From Orient to the Emirates.

[Madpete]

Reading the excellent book by Tim Quelch of Burnley FC’s roller coaster of a ride from the bottom to the top of the football world & remembering the good & bad times,I’m struck by the many wrong paths we went down.The many managers,who with the best of intentions,couldn’t bring success & likewise the numerous players who failed us & themselves.Travelling this road with no crystal ball I was always calculating the outcome of matches & where we finish at the end of the season.The highs were Everest size & the lows were earth shattering.I would say it was a 25/75 ratio but I’ve only reached the sacking of Steve Cotterill but needed to get this off my chest.I’ve a sneaky feeling the next few chapters are going to please me!

[warksclaret]

My insomnia has got me reading a few BFC books of late. From the title it covers the Orient game which must be in the late '80s. Whats the most recent year it extends too ?

[Stevie2112]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book when i read it last year on holiday.Well worth a read.

[claretfern]

Excellent book. Read it last month.
It goes up to 2017.
Looking forward to reading TQ's latest book 'An End of Innocence'

[warksclaret]

Excellent book. Read it last month.
It goes up to 2017.
Looking forward to reading TQ's latest book 'An End of Innocence'

Thank you-hope to buy it soon

[Frenchclaret]

Yes, An End of Innocence is a great read, especially if you remember the period 1950-1970, or you wish to read
about our greatest team who won the league and entered the European cup the following season. It also has great information about many other clubs who were in the First Division at that period too. It was a pleasure to read.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

No spoilers.

[Madpete]

Yes,this period of lockdown & reflection has enabled me to get out those Burnley books that sit on the shelf.Read Tim’s “Underdog” & “Never had it so good” plus just finished the posting’s book with the happy ending! Lots more to go at.Reflecting on time,it’s accelerating now whereas when I was younger it lasted forever.

[ClaretTony]

Excellent book. Read it last month.
It goes up to 2017.
Looking forward to reading TQ's latest book 'An End of Innocence'

I started reading An End of Innocence last night, just read the first two chapters setting the scene in the 1950s.

[Madpete]

Started & finished Brendon Floods book “Big club,small town & me.” It’s a quick & easy read & very good but as it was published in 2009 it praises Owen Coyle to the highest degree.Quite right for he was indeed a “god” to all of us Clarets until he decamped to Bolton with most of the coaching staff.I always said if only he had said: “look,here’s a chance for me to set my family up for life with the money I’m being offered” & perhaps the supporters would have understood.Then again perhaps not.He had a chance of immortality but squandered it;meanwhile paragons of virtue,such as me,can pour vitriol on OC!

[Madpete]

Continuing the books,I’ve just read Dave Thomas’s “Etntertainment,Heroes & Villains” covering Cotterill,Coyle & Laws reigns & whilst it is more of the same re the others it is still worth reading.I lived through this but many of the details & games have been forgotten so it was good(and not so good) to revisit them.Now,what book is next...?

[IanMcL]

Like many on here, have experienced both ends of that spectrum with Burnley.

So glad I stayed when the abyss was almost stepped into and then we all turned our backs on it and reached for the stars.

So very glad I chose Burnley - or did Burnley choose me?

Up the Clarets

[Madpete]

Just finished Dave Thomas’s “It’s Burnley not Barcelona” about the 2002/3 season & although it’s now 18 yrs ago who can forget Grimsby 6 Burnley 5 or Burnley 4 Watford 7 or Burnley 2 Sheffield Wednesday 7.Some good results included a run to the 6th round of the FA cup where we capitulated to Watford away 0-2.
Glen Little going on loan to Reading & the financial squeeze effecting all teams as administration loomed large!
Not all doom & gloom but overall a wanting season.
Now what’s next on the shelf?

[Woodleyclaret]

Who can forget Burnley's board winging about ITV digital collapse and the way it was blamed for all our problems long after other clubs had moved on

[ClaretTony]

Who can forget Burnley's board winging about ITV digital collapse and the way it was blamed for all our problems long after other clubs had moved on

You mean clubs such as Ipswich & Leicester who cheated by going into admin?

[Madpete]

Latest binge was Dave Thomas’s “Russians don’t land here” about season 2006/7 which included the 19 winless run under Steve Cotterill.These books on Burnley FC’s dim & recent past recall plenty of memories but also much that has been forgotten.My memories include the home win against Ipswich in which Chris McCann scored with a header in the 89th minute & I wasn’t even there! I was in Buxton celebrating my 40th wedding anniversary.The Leeds away game in which we lost 1-0 in a poor game & as I live in Leeds I went on the bus from Headingley to Beeston,wearing my colours(a bit nervous!) calling in at the Old Peacock for a pint before walking all around the ground before entering for a really poor away corner & dog’s abuse from fans not bothered to look at the “ play.”
Refs come in for some critical mention although the author is not one to name names but Peter Walton at Cardiff,Keith Hackett(I always liked & rated Keith) at Coventry,Mike Riley(whatever happened to him?) at Derby,were among the few exceptions,
Clearly with the help of technology we’ll have an end to contentious decisions!