All lit up in Folkestone
When the Burnley team set off on tour to take in two exhibition games either side of a key league game against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, they left behind a real crisis for Burnley residents in the Manchester Road area who had been left without any water supply.
Restrictions were already in place across the whole town with no domestic water supply for twelve hours of each day, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., but worse was to come for over 6,000 households because of a fracture to a 12″ main at Towneley. It came as representatives discussed further economy measures as supplies dwindled although negotiations were underway for Burnley to draw half a million gallons a day from the main trunk supply to Manchester from the Lake District.
Things were even worse for four young Burnley lads who had all been arrested outside the Garrison Hotel on Padiham Road. They had been shouting and worse still that shouting had included the use of some bad language. They appeared in court and all were fined £2 by the magistrates and they left with a severe warning from Mr E. S. Thornber, presiding, who told them: “We are not going to have this sort of work in Burnley. I am warning you that if you come again we shall seriously consider sending you down straight away.”
There was also news from the Old Duke on Briercliffe Road where 57-year-old landlord Herbert Cheetham was struck by a vehicle on his way back from the phone box on Thursby Road. He’d just learned he had become a granddad and was rushing off home to tell his wife when the vehicle hit him and failed to stop. Mr Cheetham sadly died in Victoria Hospital.
We had a star name in the local theatre at the time. Recently, Norris Cole made a final return to Coronation Street to oversee the sale of his house, but in 1959, Malcolm Hebden, who played Norris, was starring as a peasant at Queensgate School Hall in the Highcliffe Players’ production of ‘To Live in Peace’. As always, this team pulled in full houses every night of the week.
As we awaited news of the football there was great news for Burnley housewives with the new washing up sensation finally reaching the town. “It’s easy with Lemon sqEzy – the new washing up wizard,” was the headline in the local newspapers. For just two shillings a pack you got this wizard that saw dishes sparkle as they drained dry with grease dissolving in a flash.
Meanwhile the Burnley players had left town, a party of thirteen who would take in three games before returning to Lancashire almost a week later. The first of these three games was an exhibition game against Folkestone Town to celebrate the switching on of their new floodlights by Sir Stanley Rous CBE. Burnley won, and with the vital game at Tottenham on the Saturday there was good news that there were no injuries incurred.
Billy WHITE, in for the unavailable Jimmy McIlroy, opened the scoring before TYRELL equalised for the home team but it was John CONNELLY who won it for Burnley with two goals. He was able to make the most of his speed and quick changes of direction and had excellent support from a defence who held the home attack comfortably. Brian Pilkington was always a threat on the left flank against an overworked Folkestone rearguard and goalkeeper Collins saved them from an even heavier defeat. Burnley were applauded frequently throughout the game for their passing, inter-changing and general understanding.
A 3-1 win, and now a visit to Spurs to come. This was a vital game at the top of the division but with both sides set to be weakened because of international calls. McIlroy was set to miss the game because of the Northern Ireland v Scotland Home International. He’d also missed the trip to Folkestone to play for an ‘All Stars’ team at Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s ground. He scored in that game.
Burnley’s team at Folkestone was: Adam Blacklaw, John Angus, Alex Elder, Bobby Seith, Tommy Cummings, Brian Miller, John Connelly, Billy White, Ray Pointer, Jimmy Robson, Brian Pilkington.
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