The Orient game - Highlights

[Dazzler]

George Courtney spoke at the 30 year Orient reunion dinner. He said he was originally down to ref a 1st division match (sure he said Villa Liverpool)

Villa played at Old Trafford that day and lost 3-1
Liverpool played at Chelsea drew 3-3

Take your pick

[CaptJohn]

I was there on the Bee Hole with my wife and four year old daughter. I'd been to the Crewe and Rochdale games and TBH didn't give us much hope but lady luck shone on us that day. For the ultimate winner to be a Ian Britten header was something out of a fairy tale

[steve1264b]

I know some of us Orient game fans are viewed as being a bit conservative, but i was a season ticket holder in 1972 so saw some very barren years.

I had 2 shares in the club at the time of the orient game, i couldnt sell em when we were given a very good offer, i always fret about.our future, success is survial.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Villa played at Old Trafford that day and lost 3-1
Liverpool played at Chelsea drew 3-3

Take your pick

I can’t remember which game it was but he did say ‘you can imagine my utter delight when I was asked to change and ref at a 4th division game!’.

[Silkyskills1]

I’m sure my dad or older brothers got hold of an audio cassette of the commentary (might have been hospital radio) that had Peter Jones on it.

Yes, I've got a copy of that too.

[Wokingclaret]

I’m sure my dad or older brothers got hold of an audio cassette of the commentary (might have been hospital radio) that had Peter Jones on it.

The great Peter Jones and Jimmy Armfield in the press box at the back of the Bob Lord that day, meet them both, regret not getting a photo. Sport on 2 in them days Radio 2

[JohnDearyMe]

The great Peter Jones and Jimmy Armfield in the press box at the back of the Bob Lord that day, meet them both, regret not getting a photo. Sport on 2 in them days Radio 2

Wonder they said about it all? Always liked Jimmy Armfield

[OrientMascot]

Orient.jpg (42.82 KiB) Viewed 1131 times

I was definitely there!

[dsr]

I’m sure my dad or older brothers got hold of an audio cassette of the commentary (might have been hospital radio) that had Peter Jones on it.

That wasn't Jones' commentary, it was the local hospital radio man. Sorry, can't remember his name. It was an excellent commentary.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

That wasn't Jones' commentary, it was the local hospital radio man. Sorry, can't remember his name. It was an excellent commentary.

Yes that’s the one my memory might be wrong but I thought there was a snippet from Peter Jones at the end of it.

[sjb]

That wasn't Jones' commentary, it was the local hospital radio man. Sorry, can't remember his name. It was an excellent commentary.

Mark Briggs. And Peter Jones was on it talking briefly about the day.

[Burnleyareback2]

My first ever game

[mkmel]

I seem to recall that something happened in the Torquay game on the same day involving a dog getting on to the pitch causing a stoppage. So they had added time in which Torquay got a very late equaliser which kept them up instead of Lincoln.

Maybe I got some of this wrong or even all of it

[sjb]

I seem to recall that something happened in the Torquay game on the same day involving a dog getting on to the pitch causing a stoppage. So they had added time in which Torquay got a very late equaliser which kept them up instead of Lincoln.

Maybe I got some of this wrong or even all of it

It was a police dog called Bryn which bit Torquay's Jim McNichol on the thigh on the 88th minute. McNichol needed 17 stitches & the incident led to a long delay. During the time added on Paul Dobson equalised for Torquay & the point kept them up, relegating Lincoln instead.

[mdd2]

I was in the BL near the Bee Hole end with my 14 and 12 yr old sons my 10 yr old was on hols with school
When we hit Gannow Top having driven from Stockport the traffic jam was huge . My 14 yr old asked if it was because of the game and I said it was Saturday shoppers. How wrong was that. We went from 2000 a game to nearly 20000 for that game. Felt as if we had done the league and cup double at the end.
I got 4 ST for the 87-88 season and been in the same seats with my sons early on and then friends and most recently that 14 yr old and two of his children, for the last 37 yrs and signed up for 25-26 season.
I was also lucky enough to have been at Maine Road in 1960
Those complaining about our games this season should have endured the games in 86-87

[mkmel]

So I was right then about the dog

[ClaretTony]

I’m sure my dad or older brothers got hold of an audio cassette of the commentary (might have been hospital radio) that had Peter Jones on it.

I had a copy of that tape at one time but if I still had it I'd have nothing to play it on.

[Spijed]

This is the tape

[ClaretTony]

At the time of the Orient game I worked with a Blackpool fan. He left Blackpool that day to watch them play Bury at Gigg Lane (where they lost 4-1). On the way he had the radio on which was just discussing our match and our match and our match, so he changed direction and arrived at the Turf, telling me that I (we) needed his support that day more than his own team. He stood with us on the Longside right up to the final whistle and then said to me: "It's all yours now," and went home.

So many memories of that day, one sitting on the pitch with a pint about an hour after the final whistle and then going to my mum & dad's house. By then suffering with dementia and having no understanding of the consequences of defeat, my dad just asked me: "Does that mean we can play again?"

A day that started so horribly for every Burnley fan ended in just pure relief, not celebration, just relief.

[IanMcL]

My first ever game

Could easily have been your last!

[mdd2]

At the time of the Orient game I worked with a Blackpool fan. He left Blackpool that day to watch them play Bury at Gigg Lane (where they lost 4-1). On the way he had the radio on which was just discussing our match and our match and our match, so he changed direction and arrived at the Turf, telling me that I (we) needed his support that day more than his own team. He stood with us on the Longside right up to the final whistle and then said to me: "It's all yours now," and went home.

So many memories of that day, one sitting on the pitch with a pint about an hour after the final whistle and then going to my mum & dad's house. By then suffering with dementia and having no understanding of the consequences of defeat, my dad just asked me: "Does that mean we can play again?"

A day that started so horribly for every Burnley fan ended in just pure relief, not celebration, just relief.

I think it was both a celebration and relief.
There was also a realisation that our club needed support, hence my purchase of ST these past 30+ years

[Herts Clarets]

At the time of the Orient game I worked with a Blackpool fan. He left Blackpool that day to watch them play Bury at Gigg Lane (where they lost 4-1). On the way he had the radio on which was just discussing our match and our match and our match, so he changed direction and arrived at the Turf, telling me that I (we) needed his support that day more than his own team. He stood with us on the Longside right up to the final whistle and then said to me: "It's all yours now," and went home.

So many memories of that day, one sitting on the pitch with a pint about an hour after the final whistle and then going to my mum & dad's house. By then suffering with dementia and having no understanding of the consequences of defeat, my dad just asked me: "Does that mean we can play again?"

A day that started so horribly for every Burnley fan ended in just pure relief, not celebration, just relief.

I had planned an evening of wild celebration so long as we won the game v Orient. In reality, I went home and was physically sick. As Tony says, no celebration, just an overwhelming feeling of relief that I still had a club to support and that things couldn't possibly get any worse.

[sjb]

Mark Briggs. And Peter Jones was on it talking briefly about the day.

I got mixed up with the commentary for the Stockport play off final game which Briggs commentated on. As evidenced above it was Francis Ryan who did the Orient game - I need to dig out the tape & have a listen later.

[JohnDearyMe]

It was a police dog called Bryn which bit Torquay's Jim McNichol on the thigh on the 88th minute. McNichol needed 17 stitches & the incident led to a long delay. During the time added on Paul Dobson equalised for Torquay & the point kept them up, relegating Lincoln instead.

Incredible story which only added to the drama. Here's an account by Jim McNichol from the Guardian years after. The story also features on a Netflix documentary series called "Losers: the Jaws of Victory"

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/ ... uay-united

[dandeclaret]

Orient.jpg
I was definitely there!

Is it in the top 10 crowds you've played in front of?

[dandeclaret]

Looks like I was the only one in the cricket field that day. Nornally the group of us kids who went on were given free reign to go wherever we wanted in a sparsely populated cricket field, normally moving between the tunnel for autographs, to the back of the stand to watch the game. But on this day, the shackles were applied and I had to sit with my grandad and his mates to watch the game.

[Colburn_Claret]

On the Longside, towards the Beehole End. We used to try and stand in line with penalty area. I think we were a little lower down than usual.
Went mental celebrating at the final whistle, but as CT, on the way home all I could feel was relief. Shed a couple of tears on the way hoping the driver wouldn't notice, then I saw he was too.
As an emotional day as any football fan will ever experience.

[ISpeds00]

We didn't play last night.

You didnt get the memo pal - forget it

[CrosspoolClarets]

My first ever Burnley match. Begged my dad to take me on. We were one of the last allowed in the Bob Lord. We ended up sitting on the stairs because the stand was over full. The ground must have been way over capacity, even allowing for the scarce away end.

It’s that kind of thing that hooks you for life even if you don’t know it at the time. I genuinely believe it is why our attendances (especially away) punch so far above our population as a % over the next couple of generations. Unprecedented support follows an unprecedented crisis (for such a historic club).

[Claretnick]

On the Longside, with the same group of friends who stuck together throughout that awful season, this time, and thankfully, with less room to move. I had not slept well for a few weeks as it started feel we were losing the club, the insomnia got much worse after the defeat to Crewe and there seemed no hope.
The hours before the game felt like a wake, truly couldn't see was there much hope but thank fully I was wrong and the Footballing gods smiled on us for once.
Relief and tears at the final whistle and eventually got home exhausted and drained and vowed to never let football get to me like that again,
Then 12 months later sat on a coach pulling away from the rec with tears in my eyes again as we headed for Wembley!
Bloody football!!

[Poulton-le-Claret]

I am lucky enough to say it's before my time this game, but it still makes me feel anxious watching the video.

Quite funny to think that we have 2 active threads running at the minute. One discussing the game where we nearly dropped out of the football league on the back of what must have been an abysmal season and another discussing if drawing at home to Leeds is the worst game people have ever seen.

[billyhamilton82]

Back - Middle Longside in my knock off yellow Ocean Pacific T Shirt

I was on shift at work but paid someone to cover me for two hours so I could only stay for a short while at the end, still gutted about that.

I remember welling up as I ran down the stairs as the emotion hit me at the end.

We had been on all season and after a 0-3 Rochdale defeat on New Years Day onwards we were awful.

We became so complacent about how bad we were as we joked our way through the season, until the joke was on us going into the last few games as we began to realise the enormity of the situation.

I will be totally honest that I very nearly didn't go on, I couldn't bear watching the game that knocked us out of the league and I am sure that would have been the end as rumours were rife that Chalky White and his Dynamoes were waiting in the wings to take over Turf Moor.

In the end I plucked up the courage, but it was more of something I had to do rather than wanting to do.

I'm so glad I did, for scenes and pure emotion that I will never ever forget.

I was on cloud nine and 12 months later we were off to Wembley, it really was the stuff of dreams, at the time, after years in the doldrums.

I'm extremely grateful to all of the players, sadly four of them (that I know of) are no longer with us and obviously Brian.

Rumour has it that Ian Britton, deservedly, never bought a pint in Burnley again.

UTC

[Clarets4me]

At the time of the Orient game I worked with a Blackpool fan. He left Blackpool that day to watch them play Bury at Gigg Lane (where they lost 4-1). On the way he had the radio on which was just discussing our match and our match and our match, so he changed direction and arrived at the Turf, telling me that I (we) needed his support that day more than his own team. He stood with us on the Longside right up to the final whistle and then said to me: "It's all yours now," and went home.

So many memories of that day, one sitting on the pitch with a pint about an hour after the final whistle and then going to my mum & dad's house. By then suffering with dementia and having no understanding of the consequences of defeat, my dad just asked me: "Does that mean we can play again?"

A day that started so horribly for every Burnley fan ended in just pure relief, not celebration, just relief.

Firstly Tony, that is a belting " mate " you had there, and secondly, your Dad asking you that question brought to mind talking to my Dad, who passed last year after suffering with dementia. I never told him his team, Notts County, had been demoted from the League, but only started mentioning them again, when they looked likely to be promoted back, " County are doing well, Dad, having a great season etc " ...

As for the Radio 2 Commentary, Dave Gill, son of former Director Derek, had a complete cassette of the 2nd half, which he kindly lent me many years ago. PeterJones and a young Allan Green were the commentators .. it was indeed the first time in BBC history that a 4th tier game had featured as the 2nd half commentary .. As for myself, I had just come off the pitch at Blackburn Rugby Club, having played for the 2nd XV, grabbed my keys and jumped into my Talbot Solara 1.6L, and listened to the last 15 minutes, still in full kit with a fellow Claret, our scrum-half Richard Bradford. We still talk about it ...

[ClaretTony]

Firstly Tony, that is a belting " mate " you had there, and secondly, your Dad asking you that question brought to mind talking to my Dad, who passed last year after suffering with dementia. I never told him his team, Notts County, had been demoted from the League, but only started mentioning them again, when they looked likely to be promoted back, " County are doing well, Dad, having a great season etc " ...

As for the Radio 2 Commentary, Dave Gill, son of former Director Derek, had a complete cassette of the 2nd half, which he kindly lent me many years ago. PeterJones and a young Allan Green were the commentators .. it was indeed the first time in BBC history that a 4th tier game had featured as the 2nd half commentary .. As for myself, I had just come off the pitch at Blackburn Rugby Club, having played for the 2nd XV, grabbed my keys and jumped into my Talbot Solara 1.6L, and listened to the last 15 minutes, still in full kit with a fellow Claret, our scrum-half Richard Bradford. We still talk about it ...

My mate was a good lad who I've lost contact with. He'd been in the army previously but left having had a bollock shot off in an accident, something he proudly boasted about surprisingly. He was the office joker but a passionate football fan. What he did that day I couldn't have done had it been the other way round but it showed how much focus there was on our game that day.

Everything I did that day, I wondered whether I'd be doing it for the last time. I cried when the final whistle went at Wembley in 2009 but I hope never will I ever have to go through anything like the Orient game again.

[dougcollins]

Wonder they said about it all? Always liked Jimmy Armfield

He always really struggled to say anything good about us.

I remember after that marvellous Barnes goal in the Dyche promotion team he was going on about the defence!

[Herts Clarets]

I'm extremely grateful to all of the players, sadly four of them (that I know of) are no longer with us and obviously Brian.

Rumour has it that Ian Britton, deservedly, never bought a pint in Burnley again.

UTC

Ian Britton, Ray Deakin, Taffy and Peter Hampton the 4 from that side who have passed away in the almost 38 years that have passed by since the Orient game, along with Brian Miller, Jimmy Holland and Arthur Bellamy (apologies if i have missed anyone)

I can confirm that I once had the pleasure of being in the company of Ian Britton in Burnley one evening in the early 2000s and he didn't buy a drink whilst I was with him. At Burnley beer prices 2 decades ago, it was a very small price to pay in recognition of what his goal meant to me personally and to the survival of my club. In the past couple of years I met his 2 sons at a Colne cricket game, one a Claret and one a Chelsea fan, both great lads who are a credit to Ian.

[ClaretPete001]

I went on with my Dad so it was the Bee Hole End.

Grew up with us having a great team and being in the first division in the 70s. Just shows how quickly a club can fall from grace....

[roperclaret]

I’m in those highlights. The ball boy behind the net jumping up and down in the grey tracksuit when Grewcocks shot goes in.

[dsr]

I’m in those highlights. The ball boy behind the net jumping up and down in the grey tracksuit when Grewcocks shot goes in.

In that case I've got your photo on my office wall. The Guardian had a photo taken from the other end showing the ball going in the corner, with Phil Devaney, a ball boy, and the front dozen rows of the Cricket Field stand all rising to their feet (well, Devaney and you were already stood up!).

All bar one man who was sat down looking a bit grumpy. I never worked that out. Perhaps he had bad legs and couldn't get up fast and it hurt him to do it?