I have been a Burnley supporter ever since the War. Having been
evacuated to my Grandmother’s house in Burnley for the second time in 1944, I found
that the War had two major effects on my life. One, I became a Burnley Football supporter
and two, in 1945, I first started to think about being a Labour MP (but only for Burnley)
– this despite the fact that a majority of my Burnley relatives were Conservatives.
Certainly in those days Turf Moor was a very different ground to
what it is now. The Longside was opened to the elements and not (entirely) concreted. In
those days if the weather was good we would be on the Longside and if it was bad on the
Cricket Field end under cover – not then a seated stand. Whilst I cannot remember the
result, one of the first matches I saw was Blackpool playing at Turf Moor. In those days
the younger supporters were always allowed to the front and if it was a big crowd you
would get lifted overhead to end up in a position where you could see. The thing I can
most remember was Blackpool having a real live duck as a mascot and it being out on the
pitch before the game started.
Some of the earlier games I saw would in fact have been prior to
the League restarting in 1946-47 season. Reg Attwell was at that time a guest player for
Burnley. Being only nine years at the time and as it was such an appalling winter with
travel very difficult, I did not see many games that year. But I can remember the
excitement of the extended season as it reached its climax and Burnley secured promotion
from the Second Division for what was to be a long run in the top division.
I can also remember the excitement of the FA Cup
final when living in London. We had so many relatives down for the final. What a
tragedy it was to lose in extra time to that Duffy goal. Whilst I was not there, I always
thought we had been robbed. The match was televised in part but only London had television
then and very, very few people had sets, which were, of course, black and white little
nine inch sets, sometimes with a magnifying screen attached in front. But what an
achievement it was for that team and what a line-up we had. Reg Attwell, who was such a
classic player; Allan Brown, so strong at centre half and who was to return as manager;
Harry Potts, another great player who was sold to Everton but ultimately came back as
manager with such success, Kippax on the wing, who was picked as
an amateur to play for England (unfortunately he was not able to play in the final event).
Strong in goal, too, and one could go through the whole team and name individuals like
Chew etc. It was a great side and one I will always remember
