Seven years ago I wrote this following the sad death of someone who will forever be remembered at Burnley FC

https://www.uptheclarets.com/goal-hero- ... asses-away

Top bloke was Britt and so sad that he lost his life at just 61.

God bless him

I had the pleasure of meeting him several times socially through a mutual friend well after he'd stopped playing and was manager at Stanley (and after that). He really was a thoroughly nice guy!

Forever engraved in the history of our club - lovely bloke too.

Happy memories - god bless him.

Lovely man and a Claret legend

He'll always be remembered for that goal despite enjoying a lengthy spell at Chelsea.

A grim irony is Ian Britton & Ray Deakin were the only 2 from that Orient team who started just a year later at Wembley, and sadly both died at an early age from cancer.

A few years ago, I was walking around Roughlee with my wife and called into the Bay Horse pub for lunch. I was wearing a shirt with a Burnley badge, and a woman on another table saw this and said her husband had played for Burnley. I asked who that was, and she said it was Ian Britton and 'did I remember him?'. I told her that I certainly did and about how much Ian was thought of by supporters, especially for the crucial goal he scored. She was really emotional and really thankful for my tribute.

Seven years ago already. Really friendly and a good friend of my father in law. Will be rightly remembered in Clarets history.

Steve-Harpers-perm wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:36 am

and a good friend of my father in law

He played with him at Burnley if I'm right

I played football against him and he was a true gent.
I remember him playing for Chelsea when I was young.
It was great that he embraced Burnley and it became his home - well Colne actually I think.
He will go down in our history for that Orient game but more than that he was just a genuinely nice bloke.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:46 am

He played with him at Burnley if I'm right

Blackpool and then Burnley.

Shine on, Ian.

My abiding memory of Ian Britton was (after that goal) was seeing him out socially talking to a group when he looked up and saw me standing slightly off to the side dept in thought. As usual I had fallen quiet trying to filter the background noise and was deep in thought (about what I can’t remember). He looked over smiled and mouthed, “ are you alright?”. I smiled and nodded and he gave me a big grin before continuing his chat. I often thought I should have made a point of explaining and thank him for noticing, sadly he died before I had chance to bump into him again

A hero of mine, along with many others.

Agree he really was a nice guy. Always laughing and joking. The worlds a sadder place without him that’s for sure. When I see his face on the screen at home games I always think about him. God bless Ian.

Steve-Harpers-perm wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:05 pm

Blackpool and then Burnley.

Of course, Blackpool as well, never considered Blackpool.

We remain in his debt.

I was on weekend emergency dentist call-out duty many years ago.Got a call on the Sunday evening so I trotted off to reopen my surgery in Padiham. The patient was Ian Britton. I sorted his toothache out without saying too much. Then he spotted my Turf Moor sketch framed on the surgery wall.
Needless to say we spent a good hour chatting about the club,but mostly THAT game.
As he left he said "what do I owe you ?"
'Absolutely nothing' I replied, 'you literally saved my club from extinction'. I'll never forget his beaming smile as he walked out. Top bloke.

AmbleClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 31, 2023 1:26 pm

I was on weekend emergency dentist call-out duty many years ago.Got a call on the Sunday evening so I trotted off to reopen my surgery in Padiham. The patient was Ian Britton. I sorted his toothache out without saying too much. Then he spotted my Turf Moor sketch framed on the surgery wall.
Needless to say we spent a good hour chatting about the club,but mostly THAT game.
As he left he said "what do I owe you ?"
'Absolutely nothing' I replied, 'you literally saved my club from extinction'. I'll never forget his beaming smile as he walked out. Top bloke.

That will have been cos he didn't have to pay...

Proud to call him a mate ,on a personal level he was top bloke who was more concerned about my wife’s illness than his own .

What a legend, when I finally got in his company a bout of stage fright took over and couldn't say anything but he spoke to my son who didn't know who he was due to being only 4 at the time. I missed the opportunity to thank him, a serious regret. [/img]

Lucky enough to get to know him a bit when he ran the football team at Nelson and Colne college when I was there. Then after that would often see him out at the Morris Dancers or Crossgaits, always had time for a chat. Great bloke taken far too soon.

Think I've mentioned this before, me and a mate & wives made a weekend of it staying in the Chelsea Hotel when we played West Ham.
We were sat at a table in the bar, me & mate in our Claret & Blue, who approached us but Ian Britton.
He was there for a Chelsea reunion he said but spotted we were Burnley fans and made the effort to join us for 10mins or so, he certainly didn't need to.
What a great fella, a true legend in my eyes.

TintoVerano wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 31, 2023 1:50 pm

What a legend, when I finally got in his company a bout of stage fright took over and couldn't say anything but he spoke to my son who didn't know who he was due to being only 4 at the time. I missed the opportunity to thank him, a serious regret. [/img]

Is that Peter Leebrook flanked by Phil Devaney & Ashley Hoskin?

9 years ago we lost this legend of a man
RIP Britt

9 years gone. Wow. I had the pleasure of being in his company on a night out in Burnley early 2000s. As many have said, he was great company and a lovely bloke. I bought him a pint as a small token of what he did for our club, a debt that can never be repaid. The smallest player on the pitch rose highest when our club needed him. RIP Ian Britton.

As Tony says, a top bloke, besides his contributions to our survival.
I was fortunate enough to be able to have a few jars around Accrington with him when he and Andy Farrell (who remains a friend) were lodging in the town.
Excellent company and so sad to remember his all too
early passing.

God bless his memory.

Hard to believe he passed away 9 years ago - staggering in fact.

A legend who's goal was arguably the kick start of the run that has seen the Club's relative success in recent years and where it is now. He was one of the bright spots of that dark season - I still have my season ticket in the loft! Perhaps more importantly, he was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet - genuinely one of the good guys.

Gone but never forgotten - RIP

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 31, 2025 9:48 am

As Tony says, a top bloke, besides his contributions to our survival.
I was fortunate enough to be able to have a few jars around Accrington with him when he and Andy Farrell (who remains a friend) were lodging in the town.
Excellent company and so sad to remember his all too
early passing.

God bless his memory.

And there’s another really good bloke, Andy Farrell.

A good guy.

Andy Farrell agreed, really good. Spoke to him briefly the other week, he said he turns 60 this year, a scary thought, I remember seeing him go in goal against Stoke (if my memory is working correctly). Mr Versatile.

Edin_Clouds wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 01, 2025 9:33 am

Andy Farrell agreed, really good. Spoke to him briefly the other week, he said he turns 60 this year, a scary thought, I remember seeing him go in goal against Stoke (if my memory is working correctly). Mr Versatile.

Famously wore all eleven numbers for us.
Remarkably, he's now also spent 25 years at the Turf as a non-playing staff member.

Edin_Clouds wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 01, 2025 9:33 am

Andy Farrell agreed, really good. Spoke to him briefly the other week, he said he turns 60 this year, a scary thought, I remember seeing him go in goal against Stoke (if my memory is working correctly). Mr Versatile.

It was Stockport at home in 1991 he went in goal for. Mark Monington went in goal at Stoke in 1993. Wore every numbered shirt for us back in the days before squad numbers existed

Edin_Clouds wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 01, 2025 9:33 am

Andy Farrell agreed, really good. Spoke to him briefly the other week, he said he turns 60 this year, a scary thought, I remember seeing him go in goal against Stoke (if my memory is working correctly). Mr Versatile.

I thought he must be heading towards 60 given it will be 38 years this summer since we signed him.

His smile said it all when that ball hit that net!!!