Burnden Park, Bolton - old football grounds remembered (i)

[jdrobbo]

One of those old grounds that I know I would have loved. Different stands, plenty of character, a dodgy supermarket and those blue and white striped goals.

My Auntie Barbara (my dad’s aunt really) was a huge Wanderers fan. She would have been 100 a few weeks back, had she still been with us. She didn’t rate Coyle too much and following her passing, her ashes were sprinkled on the pitch in Horwich. Her favourite player of the modern era, was Ivan Campo!

Any personal memories? Stories?

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[Funkydrummer]

It was OK if you managed to avoid the traps laid by their fans.

Awkward place to leave in one piece in my experience.

[Quickenthetempo]

I only went once in the 90s and we got beat 4 nil. I was in the side Paddock where missiles were getting thrown back and forth all game.

I should have gone to the onsite supermarket instead.

[NL Claret]

mates at school were Bolton fans and went with them to Burnden quite a few times in the 80s and 90s. Rough old place. What I find so noticeable about Burnden Park is how high up the pitch is from the running track and terraces. You could stand on the first row of the terraces and be below pitch level.

Burnley memories of Burnden.

1986 ish winning 3-1 , a few early goals, stood with Bolton fans

1988 - lost 2-1 , Taffy eating bananas thrown at Oghani. Lively on the Burnden terrace with all sorts of missiles exchanged, trouble outside post match.

1994 - sat with Bolton fans - lost 4-0. Conroy had our only shot of the game that rebounded off the supermarket. Me and my dad must have looked a bit a suss leaving when Bolton got their 4th after 60 odd minutes

[RammyClaret61]

S**t Hole

[NL Claret]

It was OK if you managed to avoid the traps laid by their fans.

Awkward place to leave in one piece in my experience.

I know a few Bolton lads who say the same about Burnley away back in the day!!

Me Sainsbury’s driver tells a story about making their way back to their transit / mini bus and in the distance they could see been turned on its side!

[ClaretTony]

My first visit was way back in 1964 at Easter and they beat us 2-1. This was long before the supermarket was built on the terracing. Last visit was in 1995, two years before they left town.

Horrible ground to be honest.

[bfcjg]

Proper ground but rough after going to the train station, in fact rough before the game and during the game. The siege of the pub where lots of Clarets were trapped inside is legendary ( was it called the Manchester ? )

[NL Claret]

Proper ground but rough after going to the train station, in fact rough before the game and during the game. The siege of the pub where lots of Clarets were trapped inside is legendary ( was it called the Manchester ? )

Bradford Arms?

[Whitgord]

Only ever time I got punched coming away from a game was at Burnden.

[bfcjg]

Bradford Arms?

I think it was, it was Manchester Road.

[NL Claret]

I think it was, it was Manchester Road.

Yes Manchester Road, it’s still pretty grim round there, think that pub is printing business now. Have done my shopping on Burnden Park and had a work out when there was a gym on there.

[bfcjg]

Yes Manchester Road, it’s still pretty grim round there, think that pub is printing business now. Have done my shopping on Burnden Park and had a work out when there was a gym on there.

I nearly got a doc mart sole printed on my head

[nil_desperandum]

January 1983. One of our most embarrassing away days, and my last visit to Burnden
We were so bad that their keeper, aided by a strong wind and egged on by the crowd, kept having a pop at goal, until inevitably one eventually sailed over our keeper's head and into our net. At that point we left.

[longsidetrumpet]

mates at school were Bolton fans and went with them to Burnden quite a few times in the 80s and 90s. Rough old place. What I find so noticeable about Burnden Park is how high up the pitch is from the running track and terraces. You could stand on the first row of the terraces and be below pitch level.

Burnley memories of Burnden.

1986 ish winning 3-1 , a few early goals, stood with Bolton fans

1988 - lost 2-1 , Taffy eating bananas thrown at Oghani. Lively on the Burnden terrace with all sorts of missiles exchanged, trouble outside post match.

1994 - sat with Bolton fans - lost 4-0. Conroy had our only shot of the game that rebounded off the supermarket. Me and my dad must have looked a bit a suss leaving when Bolton got their 4th after 60 odd minutes

That’s the only thing I can remember about going there, how your eyes were actually level with the pitch when down the front

[Tricky Trevor]

I’ve been on when we won with an Ian Brennan rocket, and if memory serves won with a cracker from Neil Grewcock but can’t forget McDonagh scoring past Billy O’Rourke and as mentioned you just knew it was coming. A great ground though.

[RammyClaret61]

January 1983. One of our most embarrassing away days, and my last visit to Burnden
We were so bad that their keeper, aided by a strong wind and egged on by the crowd, kept having a pop at goal, until inevitably one eventually sailed over our keeper's head and into our net. At that point we left.

And just a few days later we went to White Hart Lane and won!!

Funny game football.

[blatherwickstattoos]

I only went once in the 90s and we got beat 4 nil. I was in the side Paddock where missiles were getting thrown back and forth all game.

I should have gone to the onsite supermarket instead.

I went to that too. Dad got food poisoning off a hot dog and turned vegetarian after it haha

[Jimmymaccer]

January 1983. One of our most embarrassing away days, and my last visit to Burnden
We were so bad that their keeper, aided by a strong wind and egged on by the crowd, kept having a pop at goal, until inevitably one eventually sailed over our keeper's head and into our net. At that point we left.

Yep, persuaded my dad to take me that day………another great decision.

As an aside didn’t they gave a massive drop at the side of the pitch?

[ElectroClaret]

1988 - lost 2-1 , Taffy eating bananas thrown at Oghani. Lively on the Burnden terrace with all sorts of missiles exchanged, trouble outside post match.

Jesus, that was frightening coming off that game.

We were parked behind the supermarket end, and as we drove off, we were in a line of traffic crawling to the road.

As we got towards the road, there were Bolton fans grouped around the exit, checking cars number plates.
If any mentioned a Burnley garage, their windows were getting put through. You could actually see the glass shattering up the line.

So we all thought Christ we're in bother here.
Anyway, the Old Bill turned up just as we inched forward and dispersed the Bolton bellends.

Almost as bad as the old Ayresome park up Boro.

[hoskinsgoalatswansea]

Me and a mate went there during the 86/87 season for a Freight Rover cup game. We were still at school, and this was our first away game, which had been allowed by our reluctant parents. Went on the supporters bus, which in those days was run by a large chap called Brian I think. Arrived at the ground, got off the bus, was greeted by bricks and other missiles coming out of the darkness, got back on the bus. Eventually made it into the ground, but a thick fog came down to the point, where from our end of the ground, we couldn't see past the halfway line. Only realised we'd equalised when we saw some players coming out of the fog celebrating. Game was called off at half-time.

A bizarre evening all round really for my first away match. I seem to remember there only being about 30 or so Burnley fans. Does anyone else remember being there?

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Me and a mate went there during the 86/87 season for a Freight Rover cup game. We were still at school, and this was our first away game, which had been allowed by our reluctant parents. Went on the supporters bus, which in those days was run by a large chap called Brian I think. Arrived at the ground, got off the bus, was greeted by bricks and other missiles coming out of the darkness, got back on the bus. Eventually made it into the ground, but a thick fog came down to the point, where from our end of the ground, we couldn't see past the halfway line. Only realised we'd equalised when we saw some players coming out of the fog celebrating. Game was called off at half-time.

A bizarre evening all round really for my first away match. I seem to remember there only being about 30 or so Burnley fans. Does anyone else remember being there?

I went to that. Was working in Salford til 6 then drove up. Then had to work out how to get home to Brierfield in the fog because before satnav

[NottsClaret]

It was knackered by the end but still 100 times better than playing in a different town. My grandad lived his whole life in Farnworth and followed Wanderers but barely even spoke about them once they left town.

Very dodgy in the late 80s but going to the Turf wasn’t particularly pleasant for them either to be fair.

[quoonbeatz]

Think I only went once or twice to see us there, definitely went the last time we played there. I went a few times in the Bolton end with a couple of mates who had season tickets, most notably to watch Tony Yeboah playing for Leeds. He was mint. Proper ground.

[RHansburyEsq]

I have a soft spot for Burnden. My mate Rob from school was a big Bolton fan so used to go to games there in the late 80s/90s and he used to come to the Turf when our respective teams were away. So much easier with terracing, no need to sort tickets next to your season ticket seat/swap seats etc. I found both clubs and fans very similar indeed which I suppose is not surprising really. Very different experience the times I went as an away fan though. As others have said it could get a bit lively. Probably no more so than many other grounds at the time though.

[RHansburyEsq]

Ps I think we sometimes forget how lucky we are that the Turf is located where it is. Definitely has its issues but it is vastly superior to grounds outside the centre.

[Herts Clarets]

My first visit there was with my Dad around 1975 for a Bolton v Fulham game. Memorable for 2 things - Fulham's line up featured Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh and George Best. I was only 6 at the time so the magnitude of those players didn't register but I can say I have seen the England World Cup winning captain and arguably one of the all time greatest players in a competitive game.

Next visit was the 1983 debacle with the Bolton keeper scoring in a 3-0 hammering. One after that was the 1988 Easter Mondya game, which featured some of the worst violence I have seen at a ground. All game dodging missiles, Bolton fans at half time breaking a door down underneath the stand and coming through armed with scaffolding poles, widespread attacks on the car park after the game, which was a real worry as I was on crutches with a broken foot so even slower than when I was able bodied. Serious disorder at one of the pubs near the ground already mentioned and then the train attacked both at Bolton and then at Blackburn. I believe there was a Rovers fan sent down on the back of that...

[ClaretTony]

My first visit there was with my Dad around 1975 for a Bolton v Fulham game. Memorable for 2 things - Fulham's line up featured Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh and George Best. I was only 6 at the time so the magnitude of those players didn't register but I can say I have seen the England World Cup winning captain and arguably one of the all time greatest players in a competitive game.

Next visit was the 1983 debacle with the Bolton keeper scoring in a 3-0 hammering. One after that was the 1988 Easter Mondya game, which featured some of the worst violence I have seen at a ground. All game dodging missiles, Bolton fans at half time breaking a door down underneath the stand and coming through armed with scaffolding poles, widespread attacks on the car park after the game, which was a real worry as I was on crutches with a broken foot so even slower than when I was able bodied. Serious disorder at one of the pubs near the ground already mentioned and then the train attacked both at Bolton and then at Blackburn. I believe there was a Rovers fan sent down on the back of that...

We played them at home on successive Saturdays in that same 1987/88 season and the disorder at the first one in the FA Cup was horrendous. One week later in the league they had Tommy Cummings and Nat Lofthouse leading the teams out to try and calm things.

[Clive 1960]

it was a old school ground but was a hard ground that was known for there fan's always wanting to have a go at us ..

[Herts Clarets]

We played them at home on successive Saturdays in that same 1987/88 season and the disorder at the first one in the FA Cup was horrendous. One week later in the league they had Tommy Cummings and Nat Lofthouse leading the teams out to try and calm things.

There is footage on You Tube of the pitch invasion at the end of the FA cup game. I know there was a van or mini bus over turned on Fulledge and i nearly got mown down by 2 police horses on the concourse under the CF stand after the game.

[Tribesmen]

Yer have to agree it was a rough place for away fans up there with Wolverhampton for me as bad as it gets .

[morninbob]

When was the superstore built?

[ClaretPete001]

My first visit there was with my Dad around 1975 for a Bolton v Fulham game. Memorable for 2 things - Fulham's line up featured Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh and George Best. I was only 6 at the time so the magnitude of those players didn't register but I can say I have seen the England World Cup winning captain and arguably one of the all time greatest players in a competitive game.

Next visit was the 1983 debacle with the Bolton keeper scoring in a 3-0 hammering. One after that was the 1988 Easter Mondya game, which featured some of the worst violence I have seen at a ground. All game dodging missiles, Bolton fans at half time breaking a door down underneath the stand and coming through armed with scaffolding poles, widespread attacks on the car park after the game, which was a real worry as I was on crutches with a broken foot so even slower than when I was able bodied. Serious disorder at one of the pubs near the ground already mentioned and then the train attacked both at Bolton and then at Blackburn. I believe there was a Rovers fan sent down on the back of that...

I was having a Nelson in the toilets when that happened. From what I could see both sets of fans were bashing at the door but I had no idea it was going to break - it looked like quite a sturdy wooden door and then all of a sudden the thing went through and it was mayhem.

I think the police then got involved and as far as I recall a police office was quite badly injured. I just sat it out in the toilet - not literally obviously no one would consider a number 2 in a football ground in those days or ever really.

If it happened now I would be terrified not only the missiles the fighting but also the sheer number of bodies in a confined space. Being young and daft, I can't recall being bothered other than having to spend ten minutes in a 1980s football stadium toilet: uurrrghhh.

[ClaretTony]

When was the superstore built?

I'm guessing mid 1980s. I'm certain it wasn't there in 1983 for the Billy O'Rourke calamity but was when we played there in the fourth division - might be wrong though.

[The Hung Juror]

January 1983. One of our most embarrassing away days, and my last visit to Burnden
We were so bad that their keeper, aided by a strong wind and egged on by the crowd, kept having a pop at goal, until inevitably one eventually sailed over our keeper's head and into our net. At that point we left.

I have told the story of that day many many times. It was raining, freezing and as you say blowing a gale. Conceding the goal scored by their keeper wouldn’t have been quite as bad had our keeper (Billy O’Rourke I think) not seen their keepers previous clearance bounce on the edge of our penalty area and then just skim our crossbar. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say, but no not our Billy. The next clearance went sailing over his head again, into the net, at which point me and my mate decided we’d give the following Tuesday night league cup game away at Spurs a miss.

As you do, we later after a couple of beers had a rethink and decided to go. 0-0 at half time, they came out and scored straight from the kick off. Then enter Graham Roberts with 2 own goals and 2 from Billy Hamilton. What a night. Frank Casper in caretaker charge after Brian Miller had been sacked on the morning of the game, I think.

Without doubt one of the best games I've ever been to as a Claret.

[jdrobbo]

Good read here:



https://staceywest.net/2022/09/27/forgo ... rk-bolton/

[Silkyskills1]

Been numerous times watching us with mixed results, the one mentioned above with Billy O'Rourke in goal perhaps the most calamitous.
Strangely it's a ground I've visited on a few occasions when we haven't been playing there. Lived a couple of miles away when first got married so maybe that's the reason.
Just checked the year I went for their visit of Man Utd. 0-1 and it was 1963( we had a 0-0 draw at Leicester). Went in late 70's to see the emerging Nottm Forest in an FA Cup replay( first game ended 3-3) and they squeezed the life out of Bolton with a 0-1 win. Another visit was in the early 80's( we won at Boro 1-4 the same day but couldn't afford the journey) with Kevin Keegan playing for Newcastle. Incredible following from Newcastle, over - excited as usual but Bolton just 'picked them off' winning the game 4-0. Don't know why I remember stuff like this but can't remember what I did yesterday
Before the supermarket the ground had been used for semi finals. Definetly recall one in the 60's between Man Utd and Everton and also one, I think, in the early 70's between Man Utd and Leeds( a replay I think).

[Silkyskills1]

A quick check informs me that the superstore appeared in 1986. A ground whose record attendance was just short of 70,000 at one time.

[ClaretTony]

A quick check informs me that the superstore appeared in 1986. A ground whose record attendance was just short of 70,000 at one time.

My memory served me well then

[Clive 1960]

I'm guessing mid 1980s. I'm certain it wasn't there in 1983 for the Billy O'Rourke calamity but was when we played there in the fourth division - might be wrong though.

your right it wasn't there when poor Billy let that fluke in but Jim was trying for a while to get it in the net .

[Clive 1960]

remember one game there when Bolton were playing Chelsea last game of the season when Chelsea went up and took thousands in fact took most of the ground and it wasn't friendly..

[Herts Clarets]

My first visit there was with my Dad around 1975 for a Bolton v Fulham game. Memorable for 2 things - Fulham's line up featured Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh and George Best. I was only 6 at the time so the magnitude of those players didn't register but I can say I have seen the England World Cup winning captain and arguably one of the all time greatest players in a competitive game.

Next visit was the 1983 debacle with the Bolton keeper scoring in a 3-0 hammering. One after that was the 1988 Easter Mondya game, which featured some of the worst violence I have seen at a ground. All game dodging missiles, Bolton fans at half time breaking a door down underneath the stand and coming through armed with scaffolding poles, widespread attacks on the car park after the game, which was a real worry as I was on crutches with a broken foot so even slower than when I was able bodied. Serious disorder at one of the pubs near the ground already mentioned and then the train attacked both at Bolton and then at Blackburn. I believe there was a Rovers fan sent down on the back of that...

Further information on my first visit in 1975 - my Dad parked his Daytona Yellow Mk 3 Ford Cortina, YCW 21M on the car park. I got out of the car and walked round to the driver's side, my Dad was stood at the rear of the car. I pressed the locking button, held the door handle up and closed the door, quite proud that i had locked the car for my Dad. Until he pointed out the keys were still in the ignition....

He spoke to a copper who said go and watch the match, I will see you at full time. Sure enough when we walked back to the car he was stood there with an unlocked Cortina and the keys in his hand. I knwo back then most Ford keys would open any Ford car - I know my Dad "borrowed" his boss's Ford Cortina as part of a prank and that was opened and started using the key to my Dad's car.

[Quickenthetempo]

I went to that too. Dad got food poisoning off a hot dog and turned vegetarian after it haha

Not many will class a hot dog as part of the meat range haha.

[ChorltonCharlie]

Really interesting thread this. Sort of thing that you could do as a weekly series. Sure there’s some great tales of many grounds.

Possibly of more interest to me as my grandad came from over that way and in that old fashioned way followed Bolton as well as Burnley. He was at Burnden on the day of the disaster.

As a kid in the 80’s/90’s I never made it to Burnden. Must have clashed with other things my dad had on. I wouldn’t have thought of Bolton as being that bad a bunch until reading this. By the time I was going away from around 85, violence at football was on the wane. I only really remember seeing trouble at Scarborough, Mansfield at Cardiff, yet reading this was still a regular occurrence at the time at Burnden.

[FCBurnley]

Disgusting horrible place especially in the days of the vicious Roy Hartle etc. But moving to Horwich very nearly turned out to be the end of the club. Pity they survived and thank god we never left the Turf

[Rick_Muller]

I have memories of a trip there as an 18 year old in the late 80's supporting Swindon (in the league cup I think). The away end had the usual aromas associated with terracing in those days and it was my first experience of the coach being bricked by the home supporters when leaving the ground.

I too recall the terrible view of the pitch, not helped by the autumn fog that accompanied the game meaning we only had a view of one goal.

[Dazzler]

I don't recall being involved in any actual fisticuffs when visiting Burnden but got bombarded with missiles a few times on foot and in a vehicle.

[Herts Clarets]

As a kid in the 80’s/90’s I never made it to Burnden. Must have clashed with other things my dad had on. I wouldn’t have thought of Bolton as being that bad a bunch until reading this. By the time I was going away from around 85, violence at football was on the wane. I only really remember seeing trouble at Scarborough, Mansfield at Cardiff, yet reading this was still a regular occurrence at the time at Burnden.

Bolton had a large and quite active firm in the mid to late 80s. I knew a lad who used to deliver to my workplace who got the 5 am knock, I think this was following major disorder in Southend late 80s. And I would say far from violence at football being on the wane by 1985, quite the opposite was true. Some of the more serious stuff involving Burnley was after this - Bolton home and away 87/88, Scarborough 1987, Stockport 1988, Darlington away when the guy climbed the floodlight pylon and at the Turf on the day of the Hillsborough disaster.

[ClaretCliff]

Further information on my first visit in 1975 - my Dad parked his Daytona Yellow Mk 3 Ford Cortina, YCW 21M on the car park. I got out of the car and walked round to the driver's side, my Dad was stood at the rear of the car. I pressed the locking button, held the door handle up and closed the door, quite proud that i had locked the car for my Dad. Until he pointed out the keys were still in the ignition....

He spoke to a copper who said go and watch the match, I will see you at full time. Sure enough when we walked back to the car he was stood there with an unlocked Cortina and the keys in his hand. I knwo back then most Ford keys would open any Ford car - I know my Dad "borrowed" his boss's Ford Cortina as part of a prank and that was opened and started using the key to my Dad's car.

My first car was a Mk2 Cortina. I opened the door one day and then realised I had used my front door Yale key.

[ClaretCliff]

Before the supermarket the ground had been used for semi finals. Definetly recall one in the 60's between Man Utd and Everton and also one, I think, in the early 70's between Man Utd and Leeds( a replay I think).

Just checked and it was 1966 when Everton beat Man Utd and went on to win the cup. We were in the end with the railway running along the back, in amongst Everton fans. Denis Law missed an absolute sitter in front of us.