Which player broke your heart when he left?

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:38 pm

Following on from the thread about favourite signings, who broke you when he left?

For me it was Billy Hamilton. I was absolutely distraught.

Honourable mentions to Blake (1st time) Ade (1st time) and Trevor Steven.

Longsider · Post by **Longsider** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:39 pm

Billy Hamilton for me too. Legend.

Turftalkers mentor · Post by **Turftalkers mentor** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:39 pm

Brian ONeil

Bordeauxclaret · Post by **Bordeauxclaret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:40 pm

Andy Marriott

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:40 pm

Steven for me, though it was logical

too young for McCilroy, Dobbo, Thomas, James though sure it would have crucified me - my uncle never went back after Dobbo

pureclaret · Post by **pureclaret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:44 pm

Ralph '' id walk a million miles for one of your goals '' Coates

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:44 pm

Not heartbroken but was quite sad when Dave Thomas went.

The world ended for a very young member of the family when Charlie Austin left though.

claretlegend · Post by **claretlegend** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:46 pm

Robbie Blake leaving for Birmingham.

Steve1956 · Post by **Steve1956** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:49 pm

Leighton James when he left first time for Derby County for £300,000

claretfern · Post by **claretfern** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:51 pm

At the time, sad when Ralph Coates left. (From what he has said himself, so was he...but the books had to balance)

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:52 pm

No question for me on this one - Ralph

Wilsdenclaret · Post by **Wilsdenclaret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:53 pm

Dobbo

Duffer_ · Post by **Duffer_** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:00 pm

Another for Billy Hamilton. The raw emotion came out again when holidaying in Tenerife a couple of years ago I got chatting to a fella of a similar age with an Oxford top on. Not sure Billy meant as much to him as he did me. What a loser, eh?

UTC!

Cleveleys_claret · Post by **Cleveleys_claret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:02 pm

Without a doubt Glen Little. Always be my hero. Others as a kid that never really knew about what went on off the pitch were Kurt Nogan and Adrian Randall.

Terrier · Post by **Terrier** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:04 pm

:Another for ralph and as has been said if repoerts at the time were true i think he was more heartbroken than us!

cutsy123 · Post by **cutsy123** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:08 pm

Bordeauxclaret wrote:Andy Marriott

Better than beresford him

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:11 pm

Glen Little was my hero, broke my heart both times we loaned him out, but I actually shed a tear at his final goodbye walking round the pitch with Stan after their final games.

I know people felt he was going through the motions in his last season and a bit with us but he was just a magical player on his day.

Robbie Blake when he went to Birmingham for similar reasons too, just fabulous to watch. At least with Robbie we got that Indian summer out of him in 08/09 which was surely his best ever season, even if he scored less due to being on the left hand side. I wish we could have brought Glen back to play in that side too, I think he would have been exceptional in a Coyle team and he was out of favour and on loan back at Reading - a trick missed I felt, but that may have been heart rather than head thinking.

I have seen more physically capable/top league worthy players since those two, but I will never love two players as much, legends.

Steve-Harpers-perm · Post by **Steve-Harpers-perm** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:14 pm

Alan Harper.

BleedingClaret · Post by **BleedingClaret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:21 pm

Yet another for Billy Hamilton and also Glen Little
In the modern era Trippier Keane and Ings have all felt like a loss.
As for Owen Coyle doing the dirty on me well.

mill hill claret · Post by **mill hill claret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:26 pm

Nick Pickering

BabylonClaret · Post by **BabylonClaret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:28 pm

Steve1956 wrote:Leighton James when he left first time for Derby County for £300,000

this

but also Billy Hamilton (I was only 10 when we lost Taffy).

Duffer_ wrote:Another for Billy Hamilton. The raw emotion came out again when holidaying in Tenerife a couple of years ago I got chatting to a fella of a similar age with an Oxford top on. Not sure Billy meant as much to him as he did me. What a loser, eh?

UTC!

I ended up going to Brum City a few times once at Uni there simply because the first match i went on in the first year was them vs Oxford*. I ended up in the Oxford end and the few i spoke too said "you're here for Billy aren;t you?" Going to St Andrews became a bit of a habit then - except this time in the home end. Not sure why really.

*edited (must have had Watford on the brain - or the yellow shirt. Oxford Utd a tier 2 side/ back in the day!

holdyourfire · Post by **holdyourfire** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:42 pm

Alex Elder,Andy Lockhead,Willie Morgan,and so on and so on.

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:44 pm

LOCHHEAD

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:45 pm

Les Thompson

aclaretinstevenage · Post by **aclaretinstevenage** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:46 pm

Heartbroken would be too strong but Dave Thomas going to QPR 1972.

davemanu2000 · Post by **davemanu2000** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:47 pm

For me it was Mc Ilroy .Leyton James .

Duffer_ · Post by **Duffer_** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:51 pm

You've lost me Babylon - did you mean Oxford, not Watford? I also loved Glen Little but felt we'd had him longer than our league status merited - somehow that softened the blow a bit.

UTC!

Edit: and I'd experienced women before Glen Little left but not before Billy.

jdrobbo · Post by **jdrobbo** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:52 pm

Mike Conroy
David Eyres
Glen Little
Robbie Blake (1st move)

Burnleyareback2 · Post by **Burnleyareback2** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 6:56 pm

Little/ Blake and Austin - each time it was a sign that we just couldn't hold onto the players that could transform us as a club.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:00 pm

TREVOR STEVEN. After 5 minutes I knew we had a good un. Shame he was destined for higher things.
Caps, English Champ, Scottish Champ, French Champ, FA Cup, ECWC. Fantastic footballer.

1963Claret · Post by **1963Claret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:09 pm

After over 50 years watching you get used to it but the 2 which hurt the most were Leighton James going to Derby in 1975 but especially Geoff Nulty's departure the previous year. Geoff was the definition of unsung hero, one of the best headers of the ball I've ever seen, and we were never as good a team when he didn't play.

1963Claret · Post by **1963Claret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:12 pm

piston broke wrote:TREVOR STEVEN. After 5 minutes I knew we had a good un. Shame he was destined for higher things.
Caps, English Champ, Scottish Champ, French Champ, FA Cup, ECWC. Fantastic footballer.

..

Great player but I'm not sure about the after 5 minutes bit. He made his debut at Bristol Rovers and gave the ball away with his first 3 touches! After that though I agree- what a player and a pity he never played for us in the top flight.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:12 pm

A few
Ralphy and Taff's leavings were both bloody awful
But Dobbo getting sold was my worst outgoing.

burnmark · Post by **burnmark** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:13 pm

Eyres
Blake (both times)
Barton to Rangers

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:26 pm

McIlroy's leaving broke the whole towns heart.

ngsobob · Post by **ngsobob** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:28 pm

Mac, of course. Taffy going to Derby County..

k90bfc · Post by **k90bfc** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:50 pm

Irvine,Lochhead,Morgan,Oneil,Coates,Dobson,James,Jay Rod,Always feel the same when we lose a favourite Claret,even today,but thankfully with Sean allways well replaced!

wilks_bfc · Post by **wilks_bfc** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:52 pm

I've never forgiven Waddle for selling Eyres and saying he was past it

holdyourfire · Post by **holdyourfire** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:55 pm

Bin Ont Turf wrote:LOCHHEAD

Dont give a monkeys,was still sad to see him go.Where you?

CaptJohn · Post by **CaptJohn** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 7:57 pm

Willie Morgan

I was sooooooo sad when he went.

I was angry when Taffy left

Kinda philisophical now that Keano has gone

I guess it's all part of growing up and being a Claret

CombatClaret · Post by **CombatClaret** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 8:21 pm

Being a chap with fine long hair, George Boyd.

chorleyhere · Post by **chorleyhere** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 8:25 pm

Martin Dobson -such a gentleman and always looked in complete control of the ball - even liked the way he walked !!

LAM · Post by **LAM** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 8:31 pm

Steve Davis when he left for Luton.

Equally, the most pleased re a signing when he returned

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 8:32 pm

Buxtonclaret wrote:A few
Ralphy and Taff's leavings were both bloody awful
But Dobbo getting sold was my worst outgoing.

I vowed never to go on't turf again when they sold both taffy and dobbo..we went on the slide after that.left town and decided I'd pick games I wanted to go to.missed all of john bonds tenure.

Flatline · Post by **Flatline** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 8:42 pm

Billy Hamilton.I can still hear his name being sung on the Longside whenever his name is mentioned."Oh Billy Billy,Billy Billy Hamilton!!!".Gutted when he left for Oxford I think or some other crap club.

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:03 pm

Steve1956 wrote:Leighton James when he left first time for Derby County for £300,000

My favourite ever Burnley player.

I didn't say him because he came back and that somewhat has healed the disappointment.

The reason to this day that Derby fans don't like him much (as a footballer) is because he wasn't called Alan Hinton.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:10 pm

Bin Ont Turf wrote:My favourite ever Burnley player.

I didn't say him because he came back and that somewhat has healed the disappointment.

The reason to this day that Derby fans don't like him much (as a footballer) is because he wasn't called Alan Hinton.

When willie Irvine broke his leg in the cup replay at Everton 67. That was my first big downer followed by taffy n dobbo

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:18 pm

Ralph Coates and Martin Dobson. I've never been in the "Martin Dobson" stand and it may need to be the last seat in the ground before I'd do it.

UTC

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:21 pm

John Deary. Was dispensed with far too soon and I even wrote to him to say so. (Still waiting for his reply. Check the post every morning. That's bloody Royal mail for you!)

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:22 pm

Paul Waine wrote:Ralph Coates and Martin Dobson. I've never been in the "Martin Dobson" stand and it may need to be the last seat in the ground before I'd do it.

UTC

That was the strength of feeling at the time both dobbo and taffy left at the same time.do you feel the rot then set in????