Dave Burnley

[Claretmutt]

Does any fellow clarets know if and when
his third book is being published. I’ve read first two and found them a great read.

[Marney&Mee]

Never been to an away game apparently…

[equinox]

Surely his books will all be the same?

Lie on the settee, go to football, lie on the settee, go to football, lie on the settee....recurring.

[Down_Rover]

Never been to an away game apparently…

I saw him at Salford for the league cup game a year or two back

[burnmark]

I didn’t know he was publishing a third book. I thought the first book was much better than the second in regards to writing style and the stories described which seemed to more Burnley FC based rather than away from football.

Good luck to him though and I’ll definitely buy it if it does come out.

[Blue Skies]

A tad harsh equinox, I have travelled with DB and have the odd tot with him. He can be deeper than BFC at times and can recall some super experiences other than football! As for a third book, maybe?

[Dark Cloud]

A tad harsh equinox, I have travelled with DB and have the odd tot with him. He can be deeper than BFC at times and can recall some super experiences other than football! As for a third book, maybe?

You could ghost write it now you've retired and nowt else to do Blue Skies!

[turfytopper]

I thought the first book was a masterpiece.

[Aclaret]

Top man is Dave, had many great away trips back in the 70s with him.
Always wrote his reports on boozers he went in......what happened to the book of pubs Dave ?

[Claret86]

I met Dave at the designated Burnley pub in Arcos for the Cadiz friendly. What a legend he is. Nice guy as well

[Culmclaret]

I dip into Vol 1 from time to time . which brings back many happy memories of a different world. A time when our two most dedicated supporters were called Burnley and Blackburn!

[Tribesmen]

I do like the story in the 2nd book whe he was called the ships cat .

[Woodleyclaret]

Nigel Blackburn travelled up from Dover and I had meals with him and his mate Scott from Barnet, can't remember his first name ,many times on away trips with the London supporters

[Quicknick]

Top man is Dave, had many great away trips back in the 70s with him.
Always wrote his reports on boozers he went in......what happened to the book of pubs Dave ?

Indeed he did. I lived in the house that Dave was born in, five miles from Keele University, when I was a student. Got to know him, too. Went to Leeds away in my clapped out 2CV6 with him. A fascinating bloke.

[PoshClaret]

I had no idea that "Nigel From Dover" was called Nigel Blackburn. I had a spare comp some years ago for the Clarets game at Peterborough and I gave it to him. He was a regular at away games in those days.
I also used to see Dave Burnley at away games - and I read his first book. If I see him again, I will give him a copy of mine!

[Frenchclaret]

Saw him at Portsmouth away quite recently.

[Cajun]

Happy to call Ralphy a friend since the mid-70s. Shared a few adventures on the road with him way back when and even crop up in and took a photo in a story featured in his first book.

[sjb]

Saw him at Portsmouth away quite recently.

Dave Burnley or Nigel Blackburn?

[IanMcL]

Surely his books will all be the same?

Lie on the settee, go to football, lie on the settee, go to football, lie on the settee....recurring.

An appalling statement and far from the truth.

[Rowls]

Clearly Dave's level of obsession puts him at the extremity of human behaviour. His devotion goes well beyond 'normal'.

It's the kind of behaviour that often gets medicalised and medicated these days, especially in children, but those who have had the pleasure of his company will know he's very self aware and good company.

[Tribesmen]

Funny I last saw him in Cork when played a friendly a good few years back . We were both on a bus he was looking for some pub or other .
As always his last words to me was " Keep the faith "

[Wokingclaret]

Nigel Blackburn travelled up from Dover and I had meals with him and his mate Scott from Barnet, can't remember his first name ,many times on away trips with the London supporters

Haven't seen Nigel in a good few years now, but believe he is still in Dover. Sadly Scotty (Keith Scott) passed away last summer. His name was on the memorial list (twice)

[Terrier]

Is it a myth that his daughter is called claret and his son blue?

[Leisure]

Is it a myth that his daughter is called claret and his son blue?

Think she's called Clarette. Don't know about his son.

[Culmclaret]

Nigel Blackburn was a really nice lad. If I remember rightly he worked for what was then Customs and Excise and was able to manage his shifts around Burnley games. In the early 80s I used to think I was a bit extreme going to nearly every game by train from Bristol but Nigel went to every game from Dover. He always had a duffel bag.

[dougcollins]

Think she's called Clarette. Don't know about his son.

The rumour was Clarette Anne Blue.

[Blue Skies]

Rowls for once I disagree. Dave is obsessed but aren't we all. He chose his path and has great stories and experiences to share. Leisure who is a good friend has a similar obsession of attending every game and helps fellow Clarets on his way. CT also, it's all relative. The guy is a nice bloke but has quirks and can be cranky. There is no intervention from the medical people required.

[Cajun]

Just been in touch with Ralphy and mentioned this thread. For sake of accuracy he asked me to clarify that his daughter, who has been living in Australia for a few years now, is named Clarette Annalisa. She’s always loved her name as I recall

[Leisure]

Just been in touch with Ralphy and mentioned this thread. For sake of accuracy he asked me to clarify that his daughter, who has been living in Australia for a few years now, is named Clarette Annalisa. She’s always loved her name as I recall

Does Dave also have a son?

[Leisure]

Clearly Dave's level of obsession puts him at the extremity of human behaviour. His devotion goes well beyond 'normal'.

It's the kind of behaviour that often gets medicalised and medicated these days, especially in children, but those who have had the pleasure of his company will know he's very self aware and good company.

Not sure why it should be considered an obsession to want to support/follow your team??

[Rowls]

Not sure why it should be considered an obsession to want to support/follow your team??

It's not a slight against the guy Leisure. There's zero pejorative intent in the word at all.

It's a fantastic achievement but there's no other word for it.

There are hundreds and thousands of us Burnley fans alone. Millions of others up and down the country all following their teams.

But how many of us have clocked up 51 years without missing a single game (including the COVID lockdown period)?

There might be one or two in the whole country, if that.

It's a stupendous achievement by Dave and I was happy to be able to congratulate him personally at Watford.

Obsession is the perfect word and here's hoping Dave keeps his run going for many, many years and decades to come.

[Cajun]

Does Dave also have a son?

No.

[Rowls]

Rowls for once I disagree. Dave is obsessed but aren't we all. He chose his path and has great stories and experiences to share. Leisure who is a good friend has a similar obsession of attending every game and helps fellow Clarets on his way. CT also, it's all relative. The guy is a nice bloke but has quirks and can be cranky. There is no intervention from the medical people required.

Hi Blue Skies

I'm not sure if or what we 'disagree' about TBH.

It seems that you might think that my description of Dave as 'not normal' was an insult? It certainly wasn't intended as anything of the sort.

His devotion goes far beyond the average fan. It's exceptional.

It's very easy for misunderstandings to arise when we're communicating without face-to-face interaction but for the record, I think Dave's great company and a very nice bloke. I hardly know him but I like the guy.

[AndrewJB]

I met David Burnley in Faro in the summer of ‘23, on the way to the Huelva game. My partner used to work with a friend of his - Michael Rainbird, who is a Watford fan - and he got Dave’s first book signed for me. Dave’s a good guy. I wouldn’t say he’s any more on the spectrum than most people, but like a lot of people I know he’s chosen an alternative life to what the mainstream would consider “normal.” There is an element of ‘the grifter’ around him, but that is how he’s inveighed himself into seeing Burnley play in games like at Anfield when we won for the first time since ‘74.

[Bop]

Nice guy. Local to me. A proper Claret.

[Dark Cloud]

He's a lovely guy and always happy to chat, especially if there's a pint involved. I was only chatting to him in The Brew-m before the Sheffield Utd game and saw him in the seats at QPR. His only issue from my point of view is he's always insanely optimistic about our chances and always believes we're going to win and as my user name betrays, I'm completely the opposite!

[Aclaret]

Obsession is the perfect word and here's hoping Dave keeps his run going for many, many years and decades to come.

Many years ago Dave once told me, that whilst at school he decided to dedicate his life to BFC.....I'm not sure if Dedication and obsession are the same Rowls ?

[IanMcL]

Think she's called Clarette. Don't know about his son.

I wonder, if when choosing her name, it was a toss up between Tits, Fanny or Clarette?

[Culmclaret]

I met David Burnley in Faro in the summer of ‘23, on the way to the Huelva game. My partner used to work with a friend of his - Michael Rainbird, who is a Watford fan - and he got Dave’s first book signed for me. Dave’s a good guy. I wouldn’t say he’s any more on the spectrum than most people, but like a lot of people I know he’s chosen an alternative life to what the mainstream would consider “normal.” There is an element of ‘the grifter’ around him, but that is how he’s inveighed himself into seeing Burnley play in games like at Anfield when we won for the first time since ‘74.

I well remember a be-stubbled Dave always trying to get through the kids turnstiles at way games in the early 80s! To be fair it sometimes worked

[Quicknick]

The rumour was Clarette Anne Blue.

Definitely Clarette Anne Blue, and she's gone on record as saying she is proud of the name.

[Quicknick]

Nice guy. Local to me. A proper Claret.

Bop, do you live near Madeley/Wrinehill?

[Bop]

Sandbach pal.

[fidelcastro]

I wonder, if when choosing her name, it was a toss up between Tits, Fanny or Clarette?

How old are you?

[equinox]

An appalling statement and far from the truth.

Go on then Ian, educate me.

[IanMcL]

Go on then Ian, educate me.

If you read his first book, you would understand that Dave had lots of jobs, to earn money, to fund his quest to follow the team. He lost his jobs, each time there was a clash between work and football.

[equinox]

If you read his first book, you would understand that Dave had lots of jobs, to earn money, to fund his quest to follow the team. He lost his jobs, each time there was a clash between work and football.

Of course watching football is more important than earning a living.

[IanMcL]

Of course watching football is more important than earning a living.

He earned his living! He just chose a different means to spend his earnings.

If he had not worked and yet Sat on his settee and then spent his 'free' money on watching football, then I would be inclined to agree with you. That is not what he did at all. Worked to fund his football. Successful at it too!

[Blue Skies]

Whilst appalling maybe too strong, Ian is obviously alluding to your statement there is nothing else in DB'S world other than lie on the sofa and watching Burnley. That is nowhere near the truth as the rest of this thread and fellow Clarets have pointed out.

[equinox]

Ian is suggesting that work got in the way of watching football for Dave, one had to go and apparently that was work.

[Dark Cloud]

Dave would generally only take part time and temporary jobs down the years, because (obviously) nothing had to be allowed to interfere with Clarets fixtures, but he definitely worked so he could fund his "hobby". Working for Mr Kipling is I believe one of his favourites! (Maybe he has a sweet tooth?)