Brian “benny” Riley

[Madpete]

Went to benny’s funeral in Haslingden today to say goodbye to a staunch supporter of BFC & bumped into a familiar face that I’d not seen for quite a few years…Terry Butterworth who used to do commentary from the Turf for hospital radio.Terry was a great friend of benny & was visibly moved.Too many of my contemporaries are leaving us…RIP benny.

[durhamclaret]

Was Benny the “give us a B” bloke from the old days of the Longside ?

[Andreshotboots]

Played with his lad at Rawtenstall for many years. Benny was a big Haslingden supporter so that caused some family fun when cricket was being discussed .

A lovely chap though, as you say say a devoted Claret and gone far too young. Hopefully the boys do the business for him today.

RIP Benny...

[SSCLARET]

Was Benny the “give us a B” bloke from the old days of the Longside ?

No thae give us a B benny was Stuart Needham who sadly passed a short time ago.RIPto both.

[ClaretTony]

I was told up at York a week last Tuesday that he’d passed away although the name meant nothing to me. I got a shock when I saw his picture. He used to go down Gawthorpe a lot for youth team games and his first game on the Turf was the same as mine, October 1960 against Manchester United.

Really sad news and pleased he got a good send off.

[Vincent'sCap]

Brian (Benny) RILEY


Born January 10, 1952, passed away peacefully on March 22, at Royal Blackburn Hospital,
surrounded by his family, at the age of 73.

Born to Mary and Maurice Riley, Brian lived on Broadway Crescent, Helmshore, before moving to Stacksteads upon marrying his beloved Dolores, who passed away in 1991. He was a devoted father to his daughter Lisa and son Andrew, and their partners Andrew and Jenny, Pappa to Libby, Lois, Dylan, and Amelia, brother to Barbara and also uncle, cousin, brother-in-law and friend to many.

Brian began his working life at the young age of 15 as a vehicle body builder for Rossendale Transport for an impressive 48 years until retirement in 2015.

Aside from his family, Brian’s main passion was sport. He played football for Haslingden and cricket for Haslingden Casuals and was an ardent supporter of Burnley Football Club, following the team home and away and also on pre-season tours. Brian also enjoyed horse racing, socialising, and holidaying in Tenerife with special friends.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, April 4, at 1pm at Haslingden St Mary’s, followed by a burial at Haslingden Cemetery and a reception at Haslingden Cricket Club.
Benny was a lovely guy .

[summitclaret]

Such sad news Benny was a great lad and massive Claret. He was a good footballer. We both played in the all conquering Haslingden Olympics under 15s team in the mid- sixties.

RIP Benny.

[Silkyskills1]

Went to benny’s funeral in Haslingden today to say goodbye to a staunch supporter of BFC & bumped into a familiar face that I’d not seen for quite a few years…Terry Butterworth who used to do commentary from the Turf for hospital radio.Terry was a great friend of benny & was visibly moved.Too many of my contemporaries are leaving us…RIP benny.

A friend of mine from the age of 4/5 when we went to the same junior school in Haslingden. Saw him regularly up until this new year when his illness began to take its hold on him. Kind, unassuming boy and man. As mentioned an avid Claret and I'm sat here now reminiscing of times when we were teenagers catching the Central Motors coach in Accrington along with the likes of Terry McGuire and Les Dearden.
Loved being out with friends, loved his music and one song always reminds me straightaway of him and that's Little Darlin' by Marvin Gaye. I don't know how to put it on here but I'm sure someone will. RIP mate.

[Vincent'sCap]

Here you go Silky for you and Benny.
https://youtu.be/nVMhYVEdhXM?si=X5L7Uxxm3gf8BVDe

[Darnhill Claret]

Hi Summit and Silky, I should know Benny, but I'm not sure that I did.
We were in the same school year, but I guess he went to Helmshore Primary.
I was in the same junior school class as Les Dearden, and I played for Hassy Olympic under 14's, first year they were formed by Ken Gregory.
Ken took us to a few Man City home games when Burnley weren't at home.

RIP Benny.

[Darnhill Claret]

I remember Bacca, at Ossy Colts and Paddy McGriskin at Holy Family and most of the lads who played for Bob Ratcliffe's team managed by his dad Jim Ratcliffe, (St James's?). Moved from Hassy to Accy in 1967.

[Silkyskills1]

Hi Summit and Silky, I should know Benny, but I'm not sure that I did.
We were in the same school year, but I guess he went to Helmshore Primary.
I was in the same junior school class as Les Dearden, and I played for Hassy Olympic under 14's, first year they were formed by Ken Gregory.
Ken took us to a few Man City home games when Burnley weren't at home.

RIP Benny.

Lived in Helmshore but travelled up to Haslingden for junior school at St Mary's which is now the Haslingden Community Link building you can see on Bury Rd. There was a bus brought them from Helmshore and took them back after school. Benny was also big mates later on with Kevin Tuohey, Alan Mead and Kevin Molloy, the former two both dying tragically in the 1970's still in their 20's.

[summitclaret]

Benny at the back. Frannie Lee made an appearance. Credit Garth Dawson.

https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/ptKTxdPzkWzT

[Darnhill Claret]

Yeah, I was friends with Toots, in a competitive way of course. I lived on Prospect Hill and we had a few lads within a couple of years of each other and we used to have footie games against the lads from up Shoot. So from St Mary's we had Jimmy Snowden, John Taylor and brother Steven who also died tragically young, and Mick Sewell. Peter King, school not sure, so possibly St James, and Steven Emmett. Me, Stuart Henks, and Peter Nuttall from County Primary, and Ian and Gary Warburton, (St James?). If Bobby Grimshaw was around, he'd join in. He wasn't very local to us but liked playing on our home made pitch.
At senior school, Gary Ward(gone) and Alan Curtis were in my year.

Come to days approaching November 5th and the rivalry became hostile as we would raid each other's bonfires, lol.

[ClaretTony]

Just seen his date of birth, Benny was just two days older than me.

[Darnhill Claret]

Yeah, I've seen the presentation photo thanks on the Haslingden Community group. Very envious. Every time I see it I look for myself but still not found me. I'll keep looking. From memory, Ian Cliff, Peter Nuttall and Coley played in that first year and 1 or 2 others, Ian Warby I think. Harty was centre half, I played right back.

[Silkyskills1]

Yeah, I was friends with Toots, in a competitive way of course. I lived on Prospect Hill and we had a few lads within a couple of years of each other and we used to have footie games against the lads from up Shoot. So from St Mary's we had Jimmy Snowden, John Taylor and brother Steven who also died tragically young, and Mick Sewell. Peter King, school not sure, so possibly St James, and Steven Emmett. Me, Stuart Henks, and Peter Nuttall from County Primary, and Ian and Gary Warburton, (St James?). If Bobby Grimshaw was around, he'd join in. He wasn't very local to us but liked playing on our home made pitch.
At senior school, Gary Ward(gone) and Alan Curtis were in my year.

Come to days approaching November 5th and the rivalry became hostile as we would raid each other's bonfires, lol.

Well, I would most certainly have been in those football games you mentioned. Jimmy Snowden played for us one year(1966) when we were fortunate enough to win a replayed cup final. Remember a lot of those names you' e mentioned. Happy, carefree days.

[Darnhill Claret]

Must give a mention to Ken Hanson. Ken, Harty and myself really had a good playing friendship on the pitch, always watching out for each other. I think if we'd have had Keith Walkden that first season, we'd have smashed the league and cup. But we had a good first season. Runners-up and Consolation Cup finalists.

[Stayingup]

Sad but a great send off for a great guy. MANY valley folk - and others there. I have a picture of He me and some other mates in Arunel 50 years ago. Nit a tattoo in sight and no shorts.

[Silkyskills1]

'Get in', Benny.

[Darnhill Claret]

Get in.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

A great man. Glad he got a good send off.

[Bfc]

Re Les Dearden and Benny. Les for family reasons has had to fly over from his Cape Town home twice in 6 weeks and I’m picking him up at the airport again on Monday.
Les managed to get on the WBA game and had looked out for Benny before the match and again at half time. I’d warned Les, Benny looked Ill when I’d seen him on the previous Sat match. He flew home the next day, but rang him when he got home and learned, he was not well enough to go the match. Benny then told him of his illness. At least he/they had the chance to have a chat as long time friends, before he passed away.

[ArthurNohair]

Absolute diamond of a bloke. I knew him from playing over at Haslingden st Mary’s. Used to love chatting to him after the games about all things Burnley and Mary’s. Bumped into him for a few pints over the years on Burnley away games too.

I’ll miss our chats. He’ll be sadly missed by many.

[Silkyskills1]

Doesn't seem to matter what is said about Benny the accolades just keep coming. I can't add much more to what's been said already. Sometimes you meet someone in your life that leaves something indelible. It's an aura, call it charisma if you like but to come across someone like him was and is an honour. Love to Lisa Grace, Andrew and his grandchildren.

[AlGreen]

Brian was a lifelong friend since we moved into houses on Broadway Estate, Helmshore in early 1950's. I also played with him with Haslingden Olympic as well as cricket with Haslingden Casuals. His best man when he married Dolores and he later did the same for me. His passing has been heartbreaking for many of us. You won't ever find a better friend or person and his family are just as lovely. The funeral was a tremendous tribute to a super person. RIP Brian.

[RammyClaret61]

Went to benny’s funeral in Haslingden today to say goodbye to a staunch supporter of BFC & bumped into a familiar face that I’d not seen for quite a few years…Terry Butterworth who used to do commentary from the Turf for hospital radio.Terry was a great friend of benny & was visibly moved.Too many of my contemporaries are leaving us…RIP benny.

I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Benny. We traveled together, along with Terry Butts, and Big Hag, everywhere in the 3rd & 4th division days. Also sat just a few seats along from him on the back row of the Bob Lord. Regularly caught up at Cricket, Rammy v Hassy. Always had a chat when I came over. Was sat just in front of him last time on the turf v West Ham in 2023.

RIP Benny. UTC

[helmclaret]

A very emotional send off on Friday and an incredible turn out. It’s hard to think of a more well thought of person. RIP Benny.

[Silkyskills1]

Another one for you, Benny. Promotion achieved, we've done it again. Great support this season and you were very much part of it. Once a Claret always a Claret, mate.

[Bfc]

FAO Silkyskills1, re Les Dearden. I took him on the match with me yesterday, when he told me, he is going over to meet up with an old Helmshore friend Bill? Green. If you know the man, maybe you could get in touch and also have a catch up with him. Les is flying back to Cape Town on Saturday, the day after he has his daughters funeral and said this would be last time he comes back over, so seeing his beloved Clarets win was the bit of good news he has needed, after the last few weeks.

[Bfc]

I’ve just seen the AlGreen poster above, so its maybe you Les is going to meet?