There follow a series of articles about the Orient
Game. It was ten years to the day on Friday 9th May 1997 since that game, and to mark the
occasion (one can hardly say ‘celebrate’) a dinner was held at Turf Moor. A
number of the London Clarets were there to hear the main speaker Paul Fletcher reflect on
the most significant event of recent history for Burnley Football Club.
It’s strange, but when I asked a few people to write articles
about the event I tried to recall my own memories of the day, but I have virtually none. I
went to the game on my own, although there were a number of friends in other parts of the
ground. I didn’t have a drink before the game (I often didn’t in those days),
stood on the Longside and watched the drama unfold. I remember Neil Grewcock’s goal
and Ian Britton’s, but I don’t remember their goal at all. When the final
whistle went I walked across the Bee Hole and left the ground. I didn’t run on the
pitch; the feeling was more of relief than anything else. I was happy but the nagging
thought at the back of my mind was probably, ‘what makes everyone think we won’t
be in the same situation in twelve month’s time?’ Fortunately, I was wrong, and
twelve months later we were at Wembley.
