My grandad used to tell me that he would watch Burnley and Blackburn home games on alternate Saturdays back in the '40's, '50's & '60's.

Was this a common thing back then?

Might have been back in the day, but you'd probably need to remortgage to afford it nowadays!

Falcon wrote:Might have been back in the day, but you'd probably need to remortgage to afford it nowadays!

Really? My Burnley ticket is less than £400 and cant you get one at Rovers for about £250 I believe. Not saying that's cheap but not really a sum that you would need to burden yourself with debt. I don't go and watch Rovers on alternate weeks because I cant ******* stand them

I think it was common to do this for a lot of teams.

But I think our reserve team played on Saturdays and attracted a decent crowd also.

Yes, it was quite the norm. Burnley for all the home games and then either Ewood or Peel Park on alternate weeks.

That was until old enough to go on Burnley Reserve games on my own and be part of the crowds of 10,000 plus as discussed on another thread recently. The main reason for the big attendance was that was the only way to receive score updates of the first team away from home.

Burnley home then Blackburn home these days would be from the sublime to the ridiculous

Ablueclaret still does it now.

I used to watch both teams on alternate weeks with my Dad in the late fifties early sixties.I Saw some great players from both sides..I stopped going to Rovers when I was old enough to go down the Turf on my own and go to away matches..

Hard to believe but there was no hostility to local rivals back then, no hate or desire for a punch up. People had had enough of fighting between 1940 and 1945.

You just went to watch a football match with your dad whilst it also gave mother an opportunity to shop in a different town centre on a Saturday afternoon. To be fair watching Accrington was entertaining enough if not so much the case with Blackburn.

Went to Ewood Park on many occasions in the 60's. Always hoping,of course, that the opposition would win. One game in particular stands out; in 1963 they beat Spurs 7-2 on the same day we won at Everton 4-3. At the end of the same season we also beat Spurs 7-2 at Turf Moor.

Same thing still happens. Loads of clarets at Stanley home marches...good footy as well.

Bordeaux wrote:Same thing still happens. Loads of clarets at Stanley home marches...good footy as well.

Surprising why there are loads going to Stanley when it is relatively cheap to travel to any away game to watch Burnley.

No club can charge more than £30 (Leeds are going to have a shock next season) and if you box clever you can travel to most grounds pretty quickly and comfortably at a relatively cheap price.

I just don't get it.

I've taken a couple of B***ard mates to the Turf before, and I've been in the away end at Ewood a few times.

I couldn't go in the home end there. Even driving past Ewood on a match day and seeing those garish blue and white shirts made me queasy.

tybfc wrote:Surprising why there are loads going to Stanley when it is relatively cheap to travel to any away game to watch Burnley.

No club can charge more than £30 (Leeds are going to have a shock next season) and if you box clever you can travel to most grounds pretty quickly and comfortably at a relatively cheap price.

I just don't get it.

You can get home from Stanley by twenty past five.

(And - dare I say it - the football's more entertaining at present.)

Based in Hassy my Dad would go on the reserves, Bury, Bolton or Barstewards if we were away. He just looked for a good game.

dsr wrote:(And - dare I say it - the football's more entertaining at present.)

You shouldn't be allowed to say that!

Spijed wrote:You shouldn't be allowed to say that!

Not wrong though is it? To be honest I'm starting to think it's more enjoyable going to lower league grounds with a bit of character than shiny, soulless bowls like the Etihad to watch your team get thumped.

Last week was the first away game on a Saturday this season so going to Accrington wouldn't have an impact.

My old man was born in Mill Hill and was a Blackburn fan primarily but used to go and watch both clubs.
When he was vicar at St Mathews (in Burnley 1969 75) I was between the ages of 6 -11, we had season tickets at Burnley we used to go occasionally to Ewood. They were in real decline and it always felt like going to Mars for me. Lots of weird creatures and no ******* atmosphere.

However I did manage to squeeze him into an admission before he died (bless him!) that Blackburn were his real love. I felt sick when he said that - and a ******* man of the cloth too

conyoviejo wrote:I used to watch both teams on alternate weeks with my Dad in the late fifties early sixties.I Saw some great players from both sides..I stopped going to Rovers when I was old enough to go down the Turf on my own and go to away matches..

Ditto.... Used to watch both teams until I was old enough to get to away games.....

Silkyskills1 wrote:Went to Ewood Park on many occasions in the 60's. Always hoping,of course, that the opposition would win. One game in particular stands out; in 1963 they beat Spurs 7-2 on the same day we won at Everton 4-3. At the end of the same season we also beat Spurs 7-2 at Turf Moor.

I was at Everton watching Arthur Bellamys hat trick ( if I am thinking of the right game ) Think Everton had been unbeaten at home for a gazillion years prior to our win. The local thugs didnt take the defeat very well.

FCBurnley wrote:I was at Everton watching Arthur Bellamys hat trick ( if I am thinking of the right game ) Think Everton had been unbeaten at home for a gazillion years prior to our win. The local thugs didnt take the defeat very well.

Early September 1963 and I believe Everton were undefeated at home for around two years?? My older brother went but I was just 11 years old, had just started my secondary education in Salford and Everton away for me was never on. 4-1 up at half time,with as you say a hat-trick from Arthur Bellamy. They rallied in the second half.......... but not enough.

conyoviejo wrote:I used to watch both teams on alternate weeks with my Dad in the late fifties early sixties.I Saw some great players from both sides..I stopped going to Rovers when I was old enough to go down the Turf on my own and go to away matches..

Ditto.... Used to watch both teams until I was old enough to get to away games.....

I remember our biology teacher, Bill Slater, from the grammar school told us that he watched both teams. He lived in Accrington, I remember him starting one afternoon lesson by telling us that Burnley had transfer listed Jimmy Mac, he clearly had his priorities right! He was a good bloke.

Malvern claret wrote:I remember our biology teacher, Bill Slater, from the grammar school told us that he watched both teams. He lived in Accrington, I remember him starting one afternoon lesson by telling us that Burnley had transfer listed Jimmy Mac, he clearly had his priorities right! He was a good bloke.

I remember a Bill Slater being part of a formidable half back line for Wolves in the late 50's/early60's alongside Billy Wright and Eddie Clamp. And when I say formidable that's putting it politely.

Must hold my hand up and confess that my Granddad used to take me to Ewood in the early 60's when Burnley were away. Also on occasion went to Spotland. Think it was more the norm in yester-year as not same distractions as there are in the present day.

To those who went to watch rovers back in the day, whats your feelings on them now? (Not fishing)

Royboyclaret wrote:Hard to believe but there was no hostility to local rivals back then, no hate or desire for a punch up. People had had enough of fighting between 1940 and 1945.

You just went to watch a football match with your dad whilst it also gave mother an opportunity to shop in a different town centre on a Saturday afternoon. To be fair watching Accrington was entertaining enough if not so much the case with Blackburn.

Fair play

cricketfieldclarets wrote:To those who went to watch rovers back in the day, whats your feelings on them now? (Not fishing)

Im over the moon when we get the better over them,but not bitter and twisted about them like most posters on here. It's great to see them in a lower division than us,long may it continue.. The team I Most dislike is Manure..

As a kid my dad took me to man city (his team), clarets, Bradford city, Leeds - just whatever was the best game on a free weekend. People are so tribal these days.

My Grandfather, who was sports mad, had a season ticket at Huddersfield and also at Leeds, as well as Leeds Rugby League and was a member of a Yorkshire CCC. He did live at Mirfield in the heart of the West Riding, but if he was ever over our way when Burnley were at home he would come along with my Father and I to watch that game. It seemed quite normal at the time.

TheFamilyCat wrote:My grandad used to tell me that he would watch Burnley and Blackburn home games on alternate Saturdays back in the '40's, '50's & '60's.

Was this a common thing back then?

Yes it was. I lived in Burnley and worked in Blackburn. Never missed a Burnley home game, used to go to Rovers when Burnley were away.....loved football and it was cheaper to do this than follow the Clarets away.
Obviously when we played each other there was only one team I wanted to win. The rivalry was still there but on a far friendlier level than the stupidity that goes on these days. Supporters mixed together and enjoyed the match day and also appreciated great football and great goals.
Gone are those days, but I am glad I was able to appreciate them whilst they lasted.
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