Editorial
Issue 132
Just after we had made it to the top
a few weeks ago I heard a supporter complaining about the lack of style. It reminded me of
that scene in Modesty Blaise in which Dirk Bogarde is staked out in the desert but
is still pleading for champagne. How can we be so picky after all we’ve endured?
True, flowing football has hardly featured, but up until last Sunday, we’ve seemed
tough to beat. That’s an important start. Perhaps we’re overdoing the
super-fortress bit on our travels (we nearly paid for defending too deeply in the last
fifteen minutes at Ashton Gate). But Stan should be credited for the Davis-Thomas
partnership. Surely this must be our best centre-back pairing since Overson and Phelan? We
knew we had to stop shipping stupid goals to make progress and before Brentford, we seemed
to be achieving that. We better draw a veil over the Manchester City debacle, though.
Anyway, just as I was starting to look for my oxygen mask, we fell off the perch.
However, it was brilliant to see Paul Weller
coming on as a substitute against Scunthorpe. His courage and determination provides an
example to us all. I hadn’t realised just how serious his operation had been until I
read a piece about him in the local rag. For those that haven’t read it, I will spare
you the details. Suffice it to say that this illness is a pig. It often greatly
inconveniences people living quite sedentary lives. To have overcome this disability and
to have returned to life as a professional sportsman is an incredible achievement. It
would be tremendous if Paul could recapture his best form, such as he displayed in that
gut wrenching (forgive the pun, Paul) affair with Plymouth. I’m rooting for you,
Paul, along with everyone else.
For those of you who were not at the AGM,
we’re planning to bring out a book covering Burnley’s modern history, focusing
on the 1960-1999 period. For want of a better title, we’re currently going with
‘Forever and Ever’: a rock’n’roll years diary of Burnley FC. It’s
called a rock’n’roll years diary because there are bits in about other things
happening – like the big events of the time and the music. But if you can think of a
better title, please phone me. It is very much a London Clarets’ perspective and we
have drawn on accounts, big and small, from around twenty five to thirty supporters of
varying age. There is some absolutely terrific stuff about Burnley in the European
competitions and various eye witness accounts of all the big games over the last forty
years. It seems a smashing way to celebrate our twenty-fifth anniversary, which is rapidly
approaching. Chairman Barry Kilby has been brilliant in supporting the project. It is
hoped that the book will be on sale at Christmas, probably at around £7-8. We hope as
many supporters as possible stump up the dosh, as the proceeds will go directly to Burnley
FC.
Unfortunately, I will not be at Millwall but for
those who will be there, I hope that none of you have to put up with that despicable
display of stewarding that occurred on our last visit. On the other hand, I’m sure
that we’ll all settle for the same result.
Come on you Clarets!
Tim Quelch
October 1999
