Interview with Mike Conroy

[dsr]

http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/in ... #msg917647" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't know if this has been posted on here before - an interview by Friend of Fulham with Mike Conroy, from 2015.

[South West Claret.]

http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/in ... #msg917647

I don't know if this has been posted on here before - an interview by Friend of Fulham with Mike Conroy, from 2015.

Brilliant DSR, not seen that before, A very nice complement to Burnley as well:

"As you are probably aware I had my fair share of clubs throughout my career. I enjoyed every minute of every day playing for all the clubs I represented. If I had to pick one then I think Burnley would get the nod. Moving from Reading to Burnley turned out to be a fantastic move for myself. Burnley went on to be Champions of the very last 4th division and I again managed to be the first player to score 20 league goals in 26 years. I also lived in Burnley which I suppose brings you closer to everyone as you are often seen walking down the shops or just getting petrol for your car. With London being such a big city even the big stars can walk about unnoticed. Burnley as a town revolves around the Football Club and in a big way reminded me of Glasgow. The passion and love they have for their club is total and living so close to that I would have to say my closest affinity came with playing with Burnley. I had made a lot of friends while there and would have probably lived in that area if I had not moved down under."

[welsbyswife]

Nice to read. I often think that the players of that era must have loved playing for us. As he says the town revolves around the club and they were treated like stars really. You'd see them out in town with people flocking round em like celebrities. I can't thunk of another club or town where they wouldn't have got that level of attention as lower division footballers.

[claretabroad]

I remember going to watch Canberra Cosmos play a game against Eastern Pride and he was on the bench. In the match programme he had magically become 2 years younger. I'm not sure what he made of the one fan wearing a Burnley shirt and drunkenly chanting his name.

[cricketfieldclarets]

One of my favourite players. Unbelievable that he was so young when we won div 4. I thought he was about 40.

4th division strikers were made of strong stuff un those days. Clearly especially scottish ones.

[sleeperclaret]

"I again managed to be the first player to score 20 league goals in 26 years."

Similar record to Gifton Noel-Williams isn't it.....?

[welsbyswife]

Was it Conroy who put the cross in for Roger Eli to send the bullet header past Shilton in the home cup tie against Derby? Great goal.

[Cleveleys_claret]

My first hero in a Burnley shirt. My dad took me to my first game and we bought a shirt of Peter Noble in the market and then got to see us win 4-1 against Gillingham with Conroy getting a hat trick

[Sausage]

I was at Millmoor when Conroy scored his first league goal for us - a tap in from half a yard in front of the away end. I loved how he celebrated with the fans by climbing all over the fence. His celebration of the last gasp winner at Northampton later that year also showed how much he enjoyed scoring. Reminds me of Ashley Barnes in that respect.

[alf_resco]

Will never forget that cup game at Shrewsbury just before Christmas. 93 or 94.
1-0 down, last few minutes with their lot chanting "We're all going to Sheffield" (next round).
They get a penalty to go 2-0 up. Marlon saves.
Straight from kick-off we equalise.
Then in injury-time, Conroy smashes in the winner right in front of us away fans.
I don't think I've ever seen such scenes of madness before or since.
Epic away night.

[ElectroClaret]

1991/92 think he got 24 goals in 38 appearances.
Can see him now banging them in wearing the bird sh1t
shirt.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Conroy, Eli and Francis some pace and power in that frontline in the 4th division!

[Bordeauxclaret]

Was it Conroy who put the cross in for Roger Eli to send the bullet header past Shilton in the home cup tie against Derby? Great goal.

I think it was.

What was Conroy’s ‘chant’?

[Longsidebovril]

Oh boy.

How often do I have a couple of beers, missus gone to bed and I get on YouTube watching highlights of that season. I was 16.

[box_of_frogs]

Conroy, the executionary chief all season........

Better season than any in the PL. When we knew how to sing!

[claretabroad]

Will never forget that cup game at Shrewsbury just before Christmas. 93 or 94.
1-0 down, last few minutes with their lot chanting "We're all going to Sheffield" (next round).
They get a penalty to go 2-0 up. Marlon saves.
Straight from kick-off we equalise.
Then in injury-time, Conroy smashes in the winner right in front of us away fans.
I don't think I've ever seen such scenes of madness before or since.
Epic away night.

That's one of my favourite away game memories. Utter pandemonium when that winner went in.

[Dark Cloud]

Will never forget that cup game at Shrewsbury just before Christmas. 93 or 94.
1-0 down, last few minutes with their lot chanting "We're all going to Sheffield" (next round).
They get a penalty to go 2-0 up. Marlon saves.
Straight from kick-off we equalise.
Then in injury-time, Conroy smashes in the winner right in front of us away fans.
I don't think I've ever seen such scenes of madness before or since.
Epic away night.

I was there too and it was an unbelievable end to the match AND you fail to mention that Deary had been sent off just after they took the lead at which point we had no chance at all!!! As you say, it set up that great match at Sheff Utd with an absolutely massive following where it was us leading and coasting before they grabbed 2 late on.

[Claretnick]

I was at Millmoor when Conroy scored his first league goal for us - a tap in from half a yard in front of the away end. I loved how he celebrated with the fans by climbing all over the fence. His celebration of the last gasp winner at Northampton later that year also showed how much he enjoyed scoring. Reminds me of Ashley Barnes in that respect.

Here's a video of that win at Northampton....I remember that fantastic goal celebration and then Marriott being carried off the pitch shoulder high by the Clarets fans at the end of his loan... great memories of a season that started the long climb too where we were last night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqwAr_OnKSM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dark Cloud]

That Northampton match is a bit like the Orient game, as in if everyone who says they were there, really was there, the crowd would be around 20,000!! Well, I absolutely was there and can be seen celebrating the winner as Conroy runs to the fans!! I do remember the announcer giving out the attendance and adding a very obviously extremely gleeful "welcome Burnley!" which raised a laugh and it's also worth pointing out that their goal is a bit good tbh, but I remember clear as day how my heart hit the concrete steps as it went in because it was pretty late in the game and I sensed the 3 points suddenly evaporating.

[Bigvince]

That championship season under Jimmy Mullen will always be my favourite, what a team (at that level)

[RammyClaret61]

I met Mike Conroy for coffee several months ago here in Melbourne. Had a great chat for a couple of hours. It’s pretty obvious he loved his time at Turf Moor.

[Clarets4me]

My first hero in a Burnley shirt. My dad took me to my first game and we bought a shirt of Peter Noble in the market and then got to see us win 4-1 against Gillingham with Conroy getting a hat trick

Great memories of that season, first one for which I had a season ticket with my son .....

Mike Conroy should have had at least 5 in that game ....

[Claret Till I Die]

Will never forget that cup game at Shrewsbury just before Christmas. 93 or 94.
1-0 down, last few minutes with their lot chanting "We're all going to Sheffield" (next round).
They get a penalty to go 2-0 up. Marlon saves.
Straight from kick-off we equalise.
Then in injury-time, Conroy smashes in the winner right in front of us away fans.
I don't think I've ever seen such scenes of madness before or since.
Epic away night.

All with only 10 men left after John Deary was sent off if my memory serves me right.

[South West Claret.]

Will never forget that cup game at Shrewsbury just before Christmas. 93 or 94.
1-0 down, last few minutes with their lot chanting "We're all going to Sheffield" (next round).
They get a penalty to go 2-0 up. Marlon saves.
Straight from kick-off we equalise.
Then in injury-time, Conroy smashes in the winner right in front of us away fans.
I don't think I've ever seen such scenes of madness before or since.
Epic away night.

Certainly one of the memorable away games alright... I ended up on the ground after someone I new by sight but can’t remember his name jumped on me in the excitement as the winner went in, happy days indeed stayed over and had a most civilised drink with Shrews fan in the pub near the Train station on the right.

[Oshkoshclaret]

Good honest pro and that comes across in the interview, as does his obvious love of the time he spent with us. My abiding memory is the determination on his face as right at the end of the game he found the energy to charge down the line and get the cross in for Francis' winner at York.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Oh boy.

How often do I have a couple of beers, missus gone to bed and I get on YouTube watching highlights of that season. I was 16.

Absolutely. Makes two of us. Doesnt matter how suggestive she is, youtubing 1991 - 1994 Burnley footage cant be beaten

[cricketfieldclarets]

That championship season under Jimmy Mullen will always be my favourite, what a team (at that level)

Absolutely. Same here.

Even now if I see a player from that team I am like a kid all over again.

[RammyClaret61]

I’m the one on the left

[Bullabill]

Glen Waverely, eh? Rammy?

[RammyClaret61]

Glen Waverely, eh? Rammy?

Yep. Glen Waverley

[jdrobbo]

Thanks for sharing.

Brilliant pic Rammy.

After David Eyres, Conroy is one of my all-time faves.

[Roosterbooster]

That championship season under Jimmy Mullen will always be my favourite, what a team (at that level)

Was my first season. The recent post of the 8 year old at Old Trafford reminds me very much of the feelings I had that season. Hooked from day 1. And then the Carlisle and York days just blew my mind. I watched that season’s highlights video back hundreds of times. I can still see as vividly as ever, Conroy’s involvement in the goals at York! Great times. Brilliant memories!

[Lancasterclaret]

Someones needs to find the highlights of that Shrewsbury game!

[South West Claret.]

Someones needs to find the highlights of that Shrewsbury game!

Indeed LC, and I'm sure that I've seen them somewhere, on one of the clubs videos perhaps?

As I was stayed their overnight I didn't see any TV that night but when I returned to work the next day I was told they had seen some excerpts at least on the National News (South) as well.

[Sproggy]

Will never forget that cup game at Shrewsbury just before Christmas. 93 or 94.
1-0 down, last few minutes with their lot chanting "We're all going to Sheffield" (next round).
They get a penalty to go 2-0 up. Marlon saves.
Straight from kick-off we equalise.
Then in injury-time, Conroy smashes in the winner right in front of us away fans.
I don't think I've ever seen such scenes of madness before or since.
Epic away night.

And then some kn*bhead parked their van right outside the exit gate so there was a crush trying to get out. By the time we got there the police were smashing the windows of it to get in to move it.