ARTICLE: Super Taff

[ClaretTony]

I haven't seen a better winger in my 50 years watching the Clarets. Could beat defenders on both sides and deliver perfect crosses with a great shot too. Benson and Zaroury combined in one, with Roberts's welsh attitude. What a player!

I’ve seen so many outstanding wingers at Burnley starting with John Connelly & Brian Pilkington. Taffy is right up there as one of the best.

[Quicknick]

Saw him play away at Villa in a 1-3 Clarets win in the early Seventies (72...73?) Ran em daft.

I also remember (on the international front) he had a long hate/hate ongoing feud with Danny McGrain, Scotland full back, (at least I think it was him) which was most entertaining when DMcG got wound up

It was 3-0 in our title winning season. Villa came third, way behind us. We had beaten them 4-1 earlier in the season at home.

[MrTopTier]

He was a player that as child others talked about.
I was a bit too young to remember his first spell with us.
I couldn’t tell you much about his second spell either, what I do remember from that time is that his partner at the time was the girls PE Teacher at our school, think he drove a ford capri and used to come to the school at Lunchtimes and groups of the older lads used to swarm round him and carry his bag and stuff for him.

Remember his later spells with us and the Sherpa van final. Always loved by the fans even though in those later years we were absolute rubbish.

Nice article cheers Tony

[ClaretTony]

what I do remember from that time is that his partner at the time was the girls PE Teacher at our school

Was that Linda Parry? He married her but she sadly passed away with cancer.

[Silkyskills1]

Saw him play away at Villa in a 1-3 Clarets win in the early Seventies (72...73?) Ran em daft.

I also remember (on the international front) he had a long hate/hate ongoing feud with Danny McGrain, Scotland full back, (at least I think it was him) which was most entertaining when DMcG got wound up

Not aware of that. When he returned to Turf Moor in 1978 his first home game was against Celtic( I stand to be corrected on that though). McGrain was with the Celtic squad but didn't play at Turf Moor. Remember seeing him in their dug out as I made my 'escape' across the pitch. Don't know if he turned out in Glasgow

[ClaretTony]

Not aware of that. When he returned to Turf Moor in 1978 his first home game was against Celtic( I stand to be corrected on that though). McGrain was with the Celtic squad but didn't play at Turf Moor. Remember seeing him in their dug out as I made my 'escape' across the pitch. Don't know if he turned out in Glasgow

I think it was his first game back - very definitely no love lost between Taffy and McGrain. I think it had come from a Scotland v Wales game.

[Mondsley]

He was a player that as child others talked about.
I was a bit too young to remember his first spell with us.
I couldn’t tell you much about his second spell either, what I do remember from that time is that his partner at the time was the girls PE Teacher at our school, think he drove a ford capri and used to come to the school at Lunchtimes and groups of the older lads used to swarm round him and carry his bag and stuff for him.

Remember his later spells with us and the Sherpa van final. Always loved by the fans even though in those later years we were absolute rubbish.

Nice article cheers Tony

Was that Whitworth High School? If so was talking to JIF about this only last week. He clearly remembers his lunchtime visits!

[sjb]

Not aware of that. When he returned to Turf Moor in 1978 his first home game was against Celtic( I stand to be corrected on that though). McGrain was with the Celtic squad but didn't play at Turf Moor. Remember seeing him in their dug out as I made my 'escape' across the pitch. Don't know if he turned out in Glasgow

The Celtic home game was Leighton's first match back - he played centre midfield while McGrain was an unused sub for The Bhoys, though he did play right back in the return leg at Parkhead.

[MrTopTier]

Was that Linda Parry? He married her but she sadly passed away with cancer.

Aye sadly it was Miss Parry, absolutely tragic her passing.

[ClaretTony]

Aye sadly it was Miss Parry, absolutely tragic her passing.

Didn’t really know her but I knew her dad really well.

[MrTopTier]

Was that Whitworth High School? If so was talking to JIF about this only last week. He clearly remembers his lunchtime visits!

It was Mondsley.
Jif an absolute legend.
Glad to hear I remembered correctly.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Jackie Barnes could warrant a thread devoted just to him! He's even mentioned in David Lloyd's autobiography where he's described as the heckler from Rawtenstall. Used to be a fixture in the Bob Lord Stand on Burnley Reserve games in the 1990s, and I once met him randomly walking along Scarborough sea front in about 1999 - presume he was there to watch the Yorkshire game which was being played at the time. The word 'character' could have been invented for him.

Indeed he could. Jackie had his own advertising board behind one of the goals at the old Dark Lane Ground. Was actually chatting about him recently and the many incidents of Jackie heckling opposition players down at Rawtenstall and his classic repetition of ‘what score is it’ to an unfortunate fielder on the boundary as his head popped over the wall! A former Burnley cricketer recalled being chased off the pitch by Jackie after he ran out a Rawtenstall batsman in the 80’s!

[groove]

Great article. I'm one of the lads of a certain age named Leighton after Taffy, albeit my middle name. Also knew 3 others around the same age growing up in Accy. All Clarets.

[fatboy47]

A couple of mares and I recently spent a couple of hours chatting with Colin Waldron.

Don't come on here with your Rovers crap.

[Mondsley]

Don't come on here with your Rovers crap.

I know, shocking. Apologies.