Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
-
- Posts: 13271
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
- Been Liked: 5102 times
- Has Liked: 5175 times
- Location: Montpellier, France
Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Pick your best starting XI from only players who appeared for us in the 3rd or 4th tier of English football.
The game here isn’t to pick the players who performed well for us at this level or who became cult icons. The idea is to pick players who were so good it’s actually surprising they appeared in the lower leagues. So for example, Lee Dixon is light years ahead of Les Thompson even though the latter is -quite rightly- much more fondly remembered among us.
There are plenty of surprisingly good footballers to choose from in a few positions but a dearth in others.
Beresford
Lee Dixon
Vince Overson
Steve Davis mkII
Brian Laws
Leighton James
Mike Phelan
Martin Dobson
Trevor Steven
Ian Wright
Andy Payton
Subs
Glen Little
Billy Hamilton
Brian Flynn
Tommy Hutchison
The game here isn’t to pick the players who performed well for us at this level or who became cult icons. The idea is to pick players who were so good it’s actually surprising they appeared in the lower leagues. So for example, Lee Dixon is light years ahead of Les Thompson even though the latter is -quite rightly- much more fondly remembered among us.
There are plenty of surprisingly good footballers to choose from in a few positions but a dearth in others.
Beresford
Lee Dixon
Vince Overson
Steve Davis mkII
Brian Laws
Leighton James
Mike Phelan
Martin Dobson
Trevor Steven
Ian Wright
Andy Payton
Subs
Glen Little
Billy Hamilton
Brian Flynn
Tommy Hutchison
This user liked this post: huw.Y.WattfromWare
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Ted McMinn in with a shout for that list I reckon
-
- Posts: 3960
- Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:18 pm
- Been Liked: 1774 times
- Has Liked: 470 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Nicky Walker in goal
I would argue Steve Davis I in front of Vince
Adrian Heath has to be in there somewhere. And if we are going on how good a player they were rather than what they did when at Burnley, Willie Donachie at left back and you could not leave out Paul Gascoigne or Chris Waddle.
I would argue Steve Davis I in front of Vince
Adrian Heath has to be in there somewhere. And if we are going on how good a player they were rather than what they did when at Burnley, Willie Donachie at left back and you could not leave out Paul Gascoigne or Chris Waddle.
This user liked this post: Wokingclaret
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Good shout with Heath. Think Gazza was Championship level though?Herts Clarets wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:55 amNicky Walker in goal
I would argue Steve Davis I in front of Vince
Adrian Heath has to be in there somewhere. And if we are going on how good a player they were rather than what they did when at Burnley, Willie Donachie at left back and you could not leave out Paul Gascoigne or Chris Waddle.
Paul Stewart (as awful as he was for us)?
-
- Posts: 13271
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
- Been Liked: 5102 times
- Has Liked: 5175 times
- Location: Montpellier, France
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Waddle has to be in the te based on my criteria.
Gazza and Stewart were both at 2nd tier.
Gazza and Stewart were both at 2nd tier.
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Didn’t Paul Stewart play for us at championship level?
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Mitchell Thomas at centre back? He played 150 odd times for Spurs plus appearance in 87 FA Cup final
This user liked this post: Rowls
-
- Posts: 13271
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
- Been Liked: 5102 times
- Has Liked: 5175 times
- Location: Montpellier, France
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
By my count we’ve got 6 England internationals, 2 Welshies and a capped Scot.
Might add Alan Harper too.
Might add Alan Harper too.
-
- Posts: 3960
- Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:18 pm
- Been Liked: 1774 times
- Has Liked: 470 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Kevin Hird
Alan Taylor
Kevin Reeves
Joe Gallagher
Steve Daly
Dennis Tueart
Whilst some of the above were crap when they played for us, they had been top tier players prior to joining Burnley.
Alan Taylor
Kevin Reeves
Joe Gallagher
Steve Daly
Dennis Tueart
Whilst some of the above were crap when they played for us, they had been top tier players prior to joining Burnley.
-
- Posts: 3393
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 7:04 pm
- Been Liked: 1004 times
- Has Liked: 905 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Good thread, Rowls.
-
- Posts: 3393
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 7:04 pm
- Been Liked: 1004 times
- Has Liked: 905 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Tony Morley available but as suggested above Waddle or Hutchison would pip him if all were at their best.
-
- Posts: 3605
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:05 am
- Been Liked: 2625 times
- Has Liked: 1 time
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
There's loads of once great players who briefly ply their trade in the lower divisions. Depends if you mean the best at their peak or when they played for us. Ron Futcher scored more regularly for us than Ian Wright.
-
- Posts: 15283
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:47 am
- Been Liked: 3168 times
- Has Liked: 6770 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
I'd have Chris Woods in goal.
This user liked this post: ChrisG
-
- Posts: 9325
- Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2015 8:01 pm
- Been Liked: 4843 times
- Has Liked: 947 times
- Location: Leeds
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Woah woah woaaaahhhhh!!!
Stop
Stop
Stop
SSSSTTTTOOOOPPPPPPP!!!!
Back up a bit and re-start this thread at once.
We all start our lists with:
David Eyres!
And breathe....
Oooooooh
Stop
Stop
Stop
SSSSTTTTOOOOPPPPPPP!!!!
Back up a bit and re-start this thread at once.
We all start our lists with:
David Eyres!
And breathe....
Oooooooh
This user liked this post: dibraidio
-
- Posts: 13271
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
- Been Liked: 5102 times
- Has Liked: 5175 times
- Location: Montpellier, France
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Ahhh but no but.
No.
But no.
This thread isn’t about who was best *for us*.
It’s about the quality of the player at their peak.
Otherwise it’d eyres and little/tinman on the wings.
-
- Posts: 3605
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:05 am
- Been Liked: 2625 times
- Has Liked: 1 time
-
- Posts: 13271
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
- Been Liked: 5102 times
- Has Liked: 5175 times
- Location: Montpellier, France
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
You might have to read the whole thread to find out...NottsClaret wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 6:23 pmChris Waddle was one of the best players in Europe at his peak. And he doesn't make your bench?
-
- Posts: 9325
- Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2015 8:01 pm
- Been Liked: 4843 times
- Has Liked: 947 times
- Location: Leeds
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
I’d still find a way of getting him on the teamsheet.
This user liked this post: Rowls
-
- Posts: 17283
- Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2016 1:57 pm
- Been Liked: 6492 times
- Has Liked: 2919 times
- Location: Fife
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Surprised Rocket Ron Futcher hasnt been mentioned....dont know how many goals he scored for us..but it must be 100s
-
- Posts: 67942
- Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2015 3:07 pm
- Been Liked: 32558 times
- Has Liked: 5284 times
- Location: Burnley
- Contact:
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Lee Dixon on the OP team. He only played one game for us in the old 3rd division.
-
- Posts: 13271
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
- Been Liked: 5102 times
- Has Liked: 5175 times
- Location: Montpellier, France
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Yep.ClaretTony wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 7:01 pmLee Dixon on the OP team. He only played one game for us in the old 3rd division.
That’s the game.
It’s not “who was best for us” it’s “who were the best players -at their peak- we had who happened to play for us in the 3rd or 4th.”
This user liked this post: ClaretTony
-
- Posts: 2970
- Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:54 am
- Been Liked: 807 times
- Has Liked: 1526 times
- Location: France
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
As I remember Tony Morley didn’t appear for us in the 3rd or 4th tier.huw.Y.WattfromWare wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 3:12 pmTony Morley available but as suggested above Waddle or Hutchison would pip him if all were at their best.
-
- Posts: 3393
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 7:04 pm
- Been Liked: 1004 times
- Has Liked: 905 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Had 5 games on loan in ‘88. Came up on another thread a while back.
This user liked this post: chekhov
-
- Posts: 17283
- Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2016 1:57 pm
- Been Liked: 6492 times
- Has Liked: 2919 times
- Location: Fife
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Great player Morley ............after he left us and went to Villa, .....a favourate of mine was Morley...maybe because he cost us £100,000....couldn't believe we had spent so much...i bought an Old English Sheepdog from Nutshaw kennels at Clowbridge in 1978....he was given the name Morley
-
- Posts: 67942
- Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2015 3:07 pm
- Been Liked: 32558 times
- Has Liked: 5284 times
- Location: Burnley
- Contact:
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
I’m 100% with you there, head and shoulders the best keeper who played for us during that period.
Has anyone mentioned Gordon Cowans for midfield?
This user liked this post: Rowls
-
- Posts: 67942
- Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2015 3:07 pm
- Been Liked: 32558 times
- Has Liked: 5284 times
- Location: Burnley
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 13271
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
- Been Liked: 5102 times
- Has Liked: 5175 times
- Location: Montpellier, France
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Forgot Woods about Cowans. He'd have to go into central midfield.ClaretTony wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 8:41 pmI’m 100% with you there, head and shoulders the best keeper who played for us during that period.
Has anyone mentioned Gordon Cowans for midfield?
Woods wasn't great for us but probably no worse than Beresford. However, he was an England international at his peak and would have won a few more caps if not for Shilton.
-
- Posts: 67942
- Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2015 3:07 pm
- Been Liked: 32558 times
- Has Liked: 5284 times
- Location: Burnley
- Contact:
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
I still think selling Beresford kept us up because Woods came in.
This user liked this post: boatshed bill
-
- Posts: 13271
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
- Been Liked: 5102 times
- Has Liked: 5175 times
- Location: Montpellier, France
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Not sure I'd go that far but it's miraculous we stayed up that season. Payts and Little were the real key players.ClaretTony wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 8:59 pmI still think selling Beresford kept us up because Woods came in.
God only knows where we'd be if we'd gone down. It's spine chilling.
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Personally think a better thread would be who were the best 3rd/ 4th division players that didn’t play at a higher level. There are too many players that were better elsewhere either before or after playing for us.
This user liked this post: Quicknick
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Ian Wright, touches of sublime skill and brilliance.
For effort and excitement and sheer pace John Francis.
For effort and excitement and sheer pace John Francis.
This user liked this post: boatshed bill
-
- Posts: 557
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:43 am
- Been Liked: 229 times
- Has Liked: 137 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Can’t believe Ally Pickering or Tony Hancock did not make the list.
-
- Posts: 1377
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 9:48 am
- Been Liked: 499 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Unless I've missed it no mention of England International Nick Pickering - surely an oversight
Last edited by EarbyClaret on Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
This user liked this post: Sproggy
-
- Posts: 4955
- Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 11:47 am
- Been Liked: 1087 times
- Has Liked: 996 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Sorry, got to have Mike Conroy in for the Div 4 season alone. Fired us to promotion.
-
- Posts: 515
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2018 3:44 pm
- Been Liked: 156 times
- Has Liked: 107 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
[/quote]
I'm still trying to get over the sight of Nick Pickering playing for us - does that countEarbyClaret wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:44 pmUnless I've missed it no mention of England International Nick Pickering - surely an oversight
-
- Posts: 15283
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:47 am
- Been Liked: 3168 times
- Has Liked: 6770 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Has anyone mentioned Billy Hamilton or Tommy Cassidy? didn't they play in the 3rd Division?
This user liked this post: Wokingclaret
-
- Posts: 6980
- Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 4:25 pm
- Been Liked: 1490 times
- Has Liked: 1848 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Not the best but crowd pleasers
Paul McGee,George Ohgani,Terry Cochrane and of course Aidy Randell
All had flashes of sublime skill just not for long.George particularly had a great first touch,I am referring to football.
Paul McGee,George Ohgani,Terry Cochrane and of course Aidy Randell
All had flashes of sublime skill just not for long.George particularly had a great first touch,I am referring to football.
-
- Posts: 5655
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 4:25 pm
- Been Liked: 1218 times
- Has Liked: 7202 times
- Location: Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
He played well in his first loan match, at home against Cambridge.ClaretTony wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 8:42 pmOn loan from West Brom in 1988. Did nothing other than an outstanding performance at York in the Sherpa.
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
If it is just those who played for us in the 3rd and 4th Leagues that surely rules out James, Davis Mk 2 Beresford, Dobson, Laws, Hamilton, Flynn, Little, McMinn, maybe Heath and a few others?
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Davis MK2 played for us in division 4 on loan, Beresford, Little, McMinn and Heath definitely played for us in the third tier.
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
You've just ruined my breakfast, years of hypnotherapy treatment had finally erased him from my psyche and now I have to start again he was awful!! how we managed to sell him on was amazing.EarbyClaret wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 9:44 pmUnless I've missed it no mention of England International Nick Pickering - surely an oversight
-
- Posts: 1549
- Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 1:12 pm
- Been Liked: 473 times
- Has Liked: 52 times
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Alan Stevenson was brilliant in 81/82 in Div 3. Pity he lost his confidence the following season or we may have stayed up. The nightmare goal at Carlisle sticks in the mind.
-
- Posts: 67942
- Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2015 3:07 pm
- Been Liked: 32558 times
- Has Liked: 5284 times
- Location: Burnley
- Contact:
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
All of those played for us in either of the bottom two divisions or both.
-
- Posts: 67942
- Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2015 3:07 pm
- Been Liked: 32558 times
- Has Liked: 5284 times
- Location: Burnley
- Contact:
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
That's the one I always remember at Carlisle and him apologising for it - he'd gone, he was no longer of any use but just 32 at the time. I think he only played a couple of more games and one more would have seen him equal John Angus and Jimmy McIlroy as having played the most post-war league games for us.Culmclaret wrote: ↑Fri Mar 19, 2021 10:38 amAlan Stevenson was brilliant in 81/82 in Div 3. Pity he lost his confidence the following season or we may have stayed up. The nightmare goal at Carlisle sticks in the mind.
-
- Posts: 5655
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 4:25 pm
- Been Liked: 1218 times
- Has Liked: 7202 times
- Location: Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Alan Stevenson's decline was a surprise. 32 was no age, even then, for a goalkeeper. That summer's World Cup winners had a 40-year-old in goal.
-
- Posts: 1053
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2016 8:48 am
- Been Liked: 639 times
- Has Liked: 441 times
- Location: London
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Geoff Palmer - played most of his career in the top flight with Wolves and won two League Cups with them. Played for the Clarets in 84/85 as we slid into the Fourth Division.
Peter Hampton too.
Peter Hampton too.
-
- Posts: 2094
- Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2016 10:18 pm
- Been Liked: 298 times
- Has Liked: 781 times
-
- Posts: 13271
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:00 pm
- Been Liked: 5102 times
- Has Liked: 5175 times
- Location: Montpellier, France
Re: Our Best XI - 3rd/4th Division Players
Bit of a cock up on the best-players-who-played-for-us-in-the-34d/4th-tier front