ex Burnley player Theo Foley has passed away at 83 years of age. I am struggling to find information on his time at Burnley but found he was the captain of Northampton as they rose through the divisions in the 1960s and was assistant at Arsenal when they won the league at Anfield in 1989.

claretburns wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 11:00 am

ex Burnley player Theo Foley has passed away at 83 years of age. I am struggling to find information on his time at Burnley but found he was the captain of Northampton as they rose through the divisions in the 1960s and was assistant at Arsenal when they won the league at Anfield in 1989.

We beat Northampton 4-1 at home in their first division season. We were 1-0 up at half time courtesy of a Theo Foley own goal.

No mention of the Clarets but quite a nice article about his career. Great photo of him with Michael Thomas at Liverpool when Arsenal won the league at Anfield.

https://londonfootballscene.co.uk/2020/ ... g-history/

Referred to in many newspaper articles as being a former Burnley player but no reference to him in Clarets Collection!

Believe he was just on trial with us, never contracted to the club.

RIP Theo. He was Youth Team coach at QPR in the late 1970s when George Graham was also involved after George had returned from the USA. He was a good coach and spent a lot of time with the lads under his charge. George and him were really great with the lads under their control and moulded a decent team which included Wayne Fereday and Gary Waddock who both went on to play for the first team.
My son was on their books during this time and I had some good chats with both Theo and George which, as a player and manager of a local team, was very informative. When George went to manage Arsenal, he eventually employed Theo as his assistant and they won the League.

claretblue wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 11:31 am

Referred to in many newspaper articles as being a former Burnley player but no reference to him in Clarets Collection!

There won't be - he didn't play in the first team at Burnley, was just a junior player on trial.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 11:16 am

We beat Northampton 4-1 at home in their first division season. We were 1-0 up at half time courtesy of a Theo Foley own goal.

Indeed. We also played them away soon after [or was it just before?], and we came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 with two late goals.

Quicknick wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 2:37 pm

Indeed. We also played them away soon after [or was it just before?], and we came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 with two late goals.

The away game was 8 days later - home on the Tuesday, away on the following Wednesday.

In the home match, Willie Irvine had a nightmare first half, missed at least three, if not more, sitters.

Final Score: Burnley 4 Northampton 1 - Burnley scorers: Foley(og), Irvine(3).

Was this 1965-66, CT?

Quicknick wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:17 pm

Was this 1965-66, CT?

Yes

https://www.uptheclarets.com/fixtures-r ... 66-results

Thanks, Tony. My favourite season, I think, although I was only 11/12.

Wasn't he Northampton manager during the 91/92 season? Remembered for the thumping we gave them on the Turf and for Conroys last minute winner at their place and the guy waving his crutches in the air in celebration?

The 1960's were " heart attack " inducing stuff, if you were a Northampton Town fan. Playing at the 3 sided County Ground, ( also home to Northants County Cricket Club ), one touchline was made up of wood pallets for spectators to stand on. They started 1960-61 in the 4th Division, but by the 1965-66 season, were in the top flight. Despite doing the " double " over Aston Villa, and some other good results, they went down after one season, fell straight through to the third Division the following year, and by 1969-70, were back in the 4th Division ....