Burnley FC 1970

[Claretforever]

I was looking through an old Rothman’s football yearbook from 1970/71 last night, so thought I’d post the Burnley FC page.

Capacity: 52,000

I wonder if this was the figure prior to the demolition of the Brunshaw Road Stand?

Seats: 4,500 (3,000 available on a match day

The above figure of 52,000 suggests it’s a current figure because they are including the new Cricket Field stand, but just may not know it?

Also, why only 3,000 available on a match day? Anyone know?

I also notice our nickname of the ‘Turfites’

[RalphCoatesComb]

£16 for a Season Ticket?

That wouldn't get you a coffee with a TWIX these days

[Claretforever]

This is the second of the two pages. They didn’t have previous season details in this edition.

Height and weight of players though. Martin Dobson born in Blackburn!

[bfcmik]

I wonder if the seating totals reflected those seats that were still available once those held for the Directors and season ticket holders were taken into account.

[piston broke]

Isn't the 52k the ground record?
There were only 48k on for the Everton fa cup tie in '67 and I think that was a sell out.

[LoveCurryPies]

"I also notice our nickname of the ‘Turfites’..."

That's because there was so much fighting in those days

[Cirrus_Minor]

Eddie Cliff is on twice, as fullback and as a forward.

[Hipper]

He's grown too since converting from a forward to a defender!

I wonder how many other clubs have all their players listed on one page. We had very few players from other clubs.

[Royboyclaret]

52,000 was more the sort of figure that applied in the early 1960's, in fact there was a gate of 52,850 for an FA Cup match against Bradford City in Feb'60. Later in that decade the ground capacity changed considerably when the CFS terracing saw it's last game against Everton in Dec'67. It was replaced by the new CFS stand which originally held 4,500 (no doubt the source of the figure in the OP) and was opened by Lord Rhodes in Aug'69 for a friendly against Boro'. I guess there were 1,500 season ticket holders in the CFS which would allow for 3,000 walk ons on matchday.

By that time, of course, the old Brunshaw Road stand had been demolished (the last game in there being against Sunderland in Apr'69). At that point the ground capacity was vastly reduced because not only were those seats lost but also the area in front which was the Enclosure and held more than a couple of thousand fans.

The new Bob Lord stand was first opened for the game against Villa in Feb'74 and then officially opened by Ted Heath in Sept'74 for the Leeds game. The BLS has a capacity of just over 2,500.

'Turfites' was our original nickname.

[paulus the woodgnome]

I see Steve "The Runaway Wardrobe" Kindon was almost 13 stone aged 20. Not entirely surprised tbh. UTC!

[jtv]

Year formed: 1881

Was this the rugby club with the R****s in the name? Is 1882 the year of formation of the association football Club?

[Pstotto]

By 1970 a least one of the stands had been demolished methinks, so even according to that, 52,000 doesn't make sense.

[Inchy]

Isn't the 52k the ground record?
There were only 48k on for the Everton fa cup tie in '67 and I think that was a sell out.

Highest attendance was against Huddersfields trice Champions back in the 1920s. Think it was about 52k

[TurfyMoore]

I can remember every single on those players apart from D Mc Mahon.

[Royboyclaret]

Inchy.......54,775 in Feb'24.

Pstotto........see my post#9.

jtv........That's correct, there was a special meeting at the Bull Hotel, Manny Rd in May 1882 when they decided to change codes. Association Football took over from Rugby as the game played by the club which was then based at Calder Vale.

[Wokingclaret]

"The new Bob Lord stand was first opened for the game against Villa in Feb'74 and then officially opened by Ted Heath in Sept'74 for the Leeds game. The BLS has a capacity of just over 2,500."

Just over 3,000

[claretbob]

What's quite illuminating is comparing the depth and experience of that squad with our current one. In that squad only 5 players had made a 100 appearances for Burnley with another 4 having played 100 in total inc other clubs. In the current squad I make it 6 who have played 100 games for Burnley and another 14 with over 100 appearances inc other clubs. Just shows that even then after 23 consecutive seasons in the top flight resources were really stretched and the lack of that experience subsequently proved fatal. Thanks to good old Sky a team in its second season in the Prem can carry far more strength in depth than a Burnley team surviving in 1970 on gates of 16,000 per week or thereabouts.

[tim_noone]

Isn't the 52k the ground record?
There were only 48k on for the Everton fa cup tie in '67 and I think that was a sell out.

I'm sure there was 44.000 on for that Everton game.. Biggest gate I ever attended at turf moor.Everton fans spilling out of the boot sections of coaches on the fulledge! Never see as many away fans. Though Celtic brought 1or2

[Pstotto]

Guilty as charged.

[ClaretTony]

One increase in the capacity from the early 60s to this period was the bigger Bee Hole End. Not sure how many more it held but it was significant.

[ElectroClaret]

Dobbo was born in Rishton, I think.

The compilers probably hadn't heard of it, so put Blackburn.

[Claretforever]

One increase in the capacity from the early 60s to this period was the bigger Bee Hole End. Not sure how many more it held but it was significant.

What date was the bigger Bee Hole End opened for the first time? It must have increased the capacity of that end by at least one third. The capacity when it closed was around 7,000, but it must have been 12-15,000 at one point, when rules were different?

[ClaretTony]

What date was the bigger Bee Hole End opened for the first time? It must have increased the capacity of that end by at least one third. The capacity when it closed was around 7,000, but it must have been 12-15,000 at one point, when rules were different?

That's a good question - around 1968 at a guess but I can't be certain

[Claretforever]

My Grandad tells me that he was on the Bee Hole End the first game when they'd extended it, and the fans could feel it moving. He reckons the engineers had to come back to do something with the structure to secure it better? Something like that? Chelsea sticks in my mind as the game mentioned, but it's a long time ago now that we spoke about it so I could be totally out.

[cbx750]

The Beehole end was extended over the Summer of 1970, and yes you could feel it moving, the concrete terrace buckled against Man Utd and it had to be closed for repairs.

[Claretforever]

Ah, so it was Man united, and I had remembered the story correctly, other than the team. Cheers, CBX.

Liverpool was the first match of the following season, with 25,783 in attendance. Manchester United was the second match, with 29,442 at the Turf.

[cbx750]

I was at the back with other Burnley fans surrounded by Utd fans whom were jumping up and down. Bloody scary.

[ClaretTony]

The Beehole end was extended over the Summer of 1970, and yes you could feel it moving, the concrete terrace buckled against Man Utd and it had to be closed for repairs.

I was guessing earlier than that, but I've just taken a look at the footage from the Burnley v Man U game in 1969/70 and it is still the old Bee Hole so must have been summer 1970. It did buckle, and I thought it was the Chelsea cup tie, but must have been in 1970/71.

[Royboyclaret]

Bob Lord was certainly committed to providing first class facilities at the Turf, his vision was based on a visit to Athletico Bilbao's stadium back in the 50's. His original plan was a two-tiered covered seated stand at the Beehole end (leaving the CF end as terracing) but permission was not granted based, I believe, on objections from residents behind the Beehole on Brunshaw Road.

However, true to form, Bob was determined to have the last say and the height of the Beehole end was increased as cbx750 indicates following the end of the '69/'70 season. So much redeveloping of the ground was happening at that time and the Brunshaw Road side was vacant from April '69 until February '74.

[Claretforever]

He was certainly a forward thinker was our Bob. You could argue the redevelopment work was a big factor in our demise, but I think it was more than that, as times were changing and our crowds were dropping from the 50's and 60's anyway. Tough times economically, and small towns all went through hard times, as did their clubs.

We are in an entirely different situation right now, where we are cash rich, and should be looking to redevelop at least two sides of Turf Moor. I'm not suggesting a bigger capacity, although 2-3,000 max wouldn't go amiss, but more the state of the old stands and facilities. Some would argue the newer stands need replacing as well,but I don't think they're a priority. Wouldn't it be a good time too when factoring in tax on profits? Perhaps Roy Boy or Aggi could comment on that?

This is a different conversation that what Mike Garlick commented on over the summer, about increasing capacity by the way.

[Jimmymaccer]

W Ingham.........5ft 5in..........9 Stone 9...........no appearances

Ginger Pele and bus driver of the future!

[ClaretTony]

Bob Lord was certainly committed to providing first class facilities at the Turf, his vision was based on a visit to Athletico Bilbao's stadium back in the 50's. His original plan was a two-tiered covered seated stand at the Beehole end (leaving the CF end as terracing) but permission was not granted based, I believe, on objections from residents behind the Beehole on Brunshaw Road.

However, true to form, Bob was determined to have the last say and the height of the Beehole end was increased as cbx750 indicates following the end of the '69/'70 season. So much redeveloping of the ground was happening at that time and the Brunshaw Road side was vacant from April '69 until February '74.

His plan was to build what is now at the cricket field end at the Bee Hole end but permission was refused because of objections from residents so he built up the bee hole because he could get away with that with no roof going on it.

We had a three sided ground from Nov/Dec 1967 right through to Feb 1974 - ridiculous really but well over six years.

Lord also purchased some land from the cricket club in the 1960s to build shops, food outlets and a swanky night club. it remains today what it's been ever since, a car park.

[tim_noone]

The Beehole end was extended over the Summer of 1970, and yes you could feel it moving, the concrete terrace buckled against Man Utd and it had to be closed for repairs.

It was an evening game.. And there was a bit of rough n tumble and it fairly wobbled!!'

[JohnMac]

I was at the back with other Burnley fans surrounded by Utd fans whom were jumping up and down. Bloody scary.

I too was on the Bee Hole having started out in the Longside. I remember seeing skinheads climbing up the framework at the back of the Beehole and it ended up with thousands of United fans surrounding little pockets of Burnley fans. Grown blokes were afraid let alone 15 year old kids like me!