Burnley beat QPR in the battle of the promoted clubs
After a week playing games in Scotland, England and Wales, Burnley returned to Turf Moor in 1973 to face Queens Park Rangers in the clash of the two promoted clubs.
It wasn’t good news in the week for those working at Michelin with one man opting to leave his employment and look for another job. Employees were in dispute with the company and the shop floor workers were set to step up their action and this after the white-collar workers had already staged two stoppages.
However, Mr Alan Hartley had been having none of it and continued to work. He was the only Michelin worker in the entire country to do so. He’d had second thoughts in this week and supported his fellow workers but the 33-year-old had decided to quit and move on to look for employment elsewhere.
There was some really sad news to report that week when a seven-year-old boy’s life couldn’t be saved after he’d been involved in a road accident. Hargher Clough School pupil Ronnie Hollins was admitted to the intensive care unit at Burnley General Hospital with head injuries and doctors did all they could to save his life.
Scarborough man Mr John Harman had plans to open a small restaurant and nightclub within the lower floor of Chaddersley House in Manchester Road but was turned down by the town’s Licensing Sessions when his application for a late licence was submitted. The reason was an objection from Mecca Ltd. who owned the Cat’s Whiskers. Harrogate solicitor Mr D G Roberts, who was applying for the licence, said the restaurant didn’t remotely compare with anything else in town. “There is room for both,” he said. “My client’s premises are much smaller and more intimate. I do not think it can compare with this establishment.”
The Burnley, Colne and Nelson Joint Transport Committee had made the decision to increase the cost of a concessionary bus pass from £4 to £6 per year but bring down the qualifying age from 70 to 65 for men and 60 for women. Only Nelson objected, they did not want the ages lowering because of the cost to them. The pass at that time entitled to those who qualified to half price travel.
Rosegrove was being hit with problems from gangs of hooligans bringing regular acts of vandalism which was destroying the village atmosphere that was enjoyed by residents. The worst area seemed to be around the telephone kiosk at the end of Owen Street. Mr Jeffey Holden, who lived in Lowerhouse Lane said: “The telephone kiosk is an absolute disgrace and is always out of order. Ladies who walk past it at night have to close their ears or stand a load of abuse.” All residents asked confirmed, the police appeared helpless to be able to do anything about it.
Last week we mentioned Brunlea Travel running a three-day trip to Paris for £69 and in this week, Central Travel were pushing Mediterranean summer holidays with prices from £79 for a holiday in Majorca. If you fancied a winter holiday, how about a fly cruise taking in Tangier, Casablanca, Las Palmas, Tenerife and Madeira for no more than £49?
If you were staying at home and fancied moving into the world of colour, there was a massive opportunity to rent a full 18” Baird television from Radio Rentals for just £1.48 per week.
For the Clarets, it was back home after the week of travels which took us to Fife, London and Cardiff. Our visitors QPR had been promoted with us at the end of the previous season and they were set to come up against a Burnley team that had Keith Newton back in the side after missing the League Cup tie.
It wasn’t the greatest of games but Burnley were much the better side in this 2-1 win that left manager Jimmy Adamson telling the press at the end: “Now we’re showing that we can play well at home too,” this after some criticism that we were continuing to save our best form for away games.
Burnley had the edge over QPR in every department except goalkeeper where Phil Parkes was given the opportunity to show his international potential with a series of splendid saves. Burnley’s dominance stemmed from midfield where Martin Dobson and Doug Collins, well supported by a busy Geoff Nulty, were in irresistible form.
The skill of Dobson and Collins on the ball and their sureness when releasing it was much better than anything QPR had to offer. At the back, Burnley’s defence made it look easy as they comfortably blotted out the threat of Don Givens, Stan Bowles and former Claret Dave Thomas. Keith Newton was the epitome of calm assurance and hardly but a foot wrong. Colin Waldron overcame his recent back injury to form the usual efficient partnership with Jim Thomson. Peter Noble shut out Thomas to make the £160,000 Burnley received for the talented forward look a shrewd piece of business.
He was outshone by Leighton James on the day, the player with whom he was so often compared, and then there were the two forwards Paul Fletcher and Ray Hankin with Adamson suggesting: “This is the best game he’s had for us,” when enthusing about Hankin.
It was a surprise that it took Burnley until just before half time to go in front and when that first goal did arrive, it came from a move which started on the right, went out to the left, back into the middle and finally into the net. Nulty started the move in midfield where he pushed the ball out to James who centred for Fletcher to head it back and NULTY was there to lunge in and push a shot over the head of Parkes and into the net.
QPR came out of their defensive formation at the start of the second half and we might have conceded when Alan Stevenson dropped a ball at the feet of Thomas only for Noble to rescue him. Then, 18 minutes into the second half came the equaliser. It was made by a strong run down the let by Mick Leach. His centre flashed across the face of the goal and THOMAS was there to push the ball home from a few yards. The ex-Claret then ran across to shake his fist at the Burnley fans who had been giving him the bird, but his joy was short lived.
Four minutes later Burnley restored their lead. From a free kick on the right, taken by Waldron, Dobson headed the ball across the area and from about 18-yards HANKIN crashed in a right foot shot of startling power, giving Parkes little hope.
QPR did no more than pick up a few bookings after this second Burnley goal and we ran out comfortable winners.
Adamson said: “I thought we played well and it was a good game to watch. I was particularly pleased with the performance of Ray Hankin. Apart from his goal, which was excellent, his general play was first class. For a 17-year-old he has made remarkable progress.
“The three midfield players, Martin Dobson, Doug Collins and Geoff Nulty were all tremendous. They were key to our victory. The back four were very solid, allowing no one to get through at Alan Stevenson.”
The teams were;
Burnley: Alan Stevenson, Peter Noble, Keith Newton, Martin Dobson, Colin Waldron, Jim Thomson, Geoff Nulty, Ray Hankin, Paul Fletcher, Doug Collins, Leighton James (Billy Ingham 75).
QPR: Phil Parkes, Dave Clement, Tony Hazell, Terry Venables, Ian Evans, Frank McLintock, Dave Thomas, Gerry Francis, Mick Leach, Stan Bowles, Don Givens. Sub not used: Martyn Busby.
Referee: Mr H. Hackney (Barnsley).
Attendance: 18,297.
Leeds were held to a 2-2 draw at Leicester and that enabled Burnley to move within two points of the league leaders. With Coventry having been held at Norwich, Derby, 1-0 winners at Manchester United with a Kevin Hector goal, had moved up to third on goal average. Birmingham were finally off the bottom having beaten Wolves at home for their first win of the season. Only West Ham, who had dropped to the bottom, were now looking for that first win. Norwich remained in the bottom three with Birmingham and West Ham.
First Division Results
Saturday 13th October 1973
Birmingham 2 Wolves 1
Burnley 2 QPR 1
Chelsea 2 Ipswich 3
Everton 1 West Ham 0
Leicester 2 Leeds 2
Manchester United 0 Derby 1
Newcastle 1 Manchester City 0
Norwich 0 Coventry 0
Southampton 1 Liverpool 0
Stoke 1 Sheffield United 2
Tottenham 2 Arsenal 0
Burnley Goalscorers (League)
3: Frank Casper, Doug Collins, Martin Dobson, Paul Fletcher, Geoff Nulty
2: Ray Hankin, Leighton James, Colin Waldron
Burnley Goalscorers (Cups)
4: Paul Fletcher
3: Leighton James
2: Peter Noble, Geoff Nulty
1: Ray Hankin, Colin Waldron
First Division Leading Goalscorers
7: Derek Dougan (Wolves)
6: Mick Channon (Southampton), Roger Davies (Derby), David Johnson (Ipswich), Peter Lorimer (Leeds), Malcolm MacDonald (Newcastle)
5: Tommy Baldwin (Chelsea), Billy Bremner (Leeds), Martin Chivers (Tottenham), Kevin Hector (Derby), Mick Jones (Leeds), Jim McCalliog (Wolves), Alan Woodward (Sheffield United)
League Table
| Pos | Team | pld | w | d | l | f | a | ga | pts |
| 1 | Leeds | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 7 | 3.29 | 19 |
| 2 | Burnley | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 11 | 1.91 | 17 |
| 3 | Derby | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 1.60 | 15 |
| 4 | Coventry | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 9 | 1.56 | 15 |
| 5 | Everton | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 1.44 | 14 |
| 6 | Newcastle | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 13 | 1.38 | 13 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 10 | 1.20 | 13 |
| 8 | Leicester | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 1.18 | 13 |
| 9 | Sheffield United | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 1.08 | 12 |
| 10 | Ipswich | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 19 | 0.95 | 12 |
| 11 | Arsenal | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 14 | 0.93 | 11 |
| 12 | Manchester City | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 0.93 | 11 |
| 13 | Southampton | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 17 | 0.82 | 11 |
| 14 | QPR | 11 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 16 | 0.94 | 10 |
| 15 | Tottenham | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 0.87 | 10 |
| 16 | Chelsea | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 17 | 0.94 | 8 |
| 17 | Stoke | 11 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 0.85 | 8 |
| 18 | Manchester United | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 0.69 | 8 |
| 19 | Wolves | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 0.68 | 8 |
| 20 | Norwich | 11 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 0.56 | 7 |
| 21 | Birmingham | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 0.43 | 5 |
| 22 | West Ham | 11 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 19 | 0.53 | 4 |
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