.
1982-83
On November 9th we tore up the form book. Burnley were
then in twentieth position in Division 2 having lost their previous five league games.
Only Derby and Bolton were below them. Just when it seemed that Burnley could not possibly
get any worse, they pulled off a magnificent result, defeating First Division Coventry
away in the Milk Cup (2-1). Paul McGee scored both goals. He had been drafted in to
partner Steve Taylor following Hamilton’s absence through suspension. Coventry’s
Steve Hunt put the Sky Blues ahead after just five minutes play but thanks to McGee’s
splendid brace Burnley went through to round four.
Tim
Quelch
December 1999
Players who played for
both clubs
