Round-up: op for the Padiham Predator; will we ever pin down Marlon?
Controversy over Manchester United tickets
Halfway to safety - but disappointment for Gareth
Still in the hat!
A message from our Membership Secretary
London Clarets connection at Deepdale!
Stan and Sam sign contract extensions
Click here for November 2002 comment entries.
30 November - Stan sums it up nicely
A few things have happened since we last updated our News page. Firstly, we were sorry to hear that Andy Payton has had to have a hernia operation. He'll be out until the New Year. We'd like to wish him a speedy recovery, and look forward to seeing him back in action (okay, on the bench) soon.
There's some confusion over Marlon Beresford's situation. We thought he was only being offered a month-to-month deal, but our friends at Clarets Mad were at the recent Foundation Forum, where it was confirmed that Marlon has been offered a longer deal. Apparently the offer was made before he signed his most recent monthly contract, and would secure his services until the end of the 2004/05 season. For whatever reason Marlon hasn't signed it yet, but we understand that the offer is still on the table. Fingers crossed that he'll get his pen out soon!
Some good news did arrive in the shape of Ian Cox, back after being out for the past month after suffering a torn hamstring during our defeat at Preston. He was on the bench for today's game against Watford, and didn't feature, but hopefully he'll get a run-out against Manchester United.
Talking of televised games, Papa made his senior debut when he came on as a substitute in Greece's 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland. Anyone who tuned in will doubtless agree that the match itself was possibly a contender for the most boring game ever, but Papa's introduction did liven up the Greek side, and, whilst he didn't get on the scoresheet, he acquitted himself well.
Anyone who went to Watford will know how incompetent officiating can completely ruin a game. We were pleased to see that Stan's view was in accordance with ours. On the Club website, he comments as follows: "It will probably be after my time, but the incompetence or lack of professionalism of referees will need to improve, because they are a constant headache". Well said, Stan. It will be interesting to see what happens now - will his comments be taken on board, or will he be taken to task for daring to speak the truth? No prizes for guessing the most likely outcome...
Finally, and on a related note, we can't wait for the imminent publication of Stan's autobiography: Stan the Man. We bet he doesn't mince his words! (We've already pre-ordered our copy of the book, and will be reviewing it for this website.)
19 November - Man Yoo game sells out, but who's getting the tickets?
It was no surprise that tickets for our upcoming League Cup 4th round game with Manchester United sold out first thing this morning. However, there seems to be some confusion - and more than a little debate, judging by some of the posts on the various Burnley messageboards - about who's actually ended up with tickets. Season ticket holders have until Saturday to claim their seats, but otherwise it seems to have been something of a free-for-all. Members of the Clarets Foundation (that is, loyal Burnley supporters who pay £104 a year into the Club) seem to have ended up having parity with walk-up fans who have bought a ticket for the Norwich game and then been entitled to buy a ticket for the League Cup tie as well.
The situation is still unclear, though hopefully the Club will issue some kind of clarification soon. It is of course probably true that they're in a no-win situation, since one group of fans or other is sure to be dissatisfied, but what we seem to have ended up with is a situation where someone who "fancies watching Man U", and can afford to buy a ticket for a match they might not even bother going to (i.e. the Norwich game) will get a ticket for the glamour tie. Meanwhile, someone who is definitely a Claret will potentially lose out. One wonders how many United fans will be sitting in the home end on the third of December? (We don't blame them, though, since we would do the same thing if the roles were reversed.)
Another consideration is why the Norwich game was picked for the "buy one ticket, buy another one" scheme. Would a perhaps less attractive game, say Rotherham at home, been a better option? Any why couldn't we have a tiered priority system, so that season ticket holders got first priority, then Foundation members / shareholders / Claret & Blue Bond agents / etc, then people who bought a ticket for a specified home game, and then everyone else?
Once the dust has settled on this issue, we'd be interested to hear your view.
17 November - Taylor withdraws from Wales squad
Since we beat Spurs in that match, there hasn't been a great deal to report on that we haven't covered elsewhere. However, a few things have happened.
Both Papadopoulos and Taylor received international call-ups. Dimi will be in Greece's senior squad for their home friendly against the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday. The game is being shown live on Sky, so tune in if you can.
Gareth Taylor was named in the Welsh squad for their away European Championship Qualifier against Azerbaijan. However, yesterday's match against Rotherham saw him take a blow to the head, resulting in concussion. He has therefore had no option but to withdraw from the squad. This is very disappointing for Gareth, and we wish him a speedy recovery.
Of course, the big news of the week (perhaps of the month!) was that we drew Manchester United in the fourth round of the League Cup. After our victory against Spurs, we have nothing to lose. And as the tie falls between United's games away at Liverpool and at home to Arsenal, it's possible that their minds (and some of their best players) might be elsewhere. Fingers crossed! And remember that if you can't make the game, it will be shown live on Sky Sports. The Spurs game attracted around three-quarters of a million TV viewers, and it's anticipated that the United match will draw even more.
There was more good news as Marlon Beresford signed up for another month. Of course, we're hoping this will become a permanent deal - hopefully our excellent Cup run will help in this regard.
Last (but not least), we've now garnered 26 League points. We're halfway to safety!
7 November - spurred on to victory
Superb, fantastic, excellent, wonderful, terrific: the adjectives go on and on!
Let's be honest, now - we didn't really think beforehand that we'd win, did we? Especially with Coxy missing (he'll be out for a few weeks after tearing his hamstring against Preston). Especially against high-flying Spurs. Especially after their early goal. At 1-0 down, it looked like we'd merit just a passing mention in today's papers as the gallant lower-division losers - "plucky little Burnley" and so on. But after an astute tactical change (i.e. the introduction of Super Glen), we never looked back.
Today, Burnley are all over the papers, Stan The Man and Steve Davis are all over the magic lantern, and Clarets everywhere are looking forward to the fourth round draw on Saturday. Forgetting the on-pitch excitement for a second (not that we can!), the Club will of course benefit financially from our continued involvement in the League Cup, which is great.
Those of us who were lucky enough to be at the Turf last night won't forget that game in a hurry. Neither will all the Clarets watching on television. No doubt there were lots of sore heads this morning! We suspect that Glenn Hoddle probably won't forget the match in a hurry, either...
Our full match report will follow, of course, but in the meantime we'd just like to say "congratulations" to Stan, Sam and all the lads on a truly magnificent performance. Somehow November doesn't seem quite so bleak after all!
7 November - membership renewals
Our Membership Secretary, Brent Whittam, would like to pass on the following message:
Dear London Clarets
Would all those who have yet to renew their membership please note that they will not be eligible to receive further issues of the Club magazine or any of the other member benefits until they are once again paid up members of BFCLSC.
The next magazine is due in early December, so please get your renewal forms in to me as soon as possible to make sure of your copy.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have already renewed. Membership currently stands at around 300, and we are also most grateful for the generous donations that many members have made to the Club.
Would members also note that my email address is now brent@clarets-1882.freeserve.co.uk - please don't hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.
Many thanks
Brent Whittam
Membership Secretary
3 November - Burnley's mascot has London Clarets connections
We'd like to congratulate Matthew Priest, who was Burnley's mascot against Preston yesterday. Matthew is the son of London Claret Jane Priest, and the nephew of our Ticket Secretary, Steve Corrigan.
Young Matthew is a plucky lad, as he has a broken ankle at the moment (courtesy of an opposing player during a recent football game). He was determined to lead the Burnley players out yesterday, though, and - with a little help from Steve Davis! - did a sterling job. Hope the ankle gets better soon, Matthew (apparently the cast was claret and blue!).
1 November - management duo signed up until 2004
Friday brought the welcome news that Stan Ternent and Sam Ellis have signed extended contracts, taking them up until the end of the 2003-2004 season. Fingers crossed for the continuation of the success they've brought our Club so far.
November 2002 comment entries
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