.


A year ago, at the start of December 2021, we travelled to Newcastle in good spirits, but ultimately saw the first nail put in a relegation coffin, by virtue of a very controversial Callum Wilson goal. Where Newcastle are concerned, I guess they say the rest is history.

Burnley, on the other hand, trudged through mid-and late December, with a draw at home to West Ham and defeat at Old Trafford, before starting 2022, with that truly forgettable display at Elland Road… Perhaps the second nail in the coffin went in that afternoon?

Football should not dictate your life, but I think it’s fair to say, that it can have a huge impact on your mood from day-to-day… With Burnley, struggling so much, albeit in the top division, last Christmas seemed prolonged!

We know what happened next… a run of draws and then an upturn, with wins at Brighton and at home to Spurs, seeming to lift spirits, but we soon came crashing down to earth, with four straight defeats. The third of those defeats, away at Brentford, provided the third nail. However, the win at home to Everton gave us hope, before nail number four was hammered home hard away at Norwich just days later….that bloody dark blue kit has a lot to answer for…consign it to history with 93/94’s jade and black!

Sean Dyche’s departure left many of us stunned and Michael Jackson did all he good to rescue our top flight status. There was certainly some excitement towards the end of the season but ultimately, we came up short. I think it’s fair to say that as we left the ground following the defeat to Newcastle, most fans thought they’d seen Burnley in the Premier League for the final time in quite some time…

BUT…We regrouped in the summer: lots of players left and a new manager came in. Many people still have concerns about the ownership of the club and its financial security, but on the grass, the season so far has been beyond our wildest expectations.

This Christmas, we proudly sit top of the championship table, have just put up an excellent display at Old Trafford with only six regular starters in the side, have the very exciting Churlinov and Twine still to bed in and we have a really condensed run of festive fixtures to get stuck in to- they can’t come quickly enough.

There’s a buzz around the town and hopefully for most, the mood is good!



Wishing you all health and happiness this Christmas, whilst also sharing a thought for those we have lost around us and on this messageboard and those who have had s difficult year.

Have a lovely time with your family and if you’re attending any of the Burnley games, sing up and enjoy!

UTC

John


.

Well JDRobbo as I read this I have a glass at the ready so I'll drink to that, say thank you to all who make UTC possible and lets hope the second half of the season mirrors the first

Cheers to everyone

Very Best Wishes to you and yours John, and to all here on the Bee Hole End.

Merry Christmas John ... the Smiling thread has been Brilliant (I have enjoyed finding pictures to contribute too) all the best to you and yours ...

And Merry Christmas UTC'ers one and all from the Mr and Mrs Bosscat here in wet n windy Yorkshire

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 2:39 pm

Merry Christmas John ... the Smiling thread has been Brilliant (I have enjoyed finding pictures to contribute too) all the best to you and yours ...

And Merry Christmas UTC'ers one and all from the Mr and Mrs Bosscat here in wet n windy Yorkshire

Where abouts in Yorkshire?

A very good summary of the last 12 months, it is nice that every cloud has a silver lining!

Excellent post and Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year to you too John.
It has been a privilege to watch the new style of football under Vincent Kompany with many new young, fast, exciting and technically-gifted players.

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 2:42 pm

Where abouts in Yorkshire?

Long Preston John nr Settle

Nice!

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 3:17 pm

Nice!

JDR's not far away.... he's in BRADFORD

dandeclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 3:23 pm

JDR's not far away.... he's in BRADFORD

I’ll let you have that one mate. I hope you’re okay Dan

dandeclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 3:23 pm

JDR's not far away.... he's in BRADFORD

Merry Christmas to you too Dan keep those Wildlife pictures coming

To all on here Wesolych Swiat, Christmas Eve big family get together, presents, pierogi, barsch etc

Lubanski wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 4:13 pm

To all on here Wesolych Swiat, Christmas Eve big family get together, presents, pierogi, barsch etc

Cheers Lubanski or perhaps should I say

Na Zdrowie

Merry Xmas Y’all from what is about to become a freezing cold Florida. North Florida is already at27F with a wind chill making it feel like 14F. On its way central Florida. Currently about 65 F but dropping to freezing by midnight. Coldest in Florida for 30 years. Guess it must be the global warming
Stay safe and healthy and here’s to 2023. The year of The Clarets

Merry Christmas fellow clarets
From a warm and sunny California
Be safe everyone

Merry Christmas everyone from a very beautiful sunrise and very cold (for us) Houston, Texas; well into the below freezing figures for today but fortunately will only last a few days.

Merry Christmas to you guys across the pond

Hi JDRobbo
Thats a lovely Christmas message to our fans written by a WISE man

FCBurnley wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 4:28 pm

Merry Xmas Y’all from what is about to become a freezing cold Florida. North Florida is already at27F with a wind chill making it feel like 14F. On its way central Florida. Currently about 65 F but dropping to freezing by midnight. Coldest in Florida for 30 years. Guess it must be the global warming
Stay safe and healthy and here’s to 2023. The year of The Clarets

we were at 17F at 6/7 am, with a wind child making it feel like it's in single digits, trying to avoid going out today but it's inevitable I'll have to

Merry Christmas one and all, great OP.

Merry Xmas from San Jose, CA!!
Over here with my son, a 49ers fan, to watch the Xmas eve game.
Clear blue skies, almost shorts weather at present, just hoping the bad weather doesn't come our way

All the best to one and all

Cracking post and pictures jdrobbo.
I was at the Newcastle and Norwich matches, and remember the sinking feeling well. I’m repeating the trip to Norwich, but hoping (expecting!) a more positive result this time.
Merry Christmas all.

Excellent collage JDR.

The photo taken at Loftus Road after JBG's goal sums up the last sixth months for up.

Keep safe everybody.

Merry Christmas!

Have a safe and happy Christmas fellow Clarets.

Merry Christmas and Happy New year to all clarets from Cirrus Minor

RammyClaret61 wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 6:58 pm

Have a safe and happy Christmas fellow Clarets.



05EEDBC1-E322-4DDD-8523-38D7C1F619FF.jpeg

.... great picture. Merry Christmas down under....

Bosscat, love the Zywiec lager, I'll have a krupnik to your health.

HO HO HO!

RammyClaret61 wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 6:58 pm

Have a safe and happy Christmas fellow Clarets.



05EEDBC1-E322-4DDD-8523-38D7C1F619FF.jpeg

To quote the bloke on the wall in prison in "Life of Brian"

You lucky lucky lucky lucky barsteward

Merry Xmas all the way over there on't other side of the world

Lubanski wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 7:12 pm

Bosscat, love the Zywiec lager, I'll have a krupnik to your health.

We've still got this (found in my Mother in Laws after her death in 2013) phew its quite powerful
More rubbing alcohol than drinking

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 3:15 pm

Long Preston John nr Settle

Long Preston where instead of xmas lights, they just speed up the crossing lights outside the Maypole.
Last mick take this year BC.
To you and all fellow Clarets, have a great Xmas.

Volvoclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:11 pm

Long Preston where instead of xmas lights, they just speed up the crossing lights outside the Maypole.
Last mick take this year BC.
To you and all fellow Clarets, have a great Xmas.

Think I need to call in the Maypole for a beer when I'm back up at the caravan, near Austwick in Summer.

Aclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:22 pm

Think I need to call in the Maypole for a beer when I'm back up at the caravan, near Austwick in Summer.

Try a Friday night Bosscat does the pub quiz.

KateR wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 4:46 pm

Merry Christmas everyone from a very beautiful sunrise and very cold (for us) Houston, Texas; well into the below freezing figures for today but fortunately will only last a few days.

Superb photo, Kate!

Merry Christmas Bosscat and clarets fans everywhere in the world. It's going to be a memorable season.

Merry Christmas from one Bradfordian to another

And a Merry Christmas to everyone!

Aclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:22 pm

Think I need to call in the Maypole for a beer when I'm back up at the caravan, near Austwick in Summer.

Friday nights Quiz night 8pm to late

Volvoclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:11 pm

Long Preston where instead of xmas lights, they just speed up the crossing lights outside the Maypole.
Last mick take this year BC.
To you and all fellow Clarets, have a great Xmas.

And yourself Volvo buddy all the best

Merry Christmas to you, and Best wishes for the season to you and yours.

To all Vlarets on here, a very Merry Christmas.
May you be warm, in good spirits and healthy.
May Santa visit and delight you.

All the best

IanMcL

KateR wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 5:59 pm

we were at 17F at 6/7 am, with a wind child making it feel like it's in single digits, trying to avoid going out today but it's inevitable I'll have to

Now that is seriously cold. Stay safe and warm if you can

IanMcL wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 10:50 pm

*To all Vlarets on here, a very Merry Christmas.
May you be warm, in good spirits and healthy.
May Santa visit and delight you.

All the best

IanMcL

*Come on you Vlarets



Merry Xmas Ian sorry couldn't resist

MDWat wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 23, 2022 10:37 pm

Merry Christmas from one Bradfordian to another

Now now!

Bosscat, always a bottle of this in dad's house, mainly to let down with the juice of blackberries I think 50/50. One night in the 6ts I got off my head drinking it neat, almost killed me, sick all night, fell asleep at work next day with mates covering for me, thankfully mum forced me to be sick that night instead of sleeping, then in the 7 Ts a Polish wedding, now that's another story!

Bosscat, always a bottle of this in dad's house, mainly to let down with the juice of blackberries I think 50/50. One night in the 6ts I got off my head drinking it neat, almost killed me, sick all night, fell asleep at work next day with mates covering for me, thankfully mum forced me to be sick that night instead of sleeping, then in the 7 Ts a Polish wedding, now that's another story!

All the best John, good post, have a good festive period and let's hope the Clarets continue to crack on and pick up a few more wins.

Wishing all a clarets a very merry Christmas, wherever you may be. As jdrobbo has eloquently pointed out out it’s been a year of disappointment followed by unexpected joy for most followers of our historic club. I hope that the coming year is filled with joy for all of you both on and off the pitch.
God Bless. Onwards and upwards always!
UTC