Graham Branch's Testimonial

[Walton]

Just wondering if anyone has a record of Branchy's testimonial, i.e. the teams etc?

We've somehow ended up with the legends team's number 14 shirt, and it'd be nice to know who wore it.

I've looked through the Former Players Association's pictures from the day, but can't really tell who wore which shirts.

It's an XL, so probably wasn't Inchy wearing it.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Fretters will probably know.

[Fretters]

I've no idea, but I can ask him..

[Fretters]

Asked him - he's no idea, sorry.

[morpheus2]

Was that the game where The Beast wore some tight cycling shorts or something? I am still traumatised from the memory of that....And Beast played out of goal for a while and scored a goal I think.

[Fretters]

Was that the game where The Beast wore some tight cycling shorts or something? I am still traumatised from the memory of that....And Beast played out of goal for a while and scored a goal I think.

He did play out of goal, yeah. Cotterill played too, along with a few who'd left the club before Branchy arrived, like David Eyres. It was a good do.

[wilks_bfc]

Was that the game where The Beast wore some tight cycling shorts or something? I am still traumatised from the memory of that....And Beast played out of goal for a while and scored a goal I think.

Think he also wore little James O’Connor’s shirt for his stint out of goal which along with those shorts made him look like an overfilled sausage

[Sean Dyche's Watch]

I recall the game finished 3-3, with Branchy scoring the equaliser!

[Sean Dyche's Watch]

[TomtheClaret]

Off topic. I never knew Branchy hated Cotterill with a passion.

[wilks_bfc]

This was the lineup for the “Branch 11”

Paul Crichton; Dean West, Steve Davis, Ian Cox, Graham Branch; David Hamilton, Micky Mellon, Tony Grant, David Eyres; Adrian Heath, Peter Swan.

Subs (all used): Kevin Reeves, Ian Snodin, Craig Mawson, Andy Farrell, John Francis, Ian Moore, Chris Camden, Daryl Bielby, Nick Harrison.

[Walton]

That's great, cheers Wilks.

I guess seeing as the shirt had been kept local, it was possibly worn by Andy Farrell maybe.

[ClaretTony]

I never quite worked that one out - always thought players had to be at a club for ten years to qualify for a testimonial.

[Bin Ont Turf]

I never quite worked that one out - always thought players had to be at a club for ten years to qualify for a testimonial.

It must have been because he played in that many different positions that he qualified.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Off topic. I never knew Branchy hated Cotterill with a passion.

Not as much as Weller surely?

[PWBFC]

Remember one of his first games - possibly debut - at Bristol Rovers and thinking he was absolute dynamite.

[ClaretTony]

Not as much as Weller surely?

Weller never played for Cotterill - he was one of four players who hadn't been offered a new contract by Stan. Cotterill came in and didn't reverse Stan's decision. I think two of the other three were May and West but not sure of the fourth.

[ClaretTony]

Remember one of his first games - possibly debut - at Bristol Rovers and thinking he was absolute dynamite.

He'd made his debut in the 0-0 home draw against Walsall, who were doing really well, and the Bristol Rovers game was his second game. He scored, I think, and played on the wing. Had some real pace too when he played in that position.

[duncandisorderly]

That's great, cheers Wilks.

I guess seeing as the shirt had been kept local, it was possibly worn by Andy Farrell maybe.

Is number 14 the one number Andy Farrell didn't wear during his Burnley career?

[RingoMcCartney]

Didn't Andy Farrell play in EVERY position and even ended up going in the sticks during one game?

[Bordeauxclaret]

Weller never played for Cotterill - he was one of four players who hadn't been offered a new contract by Stan. Cotterill came in and didn't reverse Stan's decision. I think two of the other three were May and West but not sure of the fourth.

I didn’t say he did.
He still hates him with a passion.

[Fretters]

He had everything to be a top player but not the confidence. Apparently nobody could get the ball off him on training and Stan used to give him whisky before a game!

[ClaretTony]

I didn’t say he did.
He still hates him with a passion.

He might well but I was trying to work out why

[ClaretTony]

He had everything to be a top player but not the confidence. Apparently nobody could get the ball off him on training and Stan used to give him whisky before a game!

Stan once said you would only get a small number of performances from him and then you would have to move him to another position.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Stan once said you would only get a small number of performances from him and then you would have to move him to another position.

Explains him moving to centre half!

[TomtheClaret]

He might well but I was trying to work out why

A ex player sold by Cotterill. Told me Weller hated Cotterill because he tried to rubbish Wellers name with other players.
We was down to 7 players? Cotterill offered Weller a pay as you play deal of about a sixth of his expired contract.
Weller politely refused.
I was also told Cotterill would speak behind players backs. I believe as well as Branchy, Ian Moore, and chaplow also didnt have a lot of love for the guy.

[ClaretTony]

A ex player sold by Cotterill. Told me Weller hated Cotterill because he tried to rubbish Wellers name with other players.
We was down to 7 players? Cotterill offered Weller a pay as you play deal of about a sixth of his expired contract.
Weller politely refused.
I was also told Cotterill would speak behind players backs. I believe as well as Branchy, Ian Moore, and chaplow also didnt have a lot of love for the guy.

I think you might need to be careful which players you name because I can confirm one of those you have named would say nothing other than positive things about Cotterill, maybe not the others, but one of those would.

If that's what he offered Weller then I'll take your word for it but it would have been a mistake had he signed. Weller played five games for Rochdale after leaving Burnley.

[TomtheClaret]

I think you might need to be careful which players you name because I can confirm one of those you have named would say nothing other than positive things about Cotterill, maybe not the others, but one of those would.

If that's what he offered Weller then I'll take your word for it but it would have been a mistake had he signed. Weller played five games for Rochdale after leaving Burnley.

I will take your word for it on players and will happily edit if you wish? Not looking to cause trouble.
But like I say the ex player had nothing but positives about club. Just disliked him immensly