Just musing with a fellow fan, who is the oldest surviving ex-Burnley player ?
I'm reluctant to suggest any names, as I'd be mortified to mention someone who's passing I didn't know about, perhaps one for Claret Tony ??

Colin McDonald was 93 last October. I believe he’s the oldest of any who have played in the first team.

Great photo Tony......what a line up that is !

Are Elder and Angus still alive ?

It’s incredible that Pope, Heaton and Hart were here at the same time and despite injuries to two of them, many still couldn’t (at the time) settle on a number one.

Westleigh wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:55 pm

Are Elder and Angus still alive ?

Alex Elder is but not John Angus

Aclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:55 pm

Great photo Tony......what a line up that is !

Absolute privilege to take him to Gawthorpe that day with huge thanks to Sean Dyche and Tom Heaton for making it possible.

These are my words of the day

https://www.uptheclarets.com/when-engla ... epers-meet

And the short video the club did.

https://youtu.be/2jyGa7Qg5Ds?si=1olfZMjbECOS_VRE

Lovely bloke and the first time I’d met the goalkeeper both my dad and Jimmy Mac told me was the best they’d ever seen.

I saw Colin play for Burnley. My dad had told me many times that Colin McDonald and Lev Yashin were the two best goalkeepers in the world. This obviously stuck with me when I watched him: he made everything look so easy, sometimes picking the ball out of the air with one hand before taking hold of it fully and he made diving saves of shots going into the top corner look normal. A very special keeper and one of my earliest Claret heroes.

Vino blanco wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:11 pm

I saw Colin play for Burnley. My dad had told me many times that Colin McDonald and Lev Yashin were the two best goalkeepers in the world. This obviously stuck with me when I watched him: he made everything look so easy, sometimes picking the ball out of the air with one hand before taking hold of it fully and he made diving saves of shots going into the top corner look normal. A very special keeper and one of my earliest Claret heroes.

Early days before Blacklaw ,the guy was immense,and I know we
shrink as we get older ,but he was a comparative dwarf compared to today’s keepers.

Trevor Meredith, our Man City match winner to secure us the championship in 1960 is 87

Can’t see you many of our younger fans talking about our present players in another 70 yrs in glowing terms .

Colin is not only the oldest surviving Burnley player, but he most be one of the oldest surviving English International players too.

Longford Claret wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:40 am

Colin is not only the oldest surviving Burnley player, but he most be one of the oldest surviving English International players too.

I believe that honour goes to Ron Baynham of Luton Town, who won 3 Caps as a Goalkeeper in 1955. He was born on 10th June 1929, may both of them be with us for a good while yet ...

Colin was goalkeeper for the Clarets when I started going to games with my Dad who always claimed that he was the best goalkeeper he had ever seen. He played in an era when goalkeepers weren’t protected by referees like they are now and when pitches could easily be like a mud bath particularly in the goal areas.
What a great picture posted but CT!

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:02 pm

Absolute privilege to take him to Gawthorpe that day with huge thanks to Sean Dyche and Tom Heaton for making it possible.

These are my words of the day

https://www.uptheclarets.com/when-engla ... epers-meet

And the short video the club did.

https://youtu.be/2jyGa7Qg5Ds?si=1olfZMjbECOS_VRE

Lovely bloke and the first time I’d met the goalkeeper both my dad and Jimmy Mac told me was the best they’d ever seen.

Alongside some of our great players on the video is a great supporter. The much missed Alan Beecroft.

Herts Clarets wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 9:34 am

Alongside some of our great players on the video is a great supporter.

I didn't think you would have spotted me.

Seriously, Alan was in some pain that day. He'd fallen coming off the Turf on the previous Saturday and broken a rib. Tom Heaton pulled me to one side and asked me if he was OK. Tom was absolutely brilliant with Beeky that day.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:01 am

I didn't think you would have spotted me.

Seriously, Alan was in some pain that day. He'd fallen coming off the Turf on the previous Saturday and broken a rib. Tom Heaton pulled me to one side and asked me if he was OK. Tom was absolutely brilliant with Beeky that day.

I spotted an Uncle Albert look a like next to Beeky

Not surprised to hear Tom Heaton was brilliant, as well as a great keeper he always comes across as a good bloke.

Herts Clarets wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:18 am

I spotted an Uncle Albert look a like next to Beeky

Not surprised to hear Tom Heaton was brilliant, as well as a great keeper he always comes across as a good bloke.

The club couldn't have had a better bloke as captain. Tom had accepted Colin McDonald's award at the supporters groups player of the year evening at the end of the previous season when Colin wasn't well enough to attend and so we asked him if he'd present it to him when the opportunity arose. It was Tom's suggestion on the night that we could perhaps invite him down to Gawthorpe.

But all the goalkeepers were brilliant with him and it was fantastic to see that some of the other players and staff came to watch the actual presentation although you don't see them on the video. From the moment Aaron Lennon said good morning and held the door open for us, it was a brilliant day.

We desperately need someone like Heaton back in the team or even behind the scenes at the minute.

Just out of interest who is the oldest poster on this magnificent platform?

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 25, 2024 9:51 pm

Colin McDonald was 93 last October. I believe he’s the oldest of any who have played in the first team.


IMG_0573.jpeg

What's he doing on the weekend?

She wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:42 pm

Just out of interest who is the oldest poster on this magnificent platform?

Not me. Just a lad.

She wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:42 pm

Just out of interest who is the oldest poster on this magnificent platform?

It's got to be CT.Judging by his knowledge of historical games,he must be pushing 300

As Tony says Colin McDonald.