Another home defeat as water probe ends
Just two days after the 2-1 success at Old Trafford it was another disappointing home result suffered by the Clarets of sixty years ago as we went down to a big defeat against Manchester United.
The water shortage of September and October seemed well behind most Burnley folk as the rain continued to pour down and the good news was that our reservoirs were now 85% full. A 25-page report had been produced following the probe into our shortage of water and the big news was that the town was under reservoired by 56 million gallons. The result was that an immediate reservation of 500,000 gallons of water per day should be made to Haweswater (Lakeland). The enquiry also agreed to immediately terminate the 200,000 gallons per day supply agreement with Accrington. The whole saga had proved very costly to Burnley Corporation but our water manager Jack Shepherd surprisingly came out of it all very well despite him having previously being accused of cleaning the reservoirs at the wrong time. He and his staff were praised for their efforts.
Well done to the local police, or six of them in particular, who toured the local hostels entertaining. Inspector Greenwood (pianist) was joined by Constables Denis Boddie (tenor), Peter Maybury (baritone and monologues), Bill Weatherill (pianist), Jack Helm (pianist) and Police Woman Lily Pearson (soprano). It was said that so good was the arrangement that it felt as if you were going into a Billy Butlins Holiday Camp, and at each one there were also turkeys, hams, tongues and joints of roast pork, set off by trifles, mince pies and Christmas puddings.
The only other news in town was all about admission charges for entertainment. The newly named Mecca dansette Empress Ballroom revealed that New Year’s Eve tickets would cost 6s in advance and 7s 6d on the door. They stressed that there would be no pass outs and no admission after 10:00 p.m. That was considered a reasonable price but the news that local cinemas were to put up their seat prices by 3d per person in the New Year was not greeted enthusiastically, although it was stressed that children and pensioner tickets would not increase. Mr A. R. Hutchinson of Hutchinson’s Cinemas Ltd. who owned the Roxy said the increases were fully justified.
But the football was the big news and the Burnley supporters were looking forward to welcoming Manchester United. The visitors named an unchanged team for the return game and there was good news for Burnley with Jimmy McIlroy passed fit and back in the side for Ian Lawson. But that was where the good news ended for the Clarets despite us being the better side overall on the day.
After having a goal disallowed we found ourselves 1-0 down after 20 minutes when Dennis VIOLETT scored for United, but a powerful header from Jimmy ROBSON following a Brian Pilkington centre brought us level just eight minutes later. It was 1-1 at half time and we were expected to go on and win it in the second half, but another from VIOLETT and two late goals from Albert SCANLON saw United home to a 4-1 win that was most undeserved.
Incredibly we didn’t lose any ground in the league and remained third with both Spurs and Wolves losing and Preston only able to draw at home to Leicester. That Spurs defeat was the biggest shock with Leeds following up their win at Burnley with another away success to take them out of the bottom two where Birmingham rejoined Luton.
The teams were;
Burnley: Adam Blacklaw, John Angus, Alex Elder, Bobby Seith, Brian Miller, Jimmy Adamson, John Connelly, Jimmy McIlroy, Ray Pointer, Jimmy Robson, Brian Pilkington.
Manchester United: Dave Gaskell, Bill Foulkes, Joe Carolan, Fred Goodwin, Ron Cope, Shay Brennan, Alex Dawson, Albert Quixall, Bobby Charlton, Dennis Violett, Albert Scanlon.
Referee: Mr T. H. Reynolds (Durham).
Attendance: 47,696.
First Division Results
28th December 1959
Burnley 1 Manchester United 4
Fulham 1 Sheffield Wednesday 2
Luton 0 Arsenal 1
Manchester City 4 Everton 0
Newcastle 1 Chelsea 1
Nottingham Forest 1 West Brom 2
Preston 1 Leicester 1
Tottenham 1 Leeds 4
West Ham 3 Birmingham 1
Wolves 0 Bolton 1
League Table
| Pos | Team | pld | w | d | l | f | a | ga | pts |
| 1 | Tottenham | 24 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 53 | 30 | 1.77 | 32 |
| 2 | Preston | 24 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 49 | 39 | 1.26 | 31 |
| 3 | Burnley | 24 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 55 | 40 | 1.38 | 29 |
| 4 | Blackburn | 24 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 44 | 35 | 1.26 | 29 |
| 5 | West Ham | 24 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 47 | 42 | 1.12 | 29 |
| 6 | Wolves | 24 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 59 | 45 | 1.31 | 28 |
| 7 | Fulham | 24 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 46 | 46 | 1.00 | 28 |
| 8 | Sheffield Wed | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 45 | 27 | 1.67 | 27 |
| 9 | Bolton | 24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 32 | 29 | 1.10 | 26 |
| 10 | Manchester United | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 59 | 47 | 1.26 | 25 |
| 11 | West Brom | 24 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 45 | 39 | 1.15 | 24 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 24 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 47 | 49 | 0.96 | 23 |
| 13 | Chelsea | 24 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 46 | 53 | 0.87 | 23 |
| 14 | Manchester City | 24 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 52 | 52 | 1.00 | 22 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 34 | 37 | 0.92 | 21 |
| 16 | Arsenal | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 38 | 49 | 0.78 | 21 |
| 17 | Everton | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 37 | 46 | 0.80 | 20 |
| 18 | Leicester | 24 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 38 | 52 | 0.73 | 20 |
| 19 | Nottingham Forest | 24 | 8 | 3 | 13 | 29 | 46 | 0.63 | 19 |
| 20 | Leeds | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 39 | 58 | 0.67 | 18 |
| 21 | Birmingham | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 32 | 47 | 0.68 | 17 |
| 22 | Luton | 24 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 27 | 45 | 0.60 | 16 |
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