I was just wondering whether we could come up with a rough list of Burnley's largest ever away followings? I know it was more difficult back in the 50's-70's to gauge, unless it was a ticketed cup game, but a rough idea would do. We obviously have some official figures from around 1999 ish.

Man City 1960: turning Burnley fans back at the top of Manchester Road as the ground was already filling up for the midweek match?

Preston 1973: 12-15,000 Clarets depending on what you read.

Sheffield United 1992: 8/8,500? Didn't we sell the first 7,000 and then get more on the side?

Carlisle 1992: 7,500? (The police on the day said around 7,500 and they were expecting 2,500!!!)

Rochdale 1992: 5,000? Packed out behind the goals, the side of the pitch and had half the stand on the other side

Bolton 2000: 5,500 official following

Barnsley 2000: 5,600?

Preston multiple years: 5,400?

Derby 1999: 5,000 official following

Coventry 2000: 4,000 official following

Any more, or confirmation of the above?

How many did we have at Chelsea for League Cup in 2008?

FA cup tie at Ewood - 7,000 ?
Chelsea League Cup 6,000 ?
Wigan 5,000 + ( had to open the side stand to allow all the clarets there in )
Many league games around the 4-5k mark in the last decade or 2.

Would have liked to see us get the 8k Bournemouth got at Charlton for their promotion party.

15,000 at Wembley for FA Cup Finals in 47 & 62 but bigger followings at Wembley for Wolves, Stockport & Sheff U.

A lot at Liverpool in 83 for League Cup semi.

Wembley ..............

Bastards fa cup replay
York

Oh yeah, I forgot about Blackburn in the Fa Cup. Yeah, we had a 7,000 allocation.

Wembley, as I remember:

33,000 in 1988 (28,000 initial and then got more. Still outnumbered by about 46,000 Wolves)
34,000 in 1994
37,000 in 2009 (36,000 initial and then we got a few more)

York was mad.

claretdom wrote:Bastards fa cup replay
York

Only 7,600 (officially) on the York game. We had behind the goal, half the stand at one side and half(?) at the other side. Maybe 5,000 that day? York had nothing to play for.

No mention yet of the three FA Cup semi-finals at Villa Park x 2 and Hillsborough.

No idea how many we took, but remember being crushed at all three, especially the last in the Leppings Lane end.

Bit before my time, but remember Redbeard posting this about the 72/3 season

'We were now four points clear of QPR - and of Blackpool, who had sneaked into second spot on goal average, having played a game more. But - just to make things interesting again - a competent fifth-placed Oxford United took a point from a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor on Saturday December 23, and although we were yet three clear of QPR and five of Blackpool, next up was a Boxing Day derby at the Bloomfield Road home of those third-placed Seasiders.

There would be even more spice to this match due to Blackpool’s new manager being none other than Harry Potts - our own ex-manager who had led us to the First Division title in 59-60 - and, moreover, it was to be his very first home match in charge of them.
The main body of away fans, making up perhaps half of a 25,000 crowd, stood at the north end of the ground, but dad, brother and I ended up near to the front of the east side, roughly halfway along, where we and a few other Clarets became closely surrounded by home supporters. There were a few nasty looks and one or two unwelcome comments (indeed, us lads were actually threatened by a couple of slightly older donkey-lashers), but there was no way my eleven-year old brother nor I, just turned fourteen, were about to hide our colours from anyone. Especially since Dad was big enough to take care of us anyway.

Game on, then - and the three of us were soon celebrating amidst lots of stunned lashers as Casper (my favourite player at the time) gave us a tenth-minute lead. But the ’Pool hit back and levelled it, midway through what was a cracking first half.
The second period proved to be something of a contrast, however, as a series of niggly fouls developed into outright nastiness. There were some shocking challenges, four bookings, and a sending-off for a young Blackpool player on his debut. Another sending-off then reduced ’Pool to nine men, and yet they continued to hold out stubbornly until, inevitably, Frankie did the business again ; lobbing the keeper from 20 yards to put us 2-1 up on 78 minutes, and sending the travelling claret-and-blue hordes bananas.'



'We enjoyed a two-week break now, taking the timely opportunity to relax (made easier with the news that QPR had lost their game in hand, at Oxford) and to recharge, before what would be a crucial Roses match at Huddersfield.
Despite the county boundary this was almost a local derby, since the two towns are only 20 miles apart. Dad couldn’t make this one all the same, but there was no chance of me staying at home : I travelled on a supporters’ coach with a few of my mates, and we were part of a huge noisy following that filled a full side of the ground and delighted in taunting the Town fans about their clapped-out cowshed of a home end.
The home club were only two places from the foot of the table, and in increasing danger of being overtaken by Cardiff and thus obliged to occupy a relegation spot. They were hardly expected not to put up a fight - and that was exactly what they did. Nevertheless, we kept our composure, played well, and were full value for a 2-0 victory secured by second-half goals from strikers Casper and Fletcher.
A further win now would see us definitely promoted !'



'...on the way to Preston in the car, father was just as excited and enthusiastic as were sons. Perhaps ultimately, as they say, it’s the hope that kills you - but as a football supporter you can hardly live without it, all the same.
Burnley fans seemed to number almost two-thirds of a 21,500 crowd. Similarly to our Boxing Day trip to the seaside, the three of us found ourselves in the front middle section of the east side of the ground, but on this occasion surrounded by fellow-Clarets rather than mostly rival fans. We could hardly hear ourselves speak above the noise.
Many urban myths still abound in reference to Saturday 28 April 1973, and I will therefore tell strictly only what I recall for myself, for the sakes of both accuracy and brevity.
Preston started quite well, and it appeared that nerves might be getting the better of us at last. Alan Stevenson had to make one of the best saves I’d ever seen to prevent them from going in front. He seemed to lift off horizontally from the ground and almost hover high in the air, arching backwards at full stretch, and somehow managed to get a strong hand to a rocket-shot that was going just inside the angle of post and bar.
However, he could not prevent the home side from taking the lead just two minutes before the break.
We upped the tempo in response, and just seven minutes into the second half it was our centre-half, Colin Waldron, who levelled it with a glorious 25-yard piledriver that nearly burst the top corner of North End’s net.
Cue absolute pandemonium !
The game settled down after that, with both sides clearly happy at a point apiece. Further chances were created, yet one or two seemed almost deliberately spurned. Our triumphant manager later denied that there had been anything like a fix - but no-one there had appeared to care much anyway by the time of the mass pitch invasion at the end

Royboyclaret wrote:No mention yet of the three FA Cup semi-finals at Villa Park x 2 and Hillsborough.

No idea how many we took, but remember being crushed at all three, especially the last in the Leppings Lane end.

Yes it was crushing at Sheffield that day, The proverbial accident waiting to happen as we now know.

Chesterfield's Saltergate 81-82 3rd division promotion push Easter Monday.
6000 was mentioned but never made official as in them days it was pay day when Burnley were in town and held back gate receipts.

Proud to say I've been at all of those except for the first two (my excuse being that I was born in 1975)

Longside4evr wrote:Chesterfield's Saltergate 81-82 3rd division promotion push Easter Monday.
6000 was mentioned but never made official as in them days it was pay day when Burnley were in town and held back gate receipts.

Doubtful as the official Gate was 7,700, and they averaged 4,700 that season, so likely had 4,000 of their own fans on for an Easter game?

Liverpool away in the Fa cup when Heath was manager. We had the Anfield Road stand and maybe half of the side stand as I was in there near to the halfway line.
Maybe 8/9k there. A scouser walked past before the game and said 'bloody hell Burnley must be shut today'.

York was one of the best nights following the Clarets I can ever remember, another one that sticks in my mind is the Shrewsbury F A Cup replay when Bond was there manager,would be interested to know how many we took there,I might have imagined we had a good following that night...anyone know how many we took there?

I don't have a clue on numbers but Oldham 74 in the FA Cup.


I seem to remember it being 6,500 (?) ...............

Quickenthetempo wrote:Liverpool away in the Fa cup when Heath was manager. We had the Anfield Road stand and maybe half of the side stand as I was in there near to the halfway line.
Maybe 8/9k there. A scouser walked past before the game and said 'bloody hell Burnley must be shut today'.

Oldham for the 3-3 was a decent turnout too

Claretforever wrote:Doubtful as the official Gate was 7,700, and they averaged 4,700 that season, so likely had 4,000 of their own fans on for an Easter game?

And I quoted that they held back gate receipts in them days they was probably 10,000 on that day
We packed the end behind the goal the end to the side up to the segregation and most of that high built up stand to the left of us
Did you go to this match by any chance Claretforever with you saying doubtful thought not

We had a big following at Old Trafford for the FA Cup 5th round in 1965. Remember queueing on a Sunday morning at Turf Moor for a long time and I think we received 12,500 tickets. Along with my family I was in the Stretford End Paddock so I don't know how they allocated the tickets. Another miserable, bloody end to a game there which became commonplace over the next few years. Going back into school on a Monday was painful.

Watford away quarter final of the FA Cup
Anglo Scottish Cup Final First Leg Boundary Park

Bury - FA Cup 4th Round 1980.

Port vale away FA Cup in the 77 season was massive following as well and another defeat over 18,000 on

Quickenthetempo
Was on that game and guessed about 8-9k
Later spoke to some scousers who thought it was nearer 9k
Razor Ruddock the twunt

Was that the Shrewsbury game where bond hid in the stand? Absolutely mental scenes when Deary scored the late winner in front of us! Up there with York and Carlisle .

Someone jumped on me and I ended up on the ground for that one.. good fun though and a very unexpected finish

Hope it wasn't me!!

Northampton away - possibly the promotion season. They were letting families with kids in through the exit gates for a few quid in a bucket. They were totally skint so were happy to cram as many in as possible. I recall the announcer thanking Burnley fans for our attendance and wishing us good luck.

The Oldham 3-3 is a good shout. Jammers.

Didn't they have to open another stand to get everybody in?

South West Claret. wrote:Yes it was crushing at Sheffield that day, The proverbial accident waiting to happen as we now know.

I'm another who particularly remembers the semi final v Newcastle at Hillsborough, as you say swc, the proverbial accident waiting to happen, as I remember they let hundreds of Geordies in at the last minute, I along with mates from Gawthorpe were split up, it was just mayhem, and a miracle no one was hurt that day, what a noise from what seemed like 20000 Geordies at the other end.

Barnsley away on Boxing Day under Stan (I think). Lost 1-0 but filled the huge away end.

There was some big followings at Bradford too over the years, with fans getting turned away.

Carlisle away must be up there as well. 1992?

Longside4evr wrote:And I quoted that they held back gate receipts in them days they was probably 10,000 on that day
We packed the end behind the goal the end to the side up to the segregation and most of that high built up stand to the left of us
Did you go to this match by any chance Claretforever with you saying doubtful thought not

Don't get all defensive. I was just checking the facts from official books. I was comparing the 6,000 comment with their average crowd only. They would have had more home fans being a bank holiday too.

We must have taken some huge away followings in FA Cup ties down the years, particularly around Lancashire. The 12,500 to Old Trafford being an example of this.

ElectroClaret wrote:The Oldham 3-3 is a good shout. Jammers.

Didn't they have to open another stand to get everybody in?

Yeh they had to put Burnley fans down the side. Strange night that one!

Shrewsbury away mentioned above was a cracker!

It's been mentioned already and won't be The Biggest but Preston last season was great fun.

Those scenes on Sky of the stand packed to the rafters with Clarets singing our hearts out is enough to electrify the soul.

And I also said in the original thread that in them days they used to cut the attendances down to pocket a few squid and lots of clubs did it when we were in town
Then you went on to quote me after doing some do digging to try and prove your corner
Like i said you was not there so your opinion is none viable

not the 'biggest' away following but carlisle away in 4th division promotion season .

Longside4evr wrote:And I also said in the original thread that in them days they used to cut the attendances down to pocket a few squid and lots of clubs did it when we were in town
Then you went on to quote me after doing some do digging to try and prove your corner
Like i said you was not there so your opinion is none viable

Fair enough, but you are making an assumption, so yours is only guesswork that Chesterfield were in fact fiddling their gate. Sometimes difficult to tell when it's not your ground. Again, not saying it wasn't, at all, just going on official stats seems a bit more reliable?

ElectroClaret wrote:The Oldham 3-3 is a good shout. Jammers.

Didn't they have to open another stand to get everybody in?

That was an absolute cracker of a game.

Paul Weller's strike

Wigan Away, first time at JJB.

The stand was over filled. People HAD to stand down the steps as there weren't any seats left in the stand. The steps were packed.

Silkyskills1 wrote:We had a big following at Old Trafford for the FA Cup 5th round in 1965. Remember queueing on a Sunday morning at Turf Moor for a long time and I think we received 12,500 tickets. Along with my family I was in the Stretford End Paddock so I don't know how they allocated the tickets. Another miserable, bloody end to a game there which became commonplace over the next few years. Going back into school on a Monday was painful.

Was that the 2-1 defeat, Silky? Where Best scored the winner with an offensive weapon in his hand. Namely his boot.

1-1 promotion party at Knobenders, '73 for me. 21500 on, i believe, and we definitely had more than half.

The thing is now we could have had some very big followings to talk about but the higher up the leagues you get the less tickets come our way especially if they are high profile games.
Two come to mind where 10,000 would have been about the region of support in Reading away playoff second leg and Charlton Championship clincher.
And the days when you just decided on the day that you was going and most grounds need the money and would find room to accommodate.

This video opens with the overcrowding at Oldham. I remember this happening at Bradford too for the Sherpa Van game when Pearce saved a pen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAuQNA_Z-dg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Longside4evr wrote:The thing is now we could have had some very big followings to talk about but the higher up the leagues you get the less tickets come our way especially if they are high profile games.
Two come to mind where 10,000 would have been about the region of support in Reading away playoff second leg and Charlton Championship clincher.
And the days when you just decided on the day that you was going and most grounds need the money and would find room to accommodate.

I agree. The days of terracing, and huge (false really in some cases, with safety in mind) capacities far exceeding demon meant you could just turn up and get in.

Charlton, Reading, a couple of games against Rovers lately. You could actually look at how tickets are sold as well, meaning less for general sale so people don't want to go if not with a large group,

TV has also played a part too.

Blackpool in FA Cup 76 I think over 9,000 , lost

Notts Forest away in a League Cup tie, around 1991, the tie when Stuart Pearce broke David Hamiltons leg. There was that many they had to keep opening more enclosures

So at the moment we're around:

Sheffield United (Wembley) 2009: 37,000
Stockport (Wembley) 1994: 34,000
Wolves (Wembley) 1988: 33,000
Man City 1960: 20,000
Newcastle (Hillsborough): 18,000 (previously seen that was our allocation)
Charlton (Wembley) 1947: 15,000
Spurs (Wembley) 1962: 15,000
Preston 1973: 15,000
Manchester United 1965: 12,500 (total allocation)
Blackpool 1976: 9,000
Sheffield United 1992: 8,500
Carlisle 1992: 7,500
Chelsea 2008: 6,200
Chesterfield 1982: 6,000
Arsenal 2009: 5,700
Barnsley 2001: 5,700
Preston 2016: 5,630*
Preston 2011: 5,500
Bolton 2000: 5,500*
Oldham 1998: 5,300 (stand clearly full....over full)
Rochdale 1992: 5,000
Derby 1999: 5,000*
Coventry 2000: 4,000*

*Official

Some others to consider:

Liverpool (FA Cup 5th round) 1979: ??? (Attendance: 47,161)
Sheffield Wednesday (FA Cup 6th round replay) 1982: ??? (Attendance: 41,731)
Oldham (FA Cup 4th round) 1974: ??? (Attendance: 26,000)
Liverpool (FA Cup 3rd round replay) 1973: ??? (Attendance: 56,124)
Liverpool (FA Cup 3rd round replay) 1969: ??? (Attendance: 53,667)
Everton (FA Cup 3rd round replay) 1967: ??? (Attendance: 57,449)
Liverpool (FA Cup 4th round replay) 1963: ??? (Attendance: 57,906)
Fulham (Villa Park, FA Cup semi-final) 1962: ??? (Attendance: 59,989)
Spurs (Villa Park, FA Cup semi-final) 1961: ??? (Attendance: 70,000)