I hope Dave is okay with me giving his book a bit of a shoutout. I thought it was absolutely excellent and very informative.

As a Burnley fan, starting in 1991/92, I feel this book offers a very different view of the journey that the club has taken (mainly at boardroom level, with obvious references to on-pitch happenings) throughout my life, with Clive having come on-board (literally) just a few years previous.

Clive has obviously been a rock at the club through some turbulent years, having worked through tremendous highs and some very stick periods.

His dealings with our various managers and the regard he held each of them in (in different ways) is admirable. I’d have loved to have seen how the 2-3 offers for Harry Kane, Andrew Robertson and £20,000,000 for Kalvin Phillips had gone down in the boardroom.

Some of his anecdotes are brilliant and with his eye for detail (especially where the pennies are concerned), I can now see how we ended up with the two new stands that we did in the mid-90s, regardless of some of the possible design flaws. Several mentions made too, regarding how the Bob Lord stand could be extended 14 rows.

Anyway, I have a few questions that I’d like to ask and then I’ll leave it by simply saying, if you’ve not read it, give it a go… even if it helps you to understand ‘relations’ between our directors over the last few years.

Thanks, Dave and Clive

Ps…thank goodness Spaniels have tails to grab hold of!!!


1) 1990/91: why was our game against Maidstone United played at Dartford? Did they use their ground because of regulations?

Who exactly was Folrunso Okenia?

Karen Brady, Sullivan and Gold used to land their helicopter at Gawthorpe before games. As did Flavio Briatore…Was this common amongst directors at other clubs?

The youth team that won 3-4 at old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup in 2011/12 - any standouts from either team in terms of where they are now? I seem to recall Adnan Januzaj featuring.

Mohamed el Kashashy - where is he now?

Maidstone had sold their ground in the town in 1988 for housing and then shared Dartford’s Watling Street ground until they lost their league status in 1992 after going bust.

MeeActon1 wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 12:46 pm

Maidstone had sold their ground in the town in 1988 for housing and then shared Dartford’s Watling Street ground until they lost their league status in 1992 after going bust.

They took Dartford down with them too

And here are the teams for the youth cup tie at Man U

Manchester United: Pierluigi Gollini, Donald Love, Liam Grimshaw, Nicholas Ioannou (Declan Dally 78), Louis Rowley, Jack Barmby (Jack Rudge 53), Ben Pearson (Sam Byrne 114), James Weir, James Wilson, Adnan Januzaj, Mats Daehli. Subs not used: Jonny Sutherland, Kenji Gorre.

Burnley: Callum Jakovlevs, Cameron Dummigan, Charlie Holt, Alex Whitmore, Luke Conlan, Luke Daly (Evan Galvin 110), Kevin Ly (Brad Jackson 63), Nathan Lowe, Cameron Howieson, Jamie Frost (Christian Hill 70), Jason Gilchrist. Subs not used: Conor Mitchell, Andreas Bianga.

Donald Love just been released by Morecambe
Liam Grimshaw (the Claret) at Dundee United
Ben Pearson now at Stoke
James Wilson at Port Vale

Cameron Dummigan at Derry City
Luke Conlan just signed for Cliftonville
Cameron Howieson back home in NZ with Auckland

Foloronso Okenla (or perhaps Okenla Folorunso, I have seen his name either way round) was a very short, fast winger who played for the reserves a few times on trial. He wasn't signed, though he looked tricky.

Maidstone, from memory, sold their ground to build a new one but then spent all the proceeds tryig and failing to get planning permission from the council (That's third hand knowledge so it may come from someone with a jaundiced, anti-council view.)

Highly recommended.This is one of the best books on Burnley FC I’ve read.So many stories of goings on behind behind the scenes.Very Very enjoyable !

Rumpelstiltskin wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 1:55 pm

Highly recommended.This is one of the best books on Burnley FC I’ve read.So many stories of goings on behind behind the scenes.Very Very enjoyable !

It's a cracking read. Clive has a wonderful memory bank to add to the fact that he writes everything down.

Think our hattrick hero that night at Old Trafford, Jason Gilchrist is at Ashton UTD, after leaving Buxton early last year.

Buxtonclaret wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 2:07 pm

Think our hattrick hero that night at Old Trafford, Jason Gilchrist is at Ashton UTD, after leaving Buxton early last year.

He is - Gilly was within seconds of a Championship debut at Watford in 2014. Dyche had him ready to come on but Scott Arfield equalised and so he sat him down again.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 1:59 pm

It's a cracking read. Clive has a wonderful memory bank to add to the fact that he writes everything down.

An UTC Q&A evening with the likes of Holt, Kilby, John B, et all, would be super interesting

We could all sign official UTC NDA’s before the gig starts

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 1:14 pm

And here are the teams for the youth cup tie at Man U

Manchester United: Pierluigi Gollini, Donald Love, Liam Grimshaw, Nicholas Ioannou (Declan Dally 78), Louis Rowley, Jack Barmby (Jack Rudge 53), Ben Pearson (Sam Byrne 114), James Weir, James Wilson, Adnan Januzaj, Mats Daehli. Subs not used: Jonny Sutherland, Kenji Gorre.

Burnley: Callum Jakovlevs, Cameron Dummigan, Charlie Holt, Alex Whitmore, Luke Conlan, Luke Daly (Evan Galvin 110), Kevin Ly (Brad Jackson 63), Nathan Lowe, Cameron Howieson, Jamie Frost (Christian Hill 70), Jason Gilchrist. Subs not used: Conor Mitchell, Andreas Bianga.

Donald Love just been released by Morecambe
Liam Grimshaw (the Claret) at Dundee United
Ben Pearson now at Stoke
James Wilson at Port Vale

Cameron Dummigan at Derry City
Luke Conlan just signed for Cliftonville
Cameron Howieson back home in NZ with Auckland

Cheers Tony,

Think the United keeper is at Napoli

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 2:15 pm

Cheers Tony,

Think the United keeper is at Napoli

Sounds more like a ref

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 2:15 pm

Cheers Tony,

Think the United keeper is at Napoli

I thought he was a referee

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 2:16 pm

I thought he was a referee

Great minds think a like or fools seldom differ.


Let you choose

claretonthecoast1882 wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 2:18 pm

Great minds think a like or fools seldom differ.


Let you choose

The latter!

Callum Jakovlevs has had a host of non league clubs since leaving Burnley. He is currently at Barnoldswick.

Another question arising from the book…

Where exactly is the ‘area of land, next to the M65’ owned by the club? And how big is it?

sjb wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 2:24 pm

Callum Jakovlevs has had a host of non league clubs since leaving Burnley. He is currently at Barnoldswick.

I sponsored Callum Jakovlevs during his time at Burnley but there was a reason for that.

I was at the health centre in Rawtenstall for a somewhat invasive medical test. I turned up with a top on that was BFC and the nurse looking after me told me we'd just signed her nephew who was a goalkeeper. I knew we'd signed two young keepers, Conor Mitchell from Northern Ireland and Callum from Stacksteads so I assumed it was Callum. He has around 14 brothers and sisters too. She was gob smacked when I said: "Is it Callum Jakovlevs?"

She was really nice and helpful so on the back of that I sponsored him.

Bump

I highly recommend Clive's book to anyone who sat/stood and suffered through the dark days of the 80s and 90s. It should also be read by the younger fans who have only known the relative success of the last 15 years or so.
Dave Thomas' Burnley books are all excellent but this is one of my favourites.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 1:14 pm

And here are the teams for the youth cup tie at Man U

Manchester United: Pierluigi Gollini, Donald Love, Liam Grimshaw, Nicholas Ioannou (Declan Dally 78), Louis Rowley, Jack Barmby (Jack Rudge 53), Ben Pearson (Sam Byrne 114), James Weir, James Wilson, Adnan Januzaj, Mats Daehli. Subs not used: Jonny Sutherland, Kenji Gorre.

Burnley: Callum Jakovlevs, Cameron Dummigan, Charlie Holt, Alex Whitmore, Luke Conlan, Luke Daly (Evan Galvin 110), Kevin Ly (Brad Jackson 63), Nathan Lowe, Cameron Howieson, Jamie Frost (Christian Hill 70), Jason Gilchrist. Subs not used: Conor Mitchell, Andreas Bianga.

Donald Love just been released by Morecambe
Liam Grimshaw (the Claret) at Dundee United
Ben Pearson now at Stoke
James Wilson at Port Vale

Cameron Dummigan at Derry City
Luke Conlan just signed for Cliftonville
Cameron Howieson back home in NZ with Auckland

Another connection - Former Claret youth player Archie Love is that Man Utd player Donald Love's older brother.

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 2:24 pm

Another question arising from the book…

Where exactly is the ‘area of land, next to the M65’ owned by the club? And how big is it?

Any ideas?

Foshiznik wrote: ↑

Thu May 30, 2024 11:03 am

Another connection - Former Claret youth player Archie Love is that Man Utd player Donald Love's older brother.

He is. I think Donald scored that night. Archie was sat just behind me watching.

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Thu May 30, 2024 11:27 am

Any ideas?

I recall that someone found a nugget of information in the Annual accounts a couple of years ago where a piece of land was listed as being an owned asset. I can't find the original post but i recall the land was described as something like "on the north and south sides of Molly Wood Lane, Hapton"

Could this be the aforementioned land?

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Thu May 30, 2024 11:27 am

Any ideas?

Found it!

viewtopic.php?t=63465

Very interesting. Great find. Thank you

Bump. Recommended summer reading

Already read it, John.
I've read most of Dave's books, and this is probably the best.

Fao LakedistrictClaret
I have a spare ticket if you haven't sourced one v Cardiff I mislaid your email let me know if you're interested. Obviously it's free.
Neil

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2024 10:21 pm

Fao LakedistrictClaret
I have a spare ticket if you haven't sourced one v Cardiff I mislaid your email let me know if you're interested. Obviously it's free.
Neil

Thanks, but I'm a season ticket holder, so home games aren't a problem.

Hope you enjoyed the Tottenham game (!).

All the best for the coming season. I'm quietly confident.

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Wed May 29, 2024 12:27 pm

1) 1990/91: why was our game against Maidstone United played at Dartford? Did they use their ground because of regulations?

That Q has been answered, however, it reminded me if the fact that I drove to Maidstone and search for the ground (not satnav etc in those days. Just look for floodlights in the Victorian housing area!)), only to be reminded that it was being played in Dartford!

100mph on the M20 and M25 got me there bang on kick off. Parked 50 yards from ground and didn't worry about getting a ticket. (Didn't get one)

I remember portable toilets!

If you have the Clive book you really need the Barry K one as well. Barry book is a personal story, Clive's is behind the scenes. Barry book worth the price for the stories of Maxwell and Murdoch. Clive lifts the lid on a few things. Both in club shop might even be reduced price as they are trying to clear stock.