On Thursday evening, we were accompanied in West Yorkshire, by severely strong winds. The West Yorkshire Clarets were due to have their meeting in Bradford, but after arriving ten minutes late and realising that I was the first to arrive, I suspected that some members of the group might give the evening a swerve. To add to complications, those travelling by train had all sorts of problems on their journeys, with trees on the line and rerouting in full flow.

We did make it though and those who said they'd be attending, joined us for a few drinks at the Sparrow in Bradford. On Wednesday evening, I'd sent Roger Eli a tweet, simply acknowledging the fact that we'd be meeting in Bradford (his hometown) and like he had seven years ago, when Martin Bell had been in touch, he'd be very welcome to join us. I didn't think any more of it - it was a last minute message and the weather quite literally was wild!

Just before we were about to leave for a curry, Roger walked in and after a few chants of 'Eli, Eli, Eli' and beer purchased for him, we sat down and talked through his time at Burnley. He wasn't there to have his ego massaged, he simply admitted that he loved being around Burnley fans - that they know their stuff and that their passion is what makes the club and its supporters so special.

We talked about his time at Forest and Leeds, before joining Burnley. He spoke about the twist of fate that saw him pushed upfront, following a serious injury to Peter Mumby (a good friend of his who he car shared with). He didn't seem to get what he was loved so much by Burnley fans, stating that he'd only scored twenty goals for the club and that he'd only bagged around forty in his entire career.

When asked if he'd seen much of Jimmy Mullen, he responded, jokingly, 'Yes, two or three times, but only at funerals!" He said Jimmy gave the team the catalyst but that the work of Frank Casper should never be forgotten; that the play-offs against Torquay were just one game too far but that the wheels towards success had already started turning.

Favourite goal? He loved scoring against Peter Shilton with a bullet header in the 2-2 cup draw with Derby, but his favourite goal was his last I think, to end the perfect team move against Scarborough at the back end of the season. He described it as being, “straight off the training ground”

Who's the hardest Claret you played with? 'Mark Monnington' we all shouted, yet we were surprised to hear that he said that John Frances was by far the toughest in the squad, yet he was also the funniest off the pitch.

We talked about York away, the Rochdale game after the season had finished and Joe Jakub’s 'cabbage', before we shook hands and said, "Until next time."

Thanks for joining us Roger and more, wanting to be there with us, sharing a drink and a few stories. We appreciate it immensely!

Top guy.

Brilliant read. Cult hero and a top guy by the sounds of it.

He was my first favourite Burnley player.

Maybe none of my business, but how old is he now?

The first game I went to I was taken into the 100 club and introduced to Roger Eli who I think had scored a brace against Peterborough (might be wrong)

As a young lad I was in awe but will never forget those 5 minutes he took talking to the family I was with! I was a fan for life after that and it’s good to know he hasn’t changed

In my collection

A top guy to take time to attend the meet like that..A true claret.

that is bloody awesome !!! Great stuff Jdrobbo !

Might have made the effort if I’d known he was on the guest list. Proper cult hero. I remember the Scunthorpe games and him coming on at Spotland. Can’t recall if the latter was his debut though.

Debut was at Rochdale

https://www.uptheclarets.com/players/ap ... als-d-to-g

Really was a cult hero,he brought something different onto the pitch.

Roger looks really happy to have his photo taken with me.

Brilliant!!
Roger, Roger Eli
Clap clap
Roger, Roger Eli
Clap clap.

Which one's Roger?

Lord Beamish wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 01, 2020 6:49 pm

Roger looks really happy to have his photo taken with me.

Nah.
Looks like he'd no choice, Lord B.

Jimmymaccer wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 01, 2020 5:48 pm

In my collection
CE5D0273-8A34-4918-AD29-C2126F8264C2.jpeg

Remember them selling these outside the ground after the Scunthorpe cup tie!!

Brilliant

Loved his contribution to the 'Burnley Are Back' vid...getting his ends mixed up, so to speak.

I saw him as a sub for Partick Thistle after he left us. He was warming up within touching distance but I was just too shy to shout him over. Still regret it now as I type.

Great to hear about him - thank you!

UTC!

Back in 2013 I was out in Leeds and bumped into him at a bar. None of my mates new who he was. I shouted “Eli! Eli! Eli!” across the bar at him. I was pretty drunk as the picture shows. He could have easily thought “oh god look at this prick”. Instead he came up to me, hugged me, and then started chatting about Burnley. His mates seemed bewildered that Rodger was even recognised. He seemed really happy that he still had fans out there. Such a nice bloke



(For some reason I’m getting a yellow ! When trying to upload picture)

My first ever match Mansfield 3-0 Eli h/t,after all these years and more successful ones,he has always remained one of my favs! What a great night to share a pint with him top man it seems!

I used to work with Eli's Dad. We were building a new prison near Doncaster, 1989 to 1993.

Just after Mullen had been appointed,I received a phone call from my sister saying my nephew had been asked to be Mascot for the day.
Being the most ardent Burnley fan, she asked if I would take him and go on the ground tour with him prior to the match.

We were introduced to Frank Teasdale, who was brilliant. Then we were taken off to the changing rooms, probably 45 mins before kick off.
God the changing rooms were small! My nephew was taken round each player, but because there wasn't much room I stood nearest the door.
Roger Eli was the player nearest the door. So obviously I told him I was working with his Dad, which got us chatting.

As we left, I gave Roger my Churchillian motivational speech, so I and I alone am responsible for what came that season

It went along the lines of "we might be a 4th division team Roger, but this is a first division club, with a first division ground and fans that deserve the first division. Get us out of this situation." He smiled and said they'd give it a go.
The rest is history.

Oh my Nephew fell in love with Andy Marriot that day, he still has photos of the 2 of them together.
My nephew was later taken on by Burnley as a goalkeeper, but released at the age of 14.

Duffer_ wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 02, 2020 1:02 am

Loved his contribution to the 'Burnley Are Back' vid...getting his ends mixed up, so to speak.

I saw him as a sub for Partick Thistle after he left us. He was warming up within touching distance but I was just too shy to shout him over. Still regret it now as I type.

Great to hear about him - thank you!

UTC!

When I was a young lad around 1993-1996, I used to wake up at 5am every single day and my parents used to put that video, Sherpa van trophy, orient, and the play off final for for me to keep me quiet (usually Burnley are Back though as I used to love spotting my dad at York). I’ve watched them all well over 50 times each and know all the words.

“I was walking out, as the two teams were walking ouuuut”

Thanks for the Memories, Rogers book is still available from club shop and Amazon.

I once travelled to Chesterfield for a night game and sat in the "home" seats. At half time I went for a pee and as I was relieving myself I looked around to see that the only other person in there, also using the urinal, was Roger Eli dressed in his overcoat. I asked if he was injured as I had been surprised to find he wasn't actually playing. He simply looked me straight in the eye (not easy when your peeing!) and said "not selected!" And made a very angry face! Realising I'd touched a nerve I sloped out.

Anyone else remember the 'Disciples of Eli' on the Longside?

Some great memories, and stories.
I really love this club and its fans.

Pimlico_Claret wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 02, 2020 11:09 am

Anyone else remember the 'Disciples of Eli' on the Longside?

Got pic of a couple of them at the Wrexham game 92.

If you are on twitter and you message him, he will reply. Never mind a great footballing hero, he is just a top bloke

Gp8419 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 02, 2020 6:41 am

My first ever match Mansfield 3-0 Eli h/t,after all these years and more successful ones,he has always remained one of my favs! What a great night to share a pint with him top man it seems!

. thought it was Chesterfield who Eli got a hat trick against.

Loved Eli. Proper Burnley legend. Cult hero at least. Was great at the level we were at. Much like now the team was better than the individuals. Brilliant times.

I love that team more than any since. Probably because I was a kid and partly because it was the first success a lot of us had experienced.

I wanted my hair like Eli. That would have been a good look as a white, blonde 7 year old. Instead my brother named his dog after him.

I met Eli years later and he knew about the dog story and laughed his head off when I told him.

Like most of that team a top character.

Rodleydave wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 02, 2020 9:39 am

Thanks for the Memories, Rogers book is still available from club shop and Amazon.

Indeed, a very good read.

Rodleydave wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 02, 2020 9:39 am

Thanks for the Memories, Rogers book is still available from club shop and Amazon.

It's a good read. I got a copy as a Christmas present signed by the man himself.

Regularly get responses from him on Twitter. He really is a great bloke. People remember his header v Derby because it was against a team from 2 divisions as above us and it was past Shilton. I banged the drum for his headed goal v Scarborough from a right footed first time cross from Mike Conroy as a better goal.

His goal against Blackpool on a packed out wet and windy Turf Moor on our way to the Div 4 championship wasn't his greatest, but it brought the house down!!

My first ever game was that Dark Cloud

“...on and on...and in!”