Back to 1973 and a superb midweek win against Portsmouth

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/brilliant- ... ast-pompey

Fantastic of their manager to give us a chance to appreciate the great Ray Pointer.
Still my favourite all-time Claret.

huw.Y.WattfromWare wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 1:11 pm

Fantastic of their manager to give us a chance to appreciate the great Ray Pointer.
Still my favourite all-time Claret.

One of those moments you never, ever forget when Ray came out that night. The Burnley crowd loved him and what a reception it was.

A little story about him. I worked back in the late 1980s with a lad from Blackpool who was a decent local footballer. He came into work one Monday and told me that a former Burnley player had signed for his team and had made his debut the day before. Needless to say I asked who but he didn't know what he was called by reckoned he could be in his late 30s. He said he'd get the name. A week later he came in and said this ex-Burnley player had been absolutely brilliant for them the day before in his second game and that he was called Ray Pointer. He was stunned when I told him by then Ray was around 52 and even more so when I told him he was in our Championship team and had been an England international.

Good to see a report on this game as it was another I know little of due to being some 200 miles away at the time. A great moment for a great player. It was still looking good for promotion from a distance. As per usual, some great names from the past in the Portsmouth line up. By the way, did Ray complete the 90 mins.?

The most comprehensive stuffing of a team in 45 minutes I ever saw on the Turf.

I was expecting 10 more in the second half though and instead that was it, the game was over and they just played it out to the final whistle.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 9:13 pm

Good to see a report on this game as it was another I know little of due to being some 200 miles away at the time. A great moment for a great player. It was still looking good for promotion from a distance. As per usual, some great names from the past in the Portsmouth line up. By the way, did Ray complete the 90 mins.?

Terrific performance in that first half. I still speak to my lift now and again even today. She's still no interest in football but she got a treat that night watching that performance.

Yes, they didn't use their sub that night.

And Frank missed a pen didn't he ?

alf_resco wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 10:24 pm

And Frank missed a pen didn't he ?

Yes. Mentioned in the article linked

I love reading these. Topped off by the table at the bottom. Oxford, Orient and Swindon in the second tier. Very different now.

A few years back I'd have added Luton to that list but look how well they've done recently getting back to the championship.

Reading about the goals I wish you'd see some good old far post headers across the box more nowadays. I know we do it with free kicks but there's nothing better in my eyes then a cross to the far post, a header across the goal and someone in the right place to attack the ball. I wasn't around then, but I get the impression Fletcher would have been my kind of player.

Thanks Tony!

I remember this match. We murdered them in the first half.

superdimitri wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:08 am

I love reading these. Topped off by the table at the bottom. Oxford, Orient and Swindon in the second tier. Very different now.

A few years back I'd have added Luton to that list but look how well they've done recently getting back to the championship.

Reading about the goals I wish you'd see some good old far post headers across the box more nowadays. I know we do it with free kicks but there's nothing better in my eyes then a cross to the far post, a header across the goal and someone in the right place to attack the ball. I wasn't around then, but I get the impression Hamilton would have been my kind of player.

Thanks Tony!

You would have loved Fletcher. Don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone better than winning those headers and getting the ball back across goal.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 12:37 pm

You would have loved Fletcher. Don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone better than winning those headers and getting the ball back across goal.

Fletch was superb in the air but Andy Lochhead knocking them back to Willie Irvine would be my top combo.

huw.Y.WattfromWare wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 2:40 pm

Fletch was superb in the air but Andy Lochhead knocking them back to Willie Irvine would be my top combo.

Fletch was around 5ft 9ins tall. His ability in the air was outstanding although Lochhead was the better goalscorer.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:05 pm

Fletch was around 5ft 9ins tall. His ability in the air was outstanding although Lochhead was the better goalscorer.

I’ve been in Fletch’s company a few times, even 5 a-sided with him, and he towered over me.
Either he stepped out in addheights or the 5’9” is a myth.

I always felt that Paul Fletcher was an instinctive sort of striker. Perhaps my judgement is swayed by a cracking volley he scored v Aston Villa at home 72-73 and of course 'that goal' at Elland Rd. in 1974.

huw.Y.WattfromWare wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:36 pm

I’ve been in Fletch’s company a few times, even 5 a-sided with him, and he towered over me.
Either he stepped out in addheights or the 5’9” is a myth.

No myth. I’m short of 5’10” but I’m taller than Fletch.

My first and only view of our legend. For some reason I recall seeing him jump for a cross at the Beehole end.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:38 pm

I always felt that Paul Fletcher was an instinctive sort of striker. Perhaps my judgement is swayed by a cracking volley he scored v Aston Villa at home 72-73 and of course 'that goal' at Elland Rd. in 1974.

That goal against Villa was a stunner, the one at Leeds has given him something to talk about for the last 47 years.

I think we all remember how good he was in the air that we sometimes forget how good a striker of a ball he was.

That is a fantastic and fascinating read. Without wanting to give my age away ....it was the night i was born. I have always known we played Portsmouth at home that night but it's nice to put some flesh onto the bones so to speak.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 20, 2021 1:15 pm

One of those moments you never, ever forget when Ray came out that night. The Burnley crowd loved him and what a reception it was.

A little story about him. I worked back in the late 1980s with a lad from Blackpool who was a decent local footballer. He came into work one Monday and told me that a former Burnley player had signed for his team and had made his debut the day before. Needless to say I asked who but he didn't know what he was called by reckoned he could be in his late 30s. He said he'd get the name. A week later he came in and said this ex-Burnley player had been absolutely brilliant for them the day before in his second game and that he was called Ray Pointer. He was stunned when I told him by then Ray was around 52 and even more so when I told him he was in our Championship team and had been an England international.

Ray Pointer is my favourite ever Burnley player!

He scored 2 goals in his 3 internationals...that's 66% scoring record for England - a brilliant return and he should have gone to the '62 World Cup!

Somethingfishy wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 6:22 pm

That is a fantastic and fascinating read. Without wanting to give my age away ....it was the night i was born.

A belated 48th birthday Somethingfishy

Good friend of Brian Hill,roommate when Ray played for Coventry City under Jimmy Hill,Brian could never speak highly enough about Ray Pointer,proper proper friend,a legend to the game,sorely missed.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 7:06 pm

A belated 48th birthday Somethingfishy

Cheers Tony!

I remember parts of this game so clearly.
I was 8 years old, stood behind the goal right at the front of the Bee Hole, dad watching over me from a couple of dozen steps higher.
I remember Nulty's overhead kick for the goal, Casper sliding in the second goal and the keeper saving the penalty low to his right
Best of all, I remember being hit by the ball as Nulty headed one wide.

todclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:43 pm

I remember parts of this game so clearly.
I was 8 years old, stood behind the goal right at the from of the Bee Hole, dad watching over me from a couple of dozen steps higher.
I remember Nulty's overhead kick for the goal, Casper sliding in the second goal and the keeper saving the penalty low to his right
Best of all, I remember being hit by the ball as Nulty headed one wide.

I must've been stood within a few yards of you "todclaret". As I read Tony's report I can remember being almost next to Fletch when he headed the ball back across goal for Nulty's finish.

Seem to remember it was a still, balmy evening and Burnley really turned on the style. With regard to Casper's penalty I think he hammered it hard and the keeper John Milkins dived to his right to palm the ball away. He just guessed correctly and I suppose it was at the ideal height to save.

Milkins had slicked back dark hair and looked like a player from the 1940's.

Great read - happy days from my early teens - loved it!

When I've gone through match by match, there are some I can hardly remember, some I remember quite well and some I remember vividly and this one fit into that third category because of that first half performance.

These match reviews are great, Tony. Thank you.

72-73 was my first season watching The Clarets with my Dad, standing on The Longside.

Reading them bring back some fantastic memories, especially as my Dad is no longer here. UTC

martintheaker wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 11:15 pm

These match reviews are great, Tony. Thank you.

72-73 was my first season watching The Clarets with my Dad, standing on The Longside.

Reading them bring back some fantastic memories, especially as my Dad is no longer here. UTC

Absolutely agree. They bring back so many childhood memories for me.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 12:37 pm

You would have loved Fletcher. Don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone better than winning those headers and getting the ball back across goal.

I got names mixed up again, have edited my post to correct it! Was indeed Fletcher who I'm sure I'd have loved.

Although this one perhaps wasn't as bad as Mike Baldwin

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:44 pm

That goal against Villa was a stunner, the one at Leeds has given him something to talk about for the last 47 years.

I think we all remember how good he was in the air that we sometimes forget how good a striker of a ball he was.

I remember an amazing goal he hooked in from way out on the Longside touchline against Blackburn. We won.