Clarets Legends Xmas Do

[RidgeClaret]

Bumped into 72/73 Clarets in Sawyers Arms, Manchester last night meeting up prior to their annual Christmas get together at the BemBrazil.

Geoff Nulty, Paul Fletcher, Colin Waldron, Dobbo, Frank Casper & Jim Thompson with Stan thrown in for good measure. All great company and happy to talk about anything Burnley and particularly the great day at Deepdale in 1973 when we won the then 2nd division championship - which was my first away game without parental control!!!

Paul Fletcher is the glue that sticks em all together apparently & earlier this year on their other annual trip to the Lakes he took them on a detour to visit Dave Thomas at his home. He has 2 guide dogs paid for by the PFA called "Kindo" & "Claret" and is in great spirits.

Brilliant that they all still meet up and are good mates. Imagine today's Premier League superstars still meeting up after 45 years???

[Leisure]

Yeap, that was an excellent team! UTC

[Royboyclaret]

Bumping into those lads on a night out is the stuff of dreams!

Season 1973/74 was one of my favourite ever as a Claret and was similar in many ways to last season. We finished 6th in the top league and I remember when we were still unbeaten after the first seven games thinking that anything was possible that season. That line up had the perfect balance with each player complementing the other, so little surprise that they performed so well.

The names just trip off the tongue.......Stevenson, Noble, Newton, Dobson, Waldron, Thomson, Nulty, Casper, Fletcher, Collins & James. A fantastic side representing our Club and brilliant that most of them still meet up to reminisce about great times gone by.

[joey13]

Brilliant

[Andingle]

Dont forget the Ginger Pele , Billy Ingham R.I.P

[RidgeClaret]

You're right Royboy it was the stuff of dreams.

So many old stories to remember, Nulty talked about hitting the bar in Cup semi, Fletcher overhead kick at Leeds (said he had only watched it 6 times this week on YouTube!!!), Waldron how Tommy Doc turned up with 25 big ones in a holdall (allegedly) when he signed for Man U too many to mention.

Stevo doesn't keep in touch anymore, Taffy down in South Wales I think & Doug Collins very successful businessman in Australia.

Nulty has his own businesses and just remarried at 69 yeae of age!!!

Priceless

[Andingle]

https://www.theleaguepaper.com/features ... ns-197273/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Royboyclaret]

Superb team photo at the link, Andingle.

Remarkable that both seasons, '72/'73 & '73/'74 we relied pretty much on just 14 players.

[Ashingtonclaret46]

Superb team photo at the link, Andingle.

Remarkable that both seasons, '72/'73 & '73/'74 we relied pretty much on just 14 players.

Aye, royboy, but they were all good players! The game was much better to watch in those days though, with the mixture of players who could tackle, skilful players who honed their skills and all performing on pitches that varied so much from week to week and equipment that was still fairly basic.
I worry about the modern game and just where it is going.

[Royboyclaret]

Take your point, Ashington.

Adamson placed so much emphasis on technical ability (hardly surprising having played behind Mac all those years), with the likes of Dobson, Collins, James and even Keith Newton so comfortable on the ball.

We only have Defour now that fits into that category.

[Bop]

I’m sorry to bring it up again.....DOBBO turned up as the guest at my 50th a few years ago, and at the end of the night he told me about their regular get-togethers, and asked me to join them a night later in Manchester for a drink. I sh1t out - it would have been too overwhelming - imagine being in the company of gods as a mere mortal.

[ashtonlongsider]

Bumping into those lads on a night out is the stuff of dreams!

The names just trip off the tongue.......Stevenson, Noble, Newton, Dobson, Waldron, Thomson, Nulty, Casper, Fletcher, Collins & James. A fantastic side representing our Club and brilliant that most of them still meet up to reminisce about great times gone by.

Royboy your bringing tears to my eyes. Think a special word must also go to Jimmy Adamson. He was a coach very much ahead of the game.

[ClaretTony]

Think a special word must also go to Jimmy Adamson. He was a coach very much ahead of the game.

Waldron thought he was God, Fletcher was a disciple as were Dobbo & Mick Doc but you will get a very different answer about Adamson from such as Kindon, Thomas, Nulty & Thomson from that group.

I know most of these lads well and they are all terrific company although Waldron had better watch out, how dare he flash a V sign at me from Costa Coffee when I was walking past recently.

[ClaretTony]

Mention of Dave Thomas, and a couple of years ago when they did a trip to Scotland (and if anyone sees Jim Thomson ask him about his new shoes), they all called in to see John Angus.

And I know who much some of these lads did for Peter Noble when he was ill. They take the mickey out of each other all the time but are always there for each other.

[Royboyclaret]

John Angus will have made up 80 years during this year. Hope they found him healthy and well.

Angus was well respected at Burnley and one of the most cultured players to have worn the Claret shirt. Just a pity he and Keith Newton missed each other by just one season as I can't imagine a better full-back pairing than those two.