Chris Boden

[ClaretTony]

I know he gets some stick on here at times but time to say farewell as he covers his final game tomorrow for the Burnley Express.

I've known Chris for a long time and he's followed his predecessors Keith McNee, Peter Higgs, Granville Shackleton and Edward Lee in being a huge help to me over the years, more so since I started running websites.

I'd like to wish Chris all the very best in his new career and I've thanked him for all the help and support he has given me in his years at the Burnley Express which apparently started with the 5-0 win against Barnet in 1994.

[Milltown1882]

Right move to get the work life balance for his family, some innings doing that long with one employer.

Less than complimentary about Pace et al but can certainly see where he’s coming from.

[claretonthecoast1882]

The stick he gets has never been warranted, mainly it seems because he doesn't place transfer gossip at the top of the list when it comes to being a sports reporter.

Good luck to him

[warksclaret]

If he has helped you CT, then he has helped all claret followers. I am sure many of us would wish him well in his new career

[randomclaret2]

His unease at the way things are going behind the scenes is clear in his remarks

[dandeclaret]

Top bloke - an absolute gent.

[forzagranata]

We've been lucky over the years to have had such excellent and committed journalists covering our team such as those names you mention Tony (McNee, Higgs, Shackleton and Eddie Lee) and Chris is certainly one of them - 28 years is a fantastic shift.

Lot of local papers have had a massive turnover of reporters over the last decade or two - with the result that they end up with a series of short-term appointments who don't know the club they cover and often don't care much about it - and you can tell when you read those papers.

Anyone who knows Chris knows that he is a committed Claret but also a very fair-minded lad which is why the various managers all got on with him.

[ClaretTony]

We've been lucky over the years to have had such excellent and committed journalists covering our team such as those names you mention Tony (McNee, Higgs, Shackleton and Eddie Lee) and Chris is certainly one of them - 28 years is a fantastic shift.

Lot of local papers have had a massive turnover of reporters over the last decade or two - with the result that they end up with a series of short-term appointments who don't know the club they cover and often don't care much about it - and you can tell when you read those papers.

Anyone who knows Chris knows that he is a committed Claret but also a very fair-minded lad which is why the various managers all got on with him.

Him and Eddie are still helping me with their reporting of the 1997/98 season which I'm featuring this season. The only one of those I've mentioned who wasn't a Claret was Peter Higgs and he just about became one in over 11 years with the Burnley Express. All of them proper, decent blokes who understood the reporting of a local football club.

[ClaretDiver]

I was one of a very small handful of Clarets that went to Blackburn College way way back and I am proud to say Chris was a mate back then…we lost touch after college but always followed him and had respect for him….good luck if you are reading this mate!

[wilks_bfc]

So that’s both he & Dan Black that’s left this month

That’s a pretty big knowledge hole to fill for somebody

[CrosspoolClarets]

Worked on a couple of articles with him about the club that were published in the past, wish him well for the future, we all must put family first. It was nice of him to mention our late old pal Matt in his tweets.

He won’t be alone in his fears for the off field stuff at the club but I can’t agree with his misgivings in his tweets about the club receiving £90m and spending £20m - we have just been relegated and the income takes a huge hit. So we have to take all opinions on these matters with a huge pinch of salt including not being over confident about our own (I’m not), but we are all entitled to an opinion.

As for never hearing before what Stan said to him (which I won’t repeat on here out of politeness) - he obviously doesn’t spend much time on UTC

[KRBFC]

Good bloke is Chris, never understood the stick he gets on here for the club not informing him first of behind the scene deals. Even if the club told him everything, why would he break that trust by spilling it to the world?

Smart man is Boden, he agrees with me about the figures coming into the club and the peanuts spent on a rebuild. He wont get the same stick for those comments as I do on here though. He doesn't seem to like the leveraged buyout either.

Despite many trying to silence me on here, I'll die alone on this island, I'll never stop telling everyone how morally wrong I find this takeover and everything to do with ALK's finances. Absolutely destroyed BFC's PL legacy, using the club as an ATM to pay for their own shares. The club should be filthy rich right now instead we're absolutely skint. Disgrace

[RVclaret]

Good guy is Chris and has sound ball knowledge. Like others, never understood why he got stick on here regarding transfers.

Unfortunately he’s been quite inaccurate in his statement regarding transfer fees, so that’s let him down a bit in his bow out.

Good luck to him.

[Nonayforever]

I know both Chris & Eddie, top blokes, true Clarets and both good reporters. Both are a loss to supporters who like to receive balanced local sports news.

[Chester Perry]

I think it is well worth keeping that thread from Chris here for posterity - whatever you may think of it

https://twitter.com/bodenknights/status ... 5446588418

[Swizzlestick]

Top man is Chris. Fulfils a difficult role as he wants to keep fans in the loop but also keep on side with the club. Hopefully the seminal Vanishing Point night will be resurrected!

[jedi_master]

I did my work experience back in 2001 (I think) at the old Burnley Express office on Bull St and was placed with Chris Boden and Edward Lee on the sports desk. I was only there a week, but it is still one of the most fun weeks I have ever had at 'work'!

Chris was an absolute gentleman, going through so much more than he needed to really and allowing me to type up some of his articles (and even add a missed comma or two in ) for print. The banter in that office seemed top notch, a really fun place to work and as a 15 year old it made me think working must be great (now that I am 35, my opinion has changed somewhat...). I remember him getting calls on his mobile from a couple of players of the time and being blown away - starstruck at him sat next to me having a conversation with Paul Weller ! He and Ed regaled me with some cracking tales about our ex players, particularly Adie Randall

I have never met Chris since then, but his attitude, professionalism and demeanour have always stuck with me from then. A really top bloke who has never deserved any of the stick he has gotten on here (he prints what he can - and knows a lot more than he types up). I wish him all the best and it's a sad loss to the Burnley Express and Lancashire reporting in general in my opinion.

[Gp8419]

Anybody share the thread to his leaving speech please not on twitter I can’t see anything thanks.

[jedi_master]

Despite many trying to silence me on here, I'll die alone on this island, I'll never stop telling everyone how morally wrong I find this takeover and everything to do with ALK's finances. Absolutely destroyed BFC's PL legacy, using the club as an ATM to pay for their own shares. The club should be filthy rich right now instead we're absolutely skint. Disgrace

You're certainly not alone in your opinion of the owners, I think a great many of us feel exactly the same way.

The reality is though, it's done now and there is absolutely nowt we can do about it unfortunately - we just have to accept it and hope/pray that we have success on the pitch to improve our position off the pitch.

No digression of this thread though from here on out from me, it would be sad to have it railroaded away from Chris getting the praise/gratitude he deserves, so lets draw a line under it on this one!

[Chester Perry]

Anybody share the thread to his leaving speech please not on twitter I can’t see anything thanks.

It would be good if someone who knows how to post pictures (I have never grasped that for some reason) did so. It is the only way it can be done (given the structure of the tweets) and I have a feeling (don't know why) it could get removed at some point

[Chester Perry]

You're certainly not alone in your opinion of the owners, I think a great many of us feel exactly the same way.

The reality is though, it's done now and there is absolutely nowt we can do about it unfortunately - we just have to accept it and hope/pray that we have success on the pitch to improve our position off the pitch.

No digression of this thread though from here on out from me, it would be sad to have it railroaded away from Chris getting the praise/gratitude he deserves, so lets draw a line under it on this one!

I do not believe that personally, but I do believe that there are not enough wanting or willing to take the measures required, which is naturally their choice and I have no problem with that

[Ric_C]

Good bloke is Chris, never understood the stick he gets on here for the club not informing him first of behind the scene deals. Even if the club told him everything, why would he break that trust by spilling it to the world?

Smart man is Boden, he agrees with me about the figures coming into the club and the peanuts spent on a rebuild. He wont get the same stick for those comments as I do on here though. He doesn't seem to like the leveraged buyout either.

Despite many trying to silence me on here, I'll die alone on this island, I'll never stop telling everyone how morally wrong I find this takeover and everything to do with ALK's finances. Absolutely destroyed BFC's PL legacy, using the club as an ATM to pay for their own shares. The club should be filthy rich right now instead we're absolutely skint. Disgrace

Way to make it about you again.

[KRBFC]

Anybody share the thread to his leaving speech please not on twitter I can’t see anything thanks.

[Pickles]

Sound guy. Wish him the best.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Way to make it about you again.

Hardly a shock is it

[KRBFC]

Way to make it about you again.

Hypocrite, by quoting me and cheer leading, you are making it about me. I simply said how I agree with Boden's views on the takeover which is relevant to him leaving, given his leaving notes reference it.

[wilks_bfc]

Telling that’s only half his statement you have posted

[KRBFC]

Telling that’s only half his statement you have posted

Could only post 3 images at a time, thought those 3 were the most interesting 3 for juicy drama.

[ChristheViking]

It's concerning - on multiple levels - that Alan Pace finds a chat with any Herbert in Tescos to be just as productive as a chat with the local media.

[Vegas Claret]

It would be good if someone who knows how to post pictures (I have never grasped that for some reason) did so. It is the only way it can be done (given the structure of the tweets) and I have a feeling (don't know why) it could get removed at some point

2 ways to do it CP - click on the little picture icon

Screenshot 2022-08-26 8.20.32 AM.png (1.23 KiB) Viewed 2869 times

and paste a url or just go to the attachments tab at the bottom of your message and add in there.

[Chester Perry]

Here goes

https://twitter.com/bodenknights/status ... 18/photo/1

https://twitter.com/bodenknights/status ... 18/photo/2

https://twitter.com/bodenknights/status ... 18/photo/3

[Chester Perry]

still not got it -

[Milltown1882]

Could only post 3 images at a time, thought those 3 were the most interesting 3 for juicy drama.

That’s basically how you get a job at The Sun these days.

[Vegas Claret]

Here goes

https://twitter.com/bodenknights/status ... 18/photo/1

https://twitter.com/bodenknights/status ... 18/photo/2

https://twitter.com/bodenknights/status ... 18/photo/3

you've done it wrong - you pasted the tweet url rather than the image. If you open the tweet, right click an copy image address you get this - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FbFl5QDXEAA ... name=large
then cick the icon I told you about and paste that url and you get this

[fidelcastro]

Where is it that Boden is going to? Sorry, I'm not on twitter.

[Cubanforever]

Top chap is Chris and I wish him all the best for the future

[ClaretTony]

Top chap is Chris and I wish him all the best for the future

He made special mention too of cubanclaret

[Chester Perry]

hmm following on from Vegas (cheers mate)

• https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FbFl5PhWIAA ... name=large

[IanMcL]

The only one of those I've mentioned who wasn't a Claret was Peter Higgs and he just about became one in over 11 years with the Burnley Express.

Don't want to interfere with the thread, however, Peter Higgs story....
Newcastle FA Cup Semi Final. Couldnt get ticket. Lived in Reading. Rang club...got short shrift.

Rang Burnley Express. Chap who answered the phone asked where I was from, as not a Burnley accent.
Reading but Burnley fan. "I'm from Reading!" Chat ensues.

"I'll be reporting on the match - we have a ticket here - meet me at players entrance at 2pm and you can collect"

Arrived in good time after long train journey to Sheffield.

Waited in a crowd players appeared and gave tickets to their friends/relatives. No Peter Higgs. Near kick off, a voice behind me quietly asks, "Anyone wanting a ticket?"
Yes please I immediately say and got it at face value, in with Sheffield fans. (And many Geordies and Burnley fans)

So my one interaction with PH is not such a good ending!

[forzagranata]

Twitter lets you read anyone's tweets without needing an account; all you have to do is visit their profile page.

https://twitter.com/bodenknights

[Milltown1882]

Twitter lets you read anyone's tweets without needing an account; all you have to do is visit their profile page.

https://twitter.com/bodenknights

Sometimes it will only let you read so far before it asks you to sign up. Type @bodenknights in the search bar and it will let you see all interactions.

[Chester Perry]

and then

[deanothedino]

The full text

After 28 years and four months covering Burnley Football Club, along with numerous other local institutions and athletes, the time has come for me to say goodbye to the Burnley Express.

From my first game, a 5-0 win at home to Barnet, to my last, at Wigan on Saturday, I've reported on the Clarets' fortunes in three divisions, at over 120 grounds, including Wembley Stadium, to the brief European tour, and it has been the privilege of a lifetime, a fan with a pen - and lately a smartphone and laptop - recording the ups and downs of a club I first began watching in 1983, aged 8.

I started fresh from an NCTJ course in Preston at UCLan, after my course tutor told me my dream job was being advertised, helping Edward Lee cover the Clarets. An avid follower of sport, I also wrote about the Burnley Bulldog, Warren Stowe, in my application letter, and fortunately, after an interview with Chris Daggett and Edward, I got the job.

I've been lucky enough to work with some wonderful people, sadly not all with us any more - I still miss my pals George Embley and Matt Evans - and many I would consider friends for life, no matter how long passes without seeing them.

But it's time for a change - the industry has been hard going for a good while now, with staffing levels and resources savaged, and it's not really the job it was. So I'm off to begin a new, exciting challenge in the field of PR and communications, giving me my evenings and weekends back. I want to be able to take my lads, now six and three, on the Turf and hope they too catch the bug.

I worked with Edward, who was a real mentor, from 1994 to 2009, and learned an awful lot from him. We were joined in 1995 by George and Matt, who I got on famously with - as did everyone I worked with on the sports desk with, Justin Connolly, Craig Salmon, Phil Simpson, Adrian Capstick... until it was just myself and Dan Black in 2009.

The sports desk was cut from four to two at that time, covering not just the Clarets, but all sport in Burnley, as well as filing the Clitheroe Advertiser, and the Nelson Leader, Colne Times and Barnoldswick and Earby Times. Myself and Dan have battled on since, as the demands of websites and social media added to the workload.

Dan told my mum at my wedding it wasn't like working for a boss, it was like working with a mate, and that's very much been the case, taking in numerous long drives, getting back from places like Bournemouth at 5 in the morning, and finished the paper before a 10-30 deadline.

So I've had the pleasure - although not always! - of Jimmy Mullen, Adrian Heath, Chris Waddle, Stan Ternent, Steve Cotterill, Owen Coyle, Brian Laws, Eddie Howe, Sean Dyche and now Vincent Kompany.

I've had run ins with most, although I'd like to think they considered me to be fair and balanced.

I always had a lot of time for Inchy - when I first started, wet behind the ears, I interviewed him and stuttered away, nervously, but he understood the situation and gave me what I need, and he was always superb to deal with as manager as well.

Stan was an education, it's not often you get told to "******* get ******!" but ultimately I learned an awful lot from him, and have great respect for him.

There are differing opinions on Steve, but I got on well with him, he made us feel part the of the group, which made the 2009 promotion that much sweeter as it was achieved with players who we all had fantastic relationships with, and you wanted to do well.

On Tuesday, Steve met my boys and got them a ball to play in the goalmouth at Shrewsbury, and had a little chat with them - just a good man, and great to see him fit and well.

Eddie was another good man, back in May, I know there was some cynicism about what he said after Newcastle condemned Burnley to relegation, but he was sincere and compassionate.

And Sean was another level. I probably spent more time talking to him about music, films, TV than football - he was always good value. He achieved things we could only have dreamed of, too many to mention, but most were the highlights of my time covering the club.

And Vinny, as he wants the staff to call him, has been good to work with in an all too brief period. He has been a true gentleman, and from listening to him, I've no doubt the football side of things is in very safe hands.

Off the pitch, however, I don't know what I'm leaving behind. Obviously I'm biased, but I firmly believe that football clubs need the local media and vice-ersa, especially those outside the Premier League.

That has been shown since the first game of this season, after which only the locals have attended press conferences.

Off the pitch, we have seen the takeover, and the debt placed on the club after acquisition - and subsequent financial issues that have come into play after relegation.

There have been around £90m in player sales since January, and this summer less than £20m spent on building a new squad.

A number of those payers - even taking into account relegation and the financial situation - went for less than you might have expected, the likes of Nick Pope, Nathan Collins, Dwight McNeil. But the chairman has, despite efforts since before the end of last season, not spoken to the local press - a local press that we were constantly told during the takeover would enjoying a good relationship with the new owners.

However, at a recent Q&A at Burnley College, Alan Pace was asked: "How can you keep the connection close between the club and the town?"

He said: "One of the ways is, we're here, we're not doing this for the press, we're doing this for you guys.

"Running into somebody, having a conversation in Tesco is just as valuable as having someone interview you and putting it up on Sky Sports.

"We've got a lot of things we think we can still offer, starting with pure engagement like this, getting to know everyone in the community, in a different way, rather than doing it the old way, just sitting in our offices having a press conference, and you guys not being able to participate, those days are over."

I'm not convinced that is healthy at all - especially at a club that, behind the scenes, has seen an awful lot of loyal, long-serving staff leave the club since the takeover.

[BurnleyFC]

Chris was in my sister’s year at high school and is a good lad who gets loads of unwarranted (and probably jealous) stick off people on here and on Twitter.

[DCWat]

I do not believe that personally, but I do believe that there are not enough wanting or willing to take the measures required, which is naturally their choice and I have no problem with that

Probably better for another thread, but what do you think are the measures required and to what outcome?

[NottsClaret]

Only got stick on here from people who think paying to see Alan Nixon's latest gossip is sports reporting. I quite enjoyed his disdain for the transfer window nonsense and the crap that surrounds it.

[beeholeclaret]

Big thanks to his efforts over the years. All the best for the future.

[claptrappers_union]

It's a shame that we're seeing the end of the proper sports journalists at established newspapers now. It seems anyone can become a journalist now, just add 'journo' at the end of your Twitter handle, host some shitty podcast and retweet stuff from other sources.

[deanothedino]

It's a shame that we're seeing the end of the proper sports journalists at established newspapers now. It seems anyone can become a journalist now, just add 'journo' at the end of your Twitter handle, host some shitty podcast and retweet stuff from other sources.

Personally think the Athletic should have gone for Chris when they added Burnley to their coverage.

[jdrobbo]

Wishing Chris all the best!