Who is our best ever centre forward

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conyoviejo
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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by conyoviejo » Fri Jul 31, 2020 6:56 pm

Willie Irvine by far away the best centre forward we have seen on the Turf.

Singing aye aye Irvine Irvine Aye .....
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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Fretters » Fri Jul 31, 2020 7:01 pm

Rowls wrote:
Fri Jul 31, 2020 6:42 pm
Surprise entry for Martin Paterson!

I enjoyed his time at Burnley. Great commitment on the pitch and he surely regrets jumping ship when Dyche came on board.

Far from the best obviously.

But he did score *that* goal at Reading.
Thompson was better IMO. Transformed us when he signed and scored *that other* goal at Reading.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Middle-agedClaret » Fri Jul 31, 2020 7:43 pm

Willie Irvine for me. He’s the reason I support Burnley, btw. As a young boy I played for a team in Berlin, coached by his brother Joe. He and my father were in the same regiment there. I was young, impressionable, from N.Ireland - and so through my appreciation of Willie I became a Burnley fan. He was an extraordinary centre forward, and I can still remember my disappointment when he left Burnley.
Since then I’ve really valued Ray Hankin and Paul Fletcher. For sheer visceral pleasure it was hard to beat the enjoyment of Ade’s hat trick away to Luton, or Martin Paterson’s goal against Reading at the Mad Stad in the play-off game. Danny Ings was excellent for us.
But Willie was the best.
iMHO, of course.
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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by claretandy » Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:36 pm

Gordaleman wrote:
Fri Jul 31, 2020 6:55 pm
You might not have actually said it, and I didn't say you did, but you certainly suggested it.

"Wood has to win it at Premier League level."

So P L level is somehow different to what is was called the day before?
I will clarify, Wood has to win it in the Premier League era.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by boatshed bill » Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:41 pm

As a pure, straightforward centre forward I'd have to go for Andy Lochead, and his partnership with Willie Irvine was something special.
the game has changed so much that centre-forward hardly exists in the way those chaps played, but Charlie Austin was a bit of a throw-back in my opinion.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Stayingup » Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:41 pm

Different attributes have players. Lochhead as hard as nails defenders hated playing against him. Pointer would apparently run through a brick wall. Danny Ings - great fast feet. Depends on the team around them.and the style and division etc. Thing is we've had some some terrific CF's
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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Stayingup » Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:45 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:30 pm
In terms of goal scoring then there is no competition for me, it is Willie Irvine by a country mile. For those of you too young to remember him I can only tell you that he’s the most phenomenal goalscorer I’ve ever seen in a Burnley shirt.

He had a great partnership with Andy Lochhead but there was also Pointer & Robson before that and since I’d suggest Fletcher & Casper and more recently Ings & Vokes and then Gray & Vokes.

But it will always be the brilliant Willie Irvine for me.
Casper yes. But didn't Paul Fletcher partner Ray Hankin as well. A muscular front two there.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Jul 31, 2020 9:03 pm

Stayingup wrote:
Fri Jul 31, 2020 8:45 pm
Casper yes. But didn't Paul Fletcher partner Ray Hankin as well. A muscular front two there.
He did but it never really worked so well. Too similar in a way. The partnership Fletcher had with Casper was perfect.
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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Bin Ont Turf » Fri Jul 31, 2020 9:28 pm

It's got to be one of the lads from the 60's, no doubt about it.

Casper was brilliant though.

I'm going to go for Stevie Taylor tonight, because I've had a few slurps.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Marney&Mee » Fri Jul 31, 2020 9:36 pm

Kevin Long

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by SalisburyClaret » Fri Jul 31, 2020 10:09 pm

John Francis

Rocket Ron

Both speed merchants in their own way

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by expoultryboy » Fri Jul 31, 2020 10:43 pm

I agree CT , but i mentioned them just for the best boxing day a 14 year old could have in 1973 .

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by AndrewJB » Fri Jul 31, 2020 10:54 pm

No mentions for Bert Freeman or Joe Anderson?

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Little_britton » Fri Jul 31, 2020 10:55 pm

Gordaleman wrote:
Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:57 pm
Just realised what you are on about actually. Irvine I knew, so why I said Irving, I don't know. Lochhead I thought about and went for one 'H'.

Didn't realise that you were a nitpicker.
Woe betide if you spell a surname wrong on here, they're on you like a tonne of bricks!

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Goobs » Fri Jul 31, 2020 11:16 pm

pushpinpussy wrote:
Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:16 pm
in my lifetime id narrow it down to the following.

Andy Payton
Danny Ings
Robbie Blake
Andre Gray
Ashley Barnes
Gray and Barnes above Rodriguez? Each to their own I guess.

Been going on since late 80's and for me the best 5 I have seen are (in no particular order)

Ings
Blake
Jayrod
Payton
Austin

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Bin Ont Turf » Fri Jul 31, 2020 11:22 pm

Little_britton wrote:
Fri Jul 31, 2020 10:55 pm
Woe betide if you spell a surname wrong on here, they're on you like a tonne of bricks!
I don't know why some folk see it as a personal attack. It's properly funny in this particular instance.

He posted three names and only got one correct, then it took him several posts to know what other folk were going on about in his original post. :lol:

Folk need to chill out on here and have a bit more of a laugh.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtTeNvy ... u8&index=8
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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Jimmymaccer » Fri Jul 31, 2020 11:37 pm

No one mentioned Steve Kindon.........one to raise the roof on the long side..........dare I say it but me and my dad were just two of the brave who travelled to Celtic after that friendly at The Turf.......god knows why, but we went and saw Kindon score .........I was scared to death all day, but Kindon will always be a claret in my mind....

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by dsr » Fri Jul 31, 2020 11:54 pm

They say your first years as a fan are where the best memories come from. So as my first year as a season ticket holder was 1986-87, I am struggling decide who my favourite was among:

Mark Caughey
Phil Devaney
Wayne Entwistle
Phil Murphy
Derrick Parker
Robert Regis
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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Claretforever » Sat Aug 01, 2020 12:02 am

Not what I’ve seen, but surely George Beel and Bert Freeman have to be up there with the best?

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by ElectroClaret » Sat Aug 01, 2020 12:13 am

Not the best, but certainly one of the best headers of the ball we've ever had.... Gareth Taylor.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Untinted Glasses » Sat Aug 01, 2020 6:42 am

George Oghani

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Zlatan » Sat Aug 01, 2020 7:20 am

I’m up the Clarets style, the best centre forward of our time (in our minds) has to be Lukas Jutkiewicz

END
OF
THREAD

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by THEWELLERNUT70 » Sat Aug 01, 2020 7:34 am

Not the best, but the best in my eyes, Billy Hamilton

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Carnsmerry12 » Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:13 am

Another vote for Willie Irvine. He made it all look so natural.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by ashtonlongsider » Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:18 am

Ray Pointer through an impressive youngsters eyes and Paul Fletcher (cant believe he's not got more prominence on this thread) in my late teens.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by mkmel » Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:33 am

Gordaleman wrote:
Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:31 pm
I don't know how old you are Tony. Did you ever see them play? I did. Willie scored 29 league goals during the 1965/66 campaign, while Lochhead, contributed 15.
Being from the South my first ever Burnley game was in the FA Cup away at Tottenham in March 1966
And I was fortunate enough to watch that brilliant game with Willie Irvine scoring a hatrick for the Clarets

It's Willie Irvine for me too

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Gordaleman » Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:44 am

mkmel wrote:
Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:33 am
Being from the South my first ever Burnley game was in the FA Cup away at Tottenham in March 1966
And I was fortunate enough to watch that brilliant game with Willie Irvine scoring a hatrick for the Clarets

It's Willie Irvine for me too
Best game I ever saw. Look at the pitch. Can you imagine today's Prima Donnas playing on it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAKnoarYh20

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by mkmel » Sat Aug 01, 2020 8:44 am

Blimey there's some sensitive souls on this message board

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by whiffa » Sat Aug 01, 2020 10:02 am

In my 30+ years as a claret, nobody has come close in ability to Danny Ings. Sam Vokes has to get a mention though, fantastic servant to the club - even if he wasn't the "best ever centre forward".

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by ClaretMov » Sat Aug 01, 2020 10:24 am

Not best ever forwards but some of my favourite Attacking Burnley player's

In no particular order

Ashley Barnes
Steve Kindon
Danny Ings
Billy Hamilton
Tommy Hutchinson
Trever Steven
Ade akinbiyi
Leighton James
Ted Mcminn
Charlie Austin
Glenn Little
Dwight McNeil
Mike Conroy
Roger Eli
Wade Elliott
Matin Patterson
Sam Vokes
Steven Defour
Scott Arfield
Last edited by ClaretMov on Sat Aug 01, 2020 10:31 am, edited 3 times in total.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Wellsy1882 » Sat Aug 01, 2020 10:25 am

Payton or Ings

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Im_not_Robbie_Blake » Sat Aug 01, 2020 11:17 am

Billy Hamilton was a special talent. Not necessarily 'the best' (whatever that means) but a legend in my eyes.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Goalposts » Sat Aug 01, 2020 11:18 am

ClaretTony wrote:
Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:30 pm
In terms of goal scoring then there is no competition for me, it is Willie Irvine by a country mile. For those of you too young to remember him I can only tell you that he’s the most phenomenal goalscorer I’ve ever seen in a Burnley shirt.

He had a great partnership with Andy Lochhead but there was also Pointer & Robson before that and since I’d suggest Fletcher & Casper and more recently Ings & Vokes and then Gray & Vokes.

But it will always be the brilliant Willie Irvine for me.
All good choices from the wilderness years through in Payton, Conroy , kindon

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by jollyjack » Sat Aug 01, 2020 12:00 pm

Thought I'd mention Philliskirk, then relax and think how far we've come..

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by IWOODLOVETT » Sat Aug 01, 2020 12:25 pm

Chris Iwelumo ........... in one game only. 👍🏻

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by android » Sat Aug 01, 2020 12:39 pm

No mention for Ian Wright Wright Wright? That goal at Gillingham has to be in my top 10 memorable moments seen live.

Pre-war: the one and only Tommy Lawton but not a Claret for long
Post-war: Willie Irvine

Post-war top 5 for me would be: Irvine, Pointer, Ings, Lochhead, Fletcher

In the last 40 years Ings stands out for me. Austin and Payton were more natural goalscorers but, as well as being a goalscorer, Ings is a top footballer with brilliant quick feet.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by joey13 » Sat Aug 01, 2020 2:06 pm

A proper Centre forward Mr Ray Hankin

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by AfloatinClaret » Sat Aug 01, 2020 2:19 pm

Conroysleftfoot wrote:
Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:45 pm
There is no definitive answer...
This is true, but we could narrow it down a bit: It isn't Steven Fletcher.

The lad Andy Cole wasn't bad, though admittedly we didn't see the best, or long enough of him to top this poll.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by AfloatinClaret » Sat Aug 01, 2020 2:23 pm

android wrote:
Sat Aug 01, 2020 12:39 pm
...Post-war top 5 for me would be: Irvine, Pointer, Ings, Lochhead, Fletcher...
would that be Paul or Steven?

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by bfcjg » Sat Aug 01, 2020 3:03 pm

Best of current era has to be Wood, consistent goal scoring at the top level. Best non current Danny Ings, best since I have been watching us Fletcher/Casper.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Rowls » Sat Aug 01, 2020 3:07 pm

What a fantastic thread this has been.

Keep 'em coming!

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by RighteousClaret » Sat Aug 01, 2020 3:39 pm

I thought that Peter Noble was excellent, I'm surprised he hasn't been mentioned.

Casper and Fletcher were wonderful and Ings was class.
Last edited by RighteousClaret on Sat Aug 01, 2020 3:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Quicknick » Sat Aug 01, 2020 4:10 pm

Willie Irvine, Ray Pointer, Andy Lochhead. In the 21st century, Wood is the best.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by basil6345789 » Sat Aug 01, 2020 4:47 pm

Pointer, closely followed by Irvine.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by durhamclaret » Sat Aug 01, 2020 5:09 pm

Casper was always my favourite, maybe not the best, Irvine/Lochhead takes some beating.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Vegas Claret » Sat Aug 01, 2020 5:29 pm

Ron Futcher

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by bfcwest » Sat Aug 01, 2020 6:02 pm

Kurt Nogan for me.

I know he isn’t the best, but he was the first striker I saw us have where I really felt “he’s gonna score” ever time he got near the ball. Loved the way he drove at the goal and he had one hell of a shot on him. We’ve had loads of great strikers since, but I wanted a mention for Kingkurt!
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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Vino blanco » Sat Aug 01, 2020 6:18 pm

1. Ray Pointer
2. Willie Irvine
3. Andy Lochhead
4. Danny Ings
5. Paul Fletcher.

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by Cajun » Sat Aug 01, 2020 6:44 pm

When I was a youngster, the centre forward, the No 9, was the guy who put the ball in the net, and that was who I wanted to be. Get on the end of through balls and crosses, and “be an expert knocker-inner or other people’s rebounds” as one of my early coaches told me. My original Clarets hero was Willie Irvine, and he will probably always be my perfect centre forward. His partner big Andy was an ideal foil in helping create the chances for Willie to seize on. Payts had the same instincts as Willie as a pure goalscorer.
Others had better all round skills, were faster, better headers etc, but for me, although Willie Irvine as a player is now just a faint memory in the dusty corners of my earliest Burnley years, he gets my vote. (I have to admit I cried when I learned from my dad, who had been to the game, that Willie had suffered a broken leg at Goodison in the Cup replay....)

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Re: Who is our best ever centre forward

Post by android » Sat Aug 01, 2020 10:56 pm

AfloatinClaret wrote:
Sat Aug 01, 2020 2:23 pm
would that be Paul or Steven?
Ha ha Paul Fletcher of course. I'm the right age for the 73 team to be my favourite team and although Paul Fletcher wasn't my favourite player he was usually first choice ahead of Casper and Hankin so I had to include home in my top 5 centre forwards. I loved Casper though and another great moment was his goal (a free kick I think) on return from injury after being done by Hunter at Leeds.

Great thread - I'd completely forgotten Kurt Nogan but he obviously came at the right time to be a star for bfcwest so good to see him mentioned.

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