Alan Stevenson interview

[Im_not_Robbie_Blake]

Such a shame it wasn't possible to hear what Alan said during the interval yesterday. This problem needs to be rectified - then it could become a regular and worthwhile feature at all matches.

Good to see him back though!

[Woodleyclaret]

It's a shame we don't fix the pa In the JHU you can't here it

[beddie]

I didn’t even know he was there. If they mentioned something on the tannoy then it’s a waste of time for me, I struggle to hear what’s said on most occasions. It’s about time they invested in much more professional system.

[Roger Mellie]

I was so pleased to see Alan Stevenson for the first time in years.. and we can’t make a microphone reach the speakers. That’s disappointing…

[martin_p]

Could hear the guy interviewing him perfectly well but he needed to put the mic closer to Stevenson when he was answering.

[houseboy]

Arguably the best goalkeeper of the last 50 years or so at the Turf. Would have been an England regular but for us having an embarrassment of great goalies at the time. No disrespect to Pope or Heaton but he was a real class act.

[Quicknick]

Arguably the best goalkeeper of the last 50 years or so at the Turf. Would have been an England regular but for us having an embarrassment of great goalies at the time. No disrespect to Pope or Heaton but he was a real class act.

also
I watched Stevenson regularly. Great goalkeeper but I rate Pope first, Heaton second and Stevenson third. Stevenson went off really early.

[todclaret]

He doesn't know it, but Alan once got me in to Hartlepool free during his time up there as commercial manager.

[Guitargeorge]

Could hear the guy interviewing him perfectly well but he needed to put the mic closer to Stevenson when he was answering.

Not the PA system at fault here. As above, the interviewer was loud and clear in the JHU. I bet you’d hear Tom Heaton in the same situation

[Swizzlestick]

Yeah I think it’s more the guy not doing his job properly with the mic. You could hear Clarke Carlisle word perfect the other week.

[wilks_bfc]

These pitch side interviews are great, but why can’t they show them on the big screen so the everybody can see them.

But a suppose that would eat into some advertising opportunities

[Claretincraven]

Not the PA system at fault here. As above, the interviewer was loud and clear in the JHU. I bet you’d hear Tom Heaton in the same situation

There is definitely a problem with the PA system in the JHU. I sit level with the penalty box, Jimmy Mac end, and one of the speakers doesn’t work but gives off a constant buzzing sound. Can’t hear any announcements at all and haven’t for a long time.

[IanMcL]

A mess. The micman was shoutymicman. Then failed to put mic closr enough to Alan Stevenson, which is an insult to our keeper.

Also, as noted above, the interviews should be on the big screens. Invisible, in the corner of the pitch.

[Mayoclaret]

There is definitely a problem with the PA system in the JHU. I sit level with the penalty box, Jimmy Mac end, and one of the speakers doesn’t work but gives off a constant buzzing sound. Can’t hear any announcements at all and haven’t for a long time.

Hi CinC - from a Health and Safety point of view all speakers should be working allowing any emergency tannoy messages to be heard and acted on swiftly by the crowd. Being unable to hear any messages is certainly a worry. It might be worth dropping an email to the club advising your seat location and the location of the faulty speaker so they can sort this?

[warksclaret]

A sensational keeper for us and joined us from Chesterfield who made a habit of producing great keepers. I went to an Elton John concert at Chesterfield as a guest of a good friend about 10 years ago. He knew Alan Stevenson who was working at the club, and he went and found him so that I could chat to him, which he did for ages, reliving a number of saves and games he played for us.He played over 400 games for us and 600 in total including his other clubs

[claptrappers_union]

Hi CinC - from a Health and Safety point of view all speakers should be working allowing any emergency tannoy messages to be heard and acted on swiftly by the crowd. Being unable to hear any messages is certainly a worry. It might be worth dropping an email to the club advising your seat location and the location of the faulty speaker so they can sort this?

The emergency speakers are a separate system.

[Mayoclaret]

The emergency speakers are a separate system.

Cheers CU. That makes sense. Still worth reporting the fault in my view.

[turfytopper]

I wasnt there on Saturday. But I did hear Clarke Carlisle no problem. Great goalkeeper. I remember his debut at the Turf (Spring of 72?).I also remember in later years when he played for Rotherham against us. Great reception from travelling Clarets.

[jollyjack]

Was in JHU when Clarke was interviewed. Close enough to see his lips moving but couldn't hear a word. PA quality obviously varies by location. Definitely Bobbins in northeast section of ground.

[houseboy]

also
I watched Stevenson regularly. Great goalkeeper but I rate Pope first, Heaton second and Stevenson third. Stevenson went off really early.

Difficult to judge due to time difference but you could be right. Also different formations and players in defence so very hard call. Pope is excellent but always looked slightly less so for England without Tarks and Mee in front of him.

[ClaretTony]

Just add my two penneth - but the interview was a complete waste of time. I didn't hear one single word said by Oh Alan Alan. And for me, he's the fourth best goalkeeper I've seen at Burnley behind Blacklaw, Pope & Heaton.

[Quicknick]

Just add my two penneth - but the interview was a complete waste of time. I didn't hear one single word said by Oh Alan Alan. And for me, he's the fourth best goalkeeper I've seen at Burnley behind Blacklaw, Pope & Heaton.

Blacklaw first, eh. I wonder if you were a few years older whether Colin McDonald would be your number one. I never saw him. Blacklaw was brilliant, I'll give you that.

[claret59]

I have seen all of the Keepers mentioned here , even Colin McDonald but with him it was only exhibition type matches ( Ex Claret teams etc>) as he had ceased to be the Clarets keeper because of a long standing injury which shortened his career quite suddenly.
Of them all its hard to pick the best but I think it would be Heaton but had I seen Mc Donald in his prime he would most likely be first choice. He was quite small for a keeper but had the knack of 'reading the game' and didn't need to make spectacular saves because he was in the right place at the right time to make his saves look 'ordinary!'

[Buxtonclaret]

For 2 or 3 years, Alan was pushing those truely great England keepers ahead of him at 'bigger clubs' all the way.
A class act on his day.
Think I'd have both Nick & Tom ahead of him though.

[Frenchclaret]

Blacklaw first, eh. I wonder if you were a few years older whether Colin McDonald would be your number one. I never saw him. Blacklaw was brilliant, I'll give you that.

Yes Colin McDonald was a great keeper but keeping in the different eras was/is very different. We have been blessed with our keepers over a very long period and hopefully we can maintain that form. I think that my choice of keepers would be Blacklaw first, then McDonald, Heaton and Pope but it is a very difficult choice to make.

[Hipper]

I liked Alan Stevenson but always felt there was a mistake in him. Maybe that view is clouded by his later years with us and my poor memory?

I thought Tony Waiters was brilliant in a poor side but must agree with CT that Pope and Heaton were the best I've seen - very good quality, consistent and safe.

[Culmclaret]

Pope for me with Heaton a close second. Stevo was a very good keeper but even at his peak there was always a slight frailty there….and I mean slight. He was excellent in 81/82 but lost confidence disastrously in 82/83 and his loss of form was definitely a factor in our relegation that year. He lost confidence in the defence and they lost confidence in him. Peter Mellor was the first I saw

[Quicknick]

Pope for me with Heaton a close second. Stevo was a very good keeper but even at his peak there was always a slight frailty there….and I mean slight. He was excellent in 81/82 but lost confidence disastrously in 82/83 and his loss of form was definitely a factor in our relegation that year. He lost confidence in the defence and they lost confidence in him. Peter Mellor was the first I saw

The defence certainly lost faith in Mellor. I remember one match when Waldron roared at hum: 'Do you want a wall or not.'

[Herts Clarets]

Pope for me with Heaton a close second. Stevo was a very good keeper but even at his peak there was always a slight frailty there….and I mean slight. He was excellent in 81/82 but lost confidence disastrously in 82/83 and his loss of form was definitely a factor in our relegation that year. He lost confidence in the defence and they lost confidence in him. Peter Mellor was the first I saw

Probably lost confidence in the defence as we played more or less the full season with 2 midfielders (Dobson and Phelan) at centre half, as Big Vince missed most of the season with a serious knee injury. I must say from any of the highlights of the 82/3 season that i see, he doesn't cover himself in glory by any stretch. Unfortunately that began a long and steady decline in BFC keepers that, with the exception of the odd loanee, lasted until we signed Marlon Beresford in 1992.

[Buxtonclaret]

Not wrong there, Herts.
We seemed to struggle for keepers for years.
Then like waiting an age for a bus, one turns up with 3 England Goalies on it!

[Vino blanco]

McDonald, Heaton, Blacklaw, Pope, Stevenson in that order for me, though I have to admit my choice could be slightly misscued due to the passage of time and the over-active imagination of youth. All genuinely great keepers though.

[SouthLondonexile]

Sorry to have missed the interview as well. Perhaps there might be an opportunity for BFC to interview AS and place it on the Website.
I rated AS highly , athletic and acrobatic.
However my No1 goalie has to be Tom Heaton, great awareness as well as the influence of his vocals at the back, choreographing movement of the team.