Season 1973-74 had seen a highly
successful return to the first division, with a series of unbeaten games from the start of
the season, terminating in a 3-2 defeat at Portman Road in October. Success was breeding
confidence and all matches attended were proving enjoyable, with the team generally being:
Stevenson, Noble, Newton, Dobson,
Waldron, Thomson, Nulty, Hankin, Fletcher, Collins, James. Mick Docherty and Frank Casper were both out with long-term injuries and Billy Ingham
was proving a capable regular substitute. The team was well balanced, with Geoff Nulty,
Martin Dobson and Doug Collins an effective midfield trio, and with each of them often
featuring on the scoresheet.
Although I had moved to London that year I was home at Bedbury, Cheshire
for Christmas, and on Boxing Day the Clarets were at home to Liverpool. After an early
cold turkey lunch I set off at about one o’clock to drive over the moors via Ashton,
Oldham, Rochdale and Bacup. I recall the weather being appalling, with driving rain,
particularly around Bacup, and by 2.15 and five miles from Burnley I seriously thought the
match would be rained off. However, with an overcast sky and threatening clouds the match
started, with the town obviously having avoided the worst of what I had just driven
through.
I remember an electric atmosphere as Burnley began to tackle the might of
Liverpool, and after a fierce opening with the Clarets attacking the Beehole End, Leighton
James collected the ball just inside the Liverpool half in front of the Longside, easily
left Tommy Smith on his backside, ran on and crossed perfectly to the edge of the penalty
area, where Paul Fletcher rose immaculately and with excellent timing to head past Ray
Clemence’s outstretched arms. Fletcher had mastered the art of almost hanging in the
air with some of his headers – his goal at the Town End later that season against
Aston Villa was similar – and I remember feeling ecstatic about the goal.
The rest of the match lacked nothing in excitement and drama as the rain
fell intermittently, and some of the one touch football in the greasy conditions was a joy
to watch. After much pressure, Liverpool equalised. Then Kevin Keegan tried to take a
penalty too fast and missed by some five yards, and Ray Hankin scored Burnley’s
second to give a 2-1 result.
I recall the drive back home in the dark with the rain once more lashing
down, but the feeling of satisfaction and elation I had is really indescribable. A superb
game had brought a great result to maintain a title-challenging position for Burnley,
although this subsequently evaporated. Strangely enough, I remember feeling better that
evening than after the League Title win at Maine Road some
thirteen years earlier, which is a difficult statement to explain. If confirmation had
ever been needed, I knew that day I could never entertain supporting any other team
whatever fortunes, good or bad, were to follow.
And the golden moment? That James run, cross and Fletcher header, taking
all of twelve seconds. A truly golden moment!
Neil Calvert
February 1984
The 1973-74 season
