Lowest attendances

[Herts Clarets]

What are the lowest attendances for competitive Burnley games. I know 1696 v Colchester in 1986 was our lowest home league gate but I saw something on a FB site which showed a gate of 1432 for a Freight Rover game v Stockport in January 1985 (we won 5-1). Is this our lowest ever home gate?

And for away games, I was at Chesterfield in Jan 1986 again for a Freight Rover game where the gate was 1056. Is this our lowest ever away attendance for a competitive game? Sadly, or impressively depending on which way you want to look at it, I was at all 3 of the above games, all 3 of which we won.

[NottsClaret]

I do have the matchday programme from that Colchester match, so must have been there but remember nothing about it.

You didn’t need to be a Platinum Member to guarantee a ticket for that one.

[randomclaret2]

I didnt go to the Stockport game but was at the other 2

[Herts Clarets]

I do have the matchday programme from that Colchester match, so must have been there but remember nothing about it.

You didn’t need to be a Platinum Member to guarantee a ticket for that one.

If you got to the ground early enough back then and had a pair of boots, you had a chance of getting a game

I think the matchball sponsor for the Colchester game will be of interest if you still have the programme.....

[durhamclaret]

What are the lowest attendances for competitive Burnley games. I know 1696 v Colchester in 1986 was our lowest home league gate but I saw something on a FB site which showed a gate of 1432 for a Freight Rover game v Stockport in January 1985 (we won 5-1). Is this our lowest ever home gate?

And for away games, I was at Chesterfield in Jan 1986 again for a Freight Rover game where the gate was 1056. Is this our lowest ever away attendance for a competitive game? Sadly, or impressively depending on which way you want to look at it, I was at all 3 of the above games, all 3 of which we won.

I was at Hartlepool for a Football League Trophy game not sure about the year but the attendance was sub 1000, think it was 900 and odd and I think this was the lowest attendance for a Burnley competitive game, no doubt someone like Claret Tony would be able to confirm or otherwise.

[clarets1978]

I was at Hartlepool for a Football League Trophy game not sure about the year but the attendance was sub 1000, think it was 900 and odd and I think this was the lowest attendance for a Burnley competitive game, no doubt someone like Claret Tony would be able to confirm or otherwise.

I was just going to mention this Hartlepool game. I think it was 1996

[clarets1978]

Hartlepool away 10th December 1996 attendance 921.

[clarets1978]

I think the lowest home attendance I have been in and is also outside of the low point of the 80s was the Charlton League cup tie in 1996 which was around 2000

[Buxtonclaret]

Also a midweek game at Wimbledon in that Full Members Cup in the early 80s.
We got stuffed & if there were more than 500/600 on, I'll be shocked.

[clarets1978]

Also a midweek game at Wimbledon in that Full Members Cup in the early 80s.
We got stuffed & if there were more than 500/600 on, I'll be shocked.

Group Cup Semi Final 1982 given as 1267

[Herts Clarets]

Just to add a bit of interest, the FB page shows the whole 1st round of the 1985/6 Freight Rover tournament. Across the north and south regions, there were 7 scorers who were either ex Clarets or to become Clarets in the future. The teams were:

Mansfield
Bolton
Bolton
Blackpool
Rochdale
Hereford
Halifax


Can you name the scorers.....

[Buxtonclaret]

Group Cup Semi Final 1982 given as 1267

I'm shocked!
Was on that night with a few London friends. Plough Lane looked pretty empty.




.....obviously due to alcohol consumption!

[claretonthecoast1882]

Just to add a bit of interest, the FB page shows the whole 1st round of the 1985/6 Freight Rover tournament. Across the north and south regions, there were 7 scorers who were either ex Clarets or to become Clarets in the future. The teams were:

Mansfield
Bolton
Bolton
Blackpool
Rochdale
Hereford
Halifax


Can you name the scorers.....

Oghani & ? Bolton
Whatmore Mansfield ?
Deary Blackpool

[Herts Clarets]

Oghani & ? Bolton
Whatmore Mansfield ?
Deary Blackpool

3 correct answers

[claretonthecoast1882]

3 correct answers

I will let someone else have a go at the others (meaning I have no idea )

[durhamclaret]

If you got to the ground early enough back then and had a pair of boots, you had a chance of getting a game

I think the matchball sponsor for the Colchester game will be of interest if you still have the programme.....

A certain Mr Tony Scholes ?

[sjb]

Also a midweek game at Wimbledon in that Full Members Cup in the early 80s.
We got stuffed & if there were more than 500/600 on, I'll be shocked.

I travelled to that game by coach and we only found out The Clarets were playing a reserve team halfway through the journey to London. I had the 'pleasure' of sitting next to a well known member of the Suicide Squad for most of the journey. We lost 0-5 and it was a long trip home..

[Herts Clarets]

A certain Mr Tony Scholes ?

One and the same. He tells of a shocking attitude shown to him by one of our Directors at the time, which having worked at the club in the mid 90s and had the pleasure or otherwise of dealing with most of the Directors each home game, came as no surprise to me.

[maccclaret]

Just to add a bit of interest, the FB page shows the whole 1st round of the 1985/6 Freight Rover tournament. Across the north and south regions, there were 7 scorers who were either ex Clarets or to become Clarets in the future. The teams were:

Mansfield
Bolton
Bolton
Blackpool
Rochdale
Hereford
Halifax


Can you name the scorers.....

Comstive the other Noblot scorer.
Taylor for Rochdale.

[ClaretTony]

I do have the matchday programme from that Colchester match, so must have been there but remember nothing about it.

You didn’t need to be a Platinum Member to guarantee a ticket for that one.

My claim to fame is that, getting my name on the front cover of the programme.

[ClaretTony]

One and the same. He tells of a shocking attitude shown to him by one of our Directors at the time, which having worked at the club in the mid 90s and had the pleasure or otherwise of dealing with most of the Directors each home game, came as no surprise to me.

Bernard Rothwell - I had guests with me and he treated them appallingly too, threatening to throw them out because he didn't know who he was and probably wanted them to think he was important. Three people rescued the night for us that night, Leighton James, Joe Gallagher and Billy Rod.

[Herts Clarets]

Comstive the other Noblot scorer.
Taylor for Rochdale.

Taylor yes, Comstive no

[Dazzler]

Just to add a bit of interest, the FB page shows the whole 1st round of the 1985/6 Freight Rover tournament. Across the north and south regions, there were 7 scorers who were either ex Clarets or to become Clarets in the future. The teams were:

Mansfield
Bolton
Bolton
Blackpool
Rochdale
Hereford
Halifax


Can you name the scorers.....

Rick Holden? Halifax

[Herts Clarets]

Rick Holden? Halifax

Not Rick Holden

Correct so far:

Mansfield Whatmore
Bolton Oghani
Bolton
Blackpool Deary
Rochdale Taylor (fits both ex and future Claret categories)
Hereford
Halifax

[Dazzler]

John Francis for Halifax?

[Herts Clarets]

John Francis for Halifax?

Correct so far:

Mansfield Whatmore
Bolton Oghani
Bolton
Blackpool Deary
Rochdale Taylor (fits both ex and future Claret categories)
Hereford
Halifax Francis

Just Hereford and the second Bolton scorer to get

[claretonthecoast1882]

Is the Bolton one of Wayne Entwistle or Warren Joyce ?

[sjb]

Hereford - Ian Bray?

[Herts Clarets]

Correct so far:

Mansfield Whatmore
Bolton Oghani
Bolton Joyce
Blackpool Deary
Rochdale Taylor (fits both ex and future Claret categories)
Hereford Bray
Halifax Francis

We have a full house

[Woodleyclaret]

I travelled up with the Colchester supporters club (all 52 of them) and won the sweepstake on the result. This was one of our rare victories. I never realised I would be part of one of lowest points
We got back to Layer Road at 630 am.

[Herts Clarets]

I thought Bray would be the trickiest. Didn't play many games for us and scored only once in a 6-1 hammering away at Preston.

[claretonthecoast1882]

I thought Bray would be the trickiest. Didn't play many games for us and scored only once in a 6-1 hammering away at Preston.

I couldn't name anyone who has played for us and Hereford and had you given me 20 clues I wouldn't have got him.

Think that was the game the 6-1 where we left early and ended up in a pub down a side street near the train station and Preston decided to attack it nor realising how many were in there.

[Herts Clarets]

I couldn't name anyone who has played for us and Hereford and had you given me 20 clues I wouldn't have got him.

Think that was the game the 6-1 where we left early and ended up in a pub down a side street near the train station and Preston decided to attack it nor realising how many were in there.

I was at that game and ended up on terracing down the side, to the left of where we stood in 88 for the Sherpa Van N Final as you face the pitch. Police wouldn't let us leave early......

[claretonthecoast1882]

I was at that game and ended up on terracing down the side, to the left of where we stood in 88 for the Sherpa Van N Final as you face the pitch. Police wouldn't let us leave early......

I think we left at half time whatever the score was by then

[sjb]

I think we left at half time whatever the score was by then

4-0. Bray's goal was what was laughably described as a consolation - 6 minutes from the end when we were 6-0 down.

[claretonthecoast1882]

4-0. Bray's goal was what was laughably described as a consolation - 6 minutes from the end when we were 6-0 down.

I hope he whipped his shirt off and ran round the pitch

[Dazzler]

I was at that game and ended up on terracing down the side, to the left of where we stood in 88 for the Sherpa Van N Final as you face the pitch. Police wouldn't let us leave early......

We got out without any fuss... back in the Tim Bobbin with over 30 minutes still to play

[redwasp]

Sad dark days. I used to sit in the Cricket field stand and look at the empty terraces with a few groups stood around, I remember the night there was a firework display on the BeeeHole end. (Nov 5?) . Then I think of the Bradford City replay with 52,000? On.

[Rowls]

My claim to fame is that, getting my name on the front cover of the programme.

Well done to everybody still turning up back then in the dark days.

Did you by any chance have to literally buy and bring the matchday football?

[ClaretTony]

Well done to everybody still turning up back then in the dark days.

Did you by any chance have to literally buy and bring the matchday football?

I can’t remember how much it cost me but we got four tickets. But at least we didn’t have to bring a ball with us.

I never thought of not turning up but it was difficult to watch at times, hard to believe how poor we were.

[Goliath]

Nowhere near the lowest but Dyches first season at home to Hull was spectacularly low. I don't think we got the official figure minus non attending season ticket holders but it must have been about 7k.
I didn't expect to see us back in the PL a couple of seasons later.

[ClaretTony]

Nowhere near the lowest but Dyches first season at home to Hull was spectacularly low. I don't think we got the official figure minus non attending season ticket holders but it must have been about 7k.
I didn't expect to see us back in the PL a couple of seasons later.

Monday night in front of the Sky cameras.

[equinox]

Torquay 1988

[Buxtonclaret]

I travelled to that game by coach and we only found out The Clarets were playing a reserve team halfway through the journey to London. I had the 'pleasure' of sitting next to a well known member of the Suicide Squad for most of the journey. We lost 0-5 and it was a long trip home..

Awful night. And wet!
Hardly anyone on the teamsheet we knew.
Not many other Clarets about.
I'm genuinely surprised the gate being 1000 plus.
I lived/worked in London then. It was a trek from Camden.
My name was mud for a long while afterwards with the lads I conned into going with me.

[Dazzler]

That 6-1 defeat to Preston; I'm sure Ronnie Jepson made his debut for Preston that night and scored a first-half hat trick.

If correct I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it.

[roperclaret]

Well done to everybody still turning up back then in the dark days.

Did you by any chance have to literally buy and bring the matchday football?

I was a ball boy during those days and so was on every home match. You’re half right- there was only one match ball, so there were frequent trips into ‘no man’s land’ to retrieve it before the game could continue. Reserve games were spent sat on the longside terracing as there were no fans in there to chuck it back over the fencing!

[Blue Skies]

Colchester away 1986 has to be one of our lowest away, only 22 in the away end. Last game of the season. No Accy Clarets in them days.There may have been more in the seats. I left before Devine equalised in the last minute. So Colchester could be a common theme.

[Claretforever]

The lowest league attendance is Colchester at 1,696, but the lowest ‘competitive’ in season game is probably the 1,138 that attended our March 1986 Freight Rover Trophy group game against Darlington at home.

There will have been other pre-1926 (accurate recording began), but it’s difficult to say as they are mainly all rounded estimates for all clubs.

[Blue Skies]

Did CT sponsor the Match Ball in any of those games pre 1926?

[ClaretTony]

Colchester away 1986 has to be one of our lowest away, only 22 in the away end. Last game of the season. No Accy Clarets in them days.There may have been more in the seats. I left before Devine equalised in the last minute. So Colchester could be a common theme.

That Devine goal was his last kick in professional football.

We got back on the supporters club coach and suddenly Frank Teasdale & Basil Dearing came running across the road. They gave me & Brian (we were stewarding the coach) some money to pay for drinks so we had a quick pub stop.