Remembering Ben Lee

[Steve1956]

And let's not forget.......

Remembering Burnley FC apprentice footballer, Ben Lee, who died 29 years ago in tragic circumstances at Turf Moor

The 17 year old youth team player fell through the roof of the old Longside terrace, after going to retrieve a football.

RIP Ben Lee

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[Herts Clarets]

Our away game at York planned for that evening was postponed as a mark of respect. I cycled home from work to go to the game with my Dad only to read on teletext the tragic news. RIP Ben Lee

[IanMcL]

Tragic indeed

[ClaretTony]

Our away game at York planned for that evening was postponed as a mark of respect. I cycled home from work to go to the game with my Dad only to read on teletext the tragic news. RIP Ben Lee

The York game was planned for the following night. I remember driving into work on the morning of the York game and hearing the news of Ben on the radio.

[Silkyskills1]

Never to be forgotten. An entertaining season was put on hold for a few days when news broke of this tragedy. Hard to believe 29 years have passed since. RIP Ben Lee and sincere thoughts to his family and friends.

[Quickenthetempo]

Rest in peace Ben.

It still doesn't make any sense him going up for a football, but this weekends tragic events have reminded everyone how dangerous retreiving footballs can be.

[beddie]

Very tragic. Hard to imagine he would have been 46 years old now. It's good that we continue to remember him. Rest in peace Ben.

[Steve1956]

Very tragic. Hard to imagine he would have been 46 years old now. It's good that we continue to remember him. Rest in peace Ben.

And still a young man with lots left to live for....so sad.

[Cubanclaret]

I'll always remember Ben Lee. The emotions of York would never have happened if only he hadn't gone to retrieve that ball as a souvenir.
In the summer that followed our 4th Division championship season, I went to Portugal with my mates for a lads holiday to celebrate finishing A-Levels.
I had my Burnley shirt on in a bar and a Dutch gentleman came over to me with tears in his eyes - he recognised my shirt and started to talk to me about Burnley and naturally, a few beers in, I loved the fact that a Dutch fella from The Hague recognised Burnley.
After a bit of chat, it surfaced that Erik (as I soon learned his name) was a personal friend of Ben Lee, as his sister was dating him at the time of his tragic death. It was a pretty mad coincidence. I got drunk with Erik pretty much every night for the rest of our holiday and the following October he visited England and Turf Moor to stay with Ben's family in Knutsford. We kept in touch and Ben's Dad, Richard, organised Bob Lord hospitality tickets for not just me, but my two brothers and two mates, so we could hang out with Erik.
We beat Fulham 5-2 that day and through Erik - and Richard - we were treated royally in the players lounge after the game, meeting Jimmy Mullen and John Deary. Jimmy was ace and spent loads of time with us but the star of the day was Frank Teasdale. He gave us all a tour of the hallowed corridors and made a real fuss of our Dutch visitor long after Richard had departed. We took Erik out for some beers in Clitheroe before driving him back to the Lee residence the following day. Visiting Ben's home in Cheshire and being made so welcome by his family was really surreal. I never knew him but I was practically the same age at the time and the tragedy became more overwhelming these months later.
The following Christmas we even got a personalised Christmas card from Frank, which spoke volumes for his affable nature (I certainly felt a pang of guilt for calling him 'Teasdale Out' those years before The whole experience was something that could only happen being a Burnley fan. RIP Ben x

[Stevie2112]

Remember this as a terrible day for the club at the time,RIP Ben

[tim_noone]

I'll always remember Ben Lee. The emotions of York would never have happened if only he hadn't gone to retrieve that ball as a souvenir.
In the summer that followed our 4th Division championship season, I went to Portugal with my mates for a lads holiday to celebrate finishing A-Levels.
I had my Burnley shirt on in a bar and a Dutch gentleman came over to me with tears in his eyes - he recognised my shirt and started to talk to me about Burnley and naturally, a few beers in, I loved the fact that a Dutch fella from The Hague recognised Burnley.
After a bit of chat, it surfaced that Erik (as I soon learned his name) was a personal friend of Ben Lee, as his sister was dating him at the time of his tragic death. It was a pretty mad coincidence. I got drunk with Erik pretty much every night for the rest of our holiday and the following October he visited England and Turf Moor to stay with Ben's family in Knutsford. We kept in touch and Ben's Dad, Richard, organised Bob Lord hospitality tickets for not just me, but my two brothers and two mates, so we could hang out with Erik.
We beat Fulham 5-2 that day and through Erik - and Richard - we were treated royally in the players lounge after the game, meeting Jimmy Mullen and John Deary. Jimmy was ace and spent loads of time with us but the star of the day was Frank Teasdale. He gave us all a tour of the hallowed corridors and made a real fuss of our Dutch visitor long after Richard had departed. We took Erik out for some beers in Clitheroe before driving him back to the Lee residence the following day. Visiting Ben's home in Cheshire and being made so welcome by his family was really surreal. I never knew him but I was practically the same age at the time and the tragedy became more overwhelming these months later.
The following Christmas we even got a personalised Christmas card from Frank, which spoke volumes for his affable nature (I certainly felt a pang of guilt for calling him 'Teasdale Out' those years before The whole experience was something that could only happen being a Burnley fan. RIP Ben x

Great story.....TB Frank he was known as out.

[groove]

Rest in peace Ben.

It still doesn't make any sense him going up for a football, but this weekends tragic events have reminded everyone how dangerous retreiving footballs can be.

I don't think it was an ordinary football. If memory serves me right it was an international ball used by the England schoolboys who had played a fixture on the Turf in the few days before. Absolutely tragedy RIP young man.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I'll always remember Ben Lee. The emotions of York would never have happened if only he hadn't gone to retrieve that ball as a souvenir.
In the summer that followed our 4th Division championship season, I went to Portugal with my mates for a lads holiday to celebrate finishing A-Levels.
I had my Burnley shirt on in a bar and a Dutch gentleman came over to me with tears in his eyes - he recognised my shirt and started to talk to me about Burnley and naturally, a few beers in, I loved the fact that a Dutch fella from The Hague recognised Burnley.
After a bit of chat, it surfaced that Erik (as I soon learned his name) was a personal friend of Ben Lee, as his sister was dating him at the time of his tragic death. It was a pretty mad coincidence. I got drunk with Erik pretty much every night for the rest of our holiday and the following October he visited England and Turf Moor to stay with Ben's family in Knutsford. We kept in touch and Ben's Dad, Richard, organised Bob Lord hospitality tickets for not just me, but my two brothers and two mates, so we could hang out with Erik.
We beat Fulham 5-2 that day and through Erik - and Richard - we were treated royally in the players lounge after the game, meeting Jimmy Mullen and John Deary. Jimmy was ace and spent loads of time with us but the star of the day was Frank Teasdale. He gave us all a tour of the hallowed corridors and made a real fuss of our Dutch visitor long after Richard had departed. We took Erik out for some beers in Clitheroe before driving him back to the Lee residence the following day. Visiting Ben's home in Cheshire and being made so welcome by his family was really surreal. I never knew him but I was practically the same age at the time and the tragedy became more overwhelming these months later.
The following Christmas we even got a personalised Christmas card from Frank, which spoke volumes for his affable nature (I certainly felt a pang of guilt for calling him 'Teasdale Out' those years before The whole experience was something that could only happen being a Burnley fan. RIP Ben x

Great story.

Remember the incident well.

Even now it’s hard to comprehend how and why he went up there.

[Silkyskills1]

The next game we played after the tragedy that occurred mid week was the following Saturday at home to Halifax. We should have won the game comfortably but it was a real struggle and a goal from John Pender in the 2nd half eventually got us the win. I mention this because I was in my usual place on the Longside and a friend I travelled with to games seemed to spend the whole game whinging and complaining about our performance whereas I was very aware of how this dreadful accident must have affected everyone connected with the club; just above where we stood was a patched up area of the roof serving as a reminder if ever it was needed.
When we scored the goal I was so relieved and happy for that to remain the final score so that we could all go home and reflect on what had occured in the last few days. We're all unique and respond differently to certain situations but I always felt that particular game was just one to get through and continue to think of Ben Lee, his family,friends and team mates. Again, RIP Ben.

[claret59]

Even now it’s hard to comprehend how and why he went up there.

Something to do no doubt with being young and never thinking of death as being near. I remember reading of the event and of how a promising career was so tragically ended. I have never seen a photo of Ben so am grateful to be able to put a picture to the name as like many on here I still think of him and the sadness of it all for his family.

The sentiments are the same as all those expressed on here. May he Rest in Peace.

[bfcjg]

I remember looking up at the patch in the roof of the Longside where he fell through and just thought why did you do it? The patch was evident until the Longside was demolished, threads like this ensure the memory of the poor lad is maintained.
RIP Ben.

[andyh]

Not quite sure of the connection but saw a commemorative plaque at the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust only last week. Strange that the post followed so soon after.

[Oshkoshclaret]

News traveled much slower back then. I got close to Bootham Crescent for the match, and was confused that the streets were empty. Learned about the tragedy from a sign outside the newsagent.