A new signing for the Clarets in December 1998 and potentially another player leaving on a permanent basis

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/stan-boost ... -pickering

Good signing and what a goal he scored for us at Stoke. I was disappointed and surprised when we didn't keep him on.

We knew early on at Buxton he was far too good for the NPL.
I thought he'd have stayed a Claret a bit longer than he did.
Good player, Ally.

I opened this message expecting to see STOKE mentioned in the replies… straight away.

Both Pickering and West scored worldies in the windy city.

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:50 am

I opened this message expecting to see STOKE mentioned in the replies… straight away.

Both Pickering and West scored worldies in the windy city.

And another future Burnley right back did too - Matt Lowton.

I seem to remember that Ally Pickering's father had sadly passed away a few days before that game ... that one's for you, Dad !

Clarets4me wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 2:41 pm

I seem to remember that Ally Pickering's father had sadly passed away a few days before that game ... that one's for you, Dad !

I think you are right on that one

Clarets4me wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 2:41 pm

I seem to remember that Ally Pickering's father had sadly passed away a few days before that game ... that one's for you, Dad !

Was just about to post the same.

Another right back scored an absolute belter in the same end and corner of the goal a few years later ……Dean West.

Used to love going to Stoke, as we never seemed to lose.

Pulled a game back to 2-2 from being 2-0 down, Payton with a pen if I remember. The odious Graham Kavanagh whispering into Payton’s ear beforehand, and he duly slammed it home!

TsarBomba wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 3:59 pm

Used to love going to Stoke, as we never seemed to lose.

Pulled a game back to 2-2 from being 2-0 down, Payton with a pen if I remember. The odious Graham Kavanagh whispering into Payton’s ear beforehand, and he duly slammed it home!

Didn't Kavanagh then miss a penalty?

TsarBomba wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 3:59 pm

Used to love going to Stoke, as we never seemed to lose.

Pulled a game back to 2-2 from being 2-0 down, Payton with a pen if I remember. The odious Graham Kavanagh whispering into Payton’s ear beforehand, and he duly slammed it home!

Only time I've ever set off to a game and not made it that day, was an absolute nightmare on M6.

TsarBomba wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 3:59 pm

Used to love going to Stoke, as we never seemed to lose.

Pulled a game back to 2-2 from being 2-0 down, Payton with a pen if I remember. The odious Graham Kavanagh whispering into Payton’s ear beforehand, and he duly slammed it home!

Great game. Payts got them both, the first being from around 20 yards, right in front of us. Weren't we 2-0 down with about 20 minutes to go?

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 9:26 pm

Only time I've ever set off to a game and not made it that day, was an absolute nightmare on M6.

Set off on the coach very early because we were booked into a pub for a couple of hours. Never made the pub and arrived at the ground around five minutes before kick off.

Because we were so early and because so many Burnley fans hadn't set off I phoned Radio Lancs and actually spoke to Gary Hickson and asked him to put something out to warn our fans not to use the M6, and then the police who were really helpful. This was after I'd initially phoned the club for assistance only for them to tell me it was nothing to do with them.

I still shudder recalling the other Pickering we signed

bfcjg wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:59 pm

I still shudder recalling the other Pickering we signed

The other Pickering was an England international and a good player but he'd had an injury before we signed him and the four games he played for us signalled the end of his playing career. Not the only crocked player that Mullen signed.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 11:01 pm

The other Pickering was an England international and a good player but he'd had an injury before we signed him and the four games he played for us signalled the end of his playing career. Not the only crocked player that Mullen signed.

Was it only 4 ? I remember going to Huddersfield away,the old ground obviously, and wondering what exactly was wrong with him,so slow with the ball. We didn't know about the injury then.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 11:01 pm

The other Pickering was an England international and a good player but he'd had an injury before we signed him and the four games he played for us signalled the end of his playing career. Not the only crocked player that Mullen signed.

He was dreadful and summed up how bad recruitment and obviously medicals were at the time. There is an.old CM thread where he is also mentioned.

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 9:26 pm

Only time I've ever set off to a game and not made it that day, was an absolute nightmare on M6.

Thelwall viaduct was closed because a lorry had overturned and was hanging over the edge. I went down very early to stop at Knutsford for a visit (my mother being a keen reader of Mrs. Gaskell) and saw the wagon, with the motorway being cut to two lanes. Later on they closed the viaduct completely so they could drag the wagon back onto the bridge.

Fretters wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:54 pm

Great game. Payts got them both, the first being from around 20 yards, right in front of us. Weren't we 2-0 down with about 20 minutes to go?

That's the way I remember it too.

Before the penalty the Stoke players were trying to disrupt things and put Payton off. We could see Kavanagh in his ear.

After Payts had scored, our ex-loanee keeper Gavin Ward kicked the ball down the goalline delaying the restart for a good minute.

They were a competitive side at that level but they were shocking in terms of sportsmanship.

They got a late penalty which would have won it for them late on and Kavanagh missed it, with Payton replying in kind to the treatment he'd got earlier.

In his post match interview Payton said Kavanagh had said, "Bet you £20 you miss" which Andy just said, "Yeah, OK" to.

Payton made the exact same bet at the other end of the pitch and tried to find Kavanagh after the match but he was nowhere to be seen.

It's a safe assumption Kavanagh still owes our Andy that £20.

Found the LT report

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/n ... y-bet-ter/

TsarBomba wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 3:59 pm

Used to love going to Stoke, as we never seemed to lose.

Pulled a game back to 2-2 from being 2-0 down, Payton with a pen if I remember. The odious Graham Kavanagh whispering into Payton’s ear beforehand, and he duly slammed it home!

Was that when Mark Monington went in goal?