Made my day ...

[Clarets4me]

I was just jumping in the car an hour or so ago, when an older gent was walking past with his dog and we exchanged pleasantries, got talking and it turned out to be Jim Thomson, our longstanding defender from the 1970's, a lovely man ... chatted about this and that, mainly football. I wasn't exactly turned back into a 12 year old from 1975 meeting one of my idols, but it's rather made my day ..

[ClaretTony]

Must have been somewhere near Ightenhill Park.

You should have asked him how good a player he thought Colin Waldron was. He and Waldron are big mates but love to wind each other up.

In a match programme a few years ago, Thomson was asked some questions and said Preston in 1973 was his favourite game. The piece then added with a quote that he still couldn't believe Waldron scored the goal because he was bloody rubbish.

They are like a comedy routine but two top blokes.

[Elizabeth]

Jim is always worry a mentioned, a much loved ex player

[Spike]

I wish I was older and wiser when I saw the 72/73 team being just 15 when we won the league
I loved that team but wish I could go back in time to see how really good they were

[dougcollins]

I always thought Jim was the hard man of the outfit, and Waldo the brains.

He won't like that..

[Dressinggown]

He lived around the corner from me in the Rosehill area during the 70's & 80's. I went to school with his two sons.

Jim and his wife were always welcoming to any visitors.

Top bloke.

[Bop]

Mid to late 70’s. My mother broke down in her Triumph Spitfire with the windy wipers not working in a storm. Padiham Road. A lovely gentleman stopped and assisted her recovery. Cheers Big Jim. Always a favourite after that. A real gentleman that we used to see regularly at The Turf. I wonder if he’s still around? A solid centre half. Nothing flash.

[Clarets4me]

Mid to late 70’s. My mother broke down in her Triumph Spitfire with the windy wipers not working in a storm. Padiham Road. A lovely gentleman stopped and assisted her recovery. Cheers Big Jim. Always a favourite after that. A real gentleman that we used to see regularly at The Turf. I wonder if he’s still around? A solid centre half. Nothing flash.

As you can see from my O/P, very much still around ... I'm sure that Jim has told this tale many times , so he won't mind me repeating it ..

He was signed in 1965 for Chelsea by Tommy Docherty and made 39 League appearances, before coming to Burnley in 1968, after Harry Potts approached the then Chelsea Manager Dave Sexton, asking if he was available. He was called into Sexton's Office, and told that the Club had received an enquiry. Jim had rather fallen out of favour, and aged 21, wanted a move. " It's a northern Club " ventured Sexton, " I'll sign " replied Jim .. " You don't know who it is yet ", countered Sexton ... Jim then recalled that the furthest north that Sexton had been as a player or manager was Luton Town, and to him, the " North " might mean anywhere further north of the Thames than Stamford Bridge already was ..

Jim then told me that he knew that Burnley was half the distance back to his home city of Glasgow, and that was good enough for him ! Luckily for all Clarets, it began a 13 year playing career for Burnley FC, and he still lives here, apparently hale and hearty, to this day ...

[Quicknick]

Jim Thomson was a very good centre half.

[beeholeclaret]

Great tale C4m.

How good it was to be a young teen watching Jim
Thomson and the team win the 2nd Division and go onto challenge at the top of the First. Happiest carefree days of my life!

[ClaretTony]

I wish I was older and wiser when I saw the 72/73 team being just 15 when we won the league
I loved that team but wish I could go back in time to see how really good they were

I was 21 when we won the league with that team - and they really were a very good side, the one problem was that we had a good team but hardly anything else behind that. Once Thomas had gone, we knew what the team was every week - Alan Stevenson, Mick Docherty, Keith Newton, Martin Dobson, Colin Waldron, Jim Thomson, Geoff Nulty, Frank Casper, Paul Fletcher, Doug Collins, Leighton James. Sub: Billy Ingham.

Some amazing talent in that team.

[beeholeclaret]

I was 21 when we won the league with that team - and they really were a very good side, the one problem was that we had a good team but hardly anything else behind that. Once Thomas had gone, we knew what the team was every week - Alan Stevenson, Mick Docherty, Keith Newton, Martin Dobson, Colin Waldron, Jim Thomson, Geoff Nulty, Frank Casper, Paul Fletcher, Doug Collins, Leighton James. Sub: Billy Ingham.

Some amazing talent in that team.

My scrapbook is now tucked away in the loft but I must have autographs from those players close to 50 times for each of them. Mainly home matches at the green door into the cricket field stand but others from away matches in the North of England.

[ClaretTony]

My scrapbook is now tucked away in the loft but I must have autographs from those players close to 50 times for each of them. Mainly home matches at the green door into the cricket field stand but others from away matches in the North of England.

Even Doug Collins? He hated signing for anyone.

Waldron once told him that one day no one would want his autograph to which Collins replied: "Good".

[Silkyskills1]

Remember Jim Thomson joining us. Did he make his debut against Chelsea or was he part of the Chelsea team we played the week before he signed for us. Very confused .......... increasingly.

[Quicknick]

Remember Jim Thomson joining us. Did he make his debut against Chelsea or was he part of the Chelsea team we played the week before he signed for us. Very confused .......... increasingly.

He got completely annihilated by Liverpool's Peter Thompson on what I recall was Jim's debut.

[beeholeclaret]

Even Doug Collins? He hated signing for anyone.

Waldron once told him that one day no one would want his autograph to which Collins replied: "Good".

Ha ha brilliant. I don’t remember ever having a problem getting his signature. I can remember standing in the rain after a reserve match and getting the signature of a young Alan Gordon. 5 minutes later after legging it to the bus station he was sat in front of us on the Rosehill bus heading back to his digs. I can assure you there was no glamour being a pro footballer on days like that.

[ClaretTony]

He got completely annihilated by Liverpool's Peter Thompson on what I recall was Jim's debut.

We played him at right-back that day - and I don't think he ever reached the level of being annihilated.

[GetIntoEm]

Bring him back in a coaching role?

[Buxtonclaret]

I was 21 when we won the league with that team - and they really were a very good side, the one problem was that we had a good team but hardly anything else behind that. Once Thomas had gone, we knew what the team was every week - Alan Stevenson, Mick Docherty, Keith Newton, Martin Dobson, Colin Waldron, Jim Thomson, Geoff Nulty, Frank Casper, Paul Fletcher, Doug Collins, Leighton James. Sub: Billy Ingham.

Some amazing talent in that team.

We were short of a couple of players. And then there was the sales ......
But that's all that stopped that side that came up winning a 1st Division title.
The were that good
And I'll never be convinced otherwise.

[beeholeclaret]

We were short of a couple of players. And then there was the sales ......
But that's all that stopped that side that came up winning a 1st Division title.
The were that good
And I'll never be convinced otherwise.

And the injuries too.

Think we signed Noble and we had Hankin, Brennan, Flynn and Rodaway coming through before crippling injuries to Casper and Docherty. M

Agree with all of your sentiments. We certainly had a chance but sadly it wasn’t to be.

[ClaretTony]

We were short of a couple of players. And then there was the sales ......
But that's all that stopped that side that came up winning a 1st Division title.
The were that good
And I'll never be convinced otherwise.

Crucial losses - Casper to injury and then Dobson, Nulty & James in transfers. Only real incoming was Peter Noble while players such as Billy Rodaway, Ray Hankin, Ian Brennan & Brian Flynn stepped up.

With a little bit of investment, this team would be right up there as one of our greatest.

Fletcher once told me it was a team of good players mixed with five greats, those greats being Stevenson, Newton, Dobson, James and Casper. He’s right but he and the rest of us should never undervalue the contributions from the rest of them including Fletcher himself who was the perfect foil for Casper.

[Buxtonclaret]

Crucial losses - Casper to injury and then Dobson, Nulty & James in transfers. Only real incoming was Peter Noble while players such as Billy Rodaway, Ray Hankin, Ian Brennan & Brian Flynn stepped up.

With a little bit of investment, this team would be right up there as one of our greatest.

Fletcher once told me it was a team of good players mixed with five greats, those greats being Stevenson, Newton, Dobson, James and Casper. He’s right but he and the rest of us should never undervalue the contributions from the rest of them including Fletcher himself who was the perfect foil for Casper.

Some may raise an eyebrow, but my dad always said, around that time, had Frank been up front for some 'fashionable' big City club, he'd be for England.
He was usually pretty measured in those observations.

[ClaretTony]

Some may raise an eyebrow, but my dad always said, around that time, had Frank been up front for some 'fashionable' big City club, he'd be for England.
He was usually pretty measured in those observations.

The way he was playing when Spurs did him early in 1973/74 season, I remain convinced he’d have been called up for England.

[Clarets4me]

The way he was playing when Spurs did him early in 1973/74 season, I remain convinced he’d have been called up for England.

Just before my time, CT, I've heard it was a young Steve Perryman ?

[beeholeclaret]

Just before my time, CT, I've heard it was a young Steve Perryman ?

Cyril Knowles matey!

[beeholeclaret]

Just a week earlier Frank had masterminded a 3-2 Clarets win at WHL (I think in front of watching England boss Sir Alf Ramsey?).

A week or so later in the return at TM there was to be no repeat and Frank was crocked by Knowles) as teams fought out a 2-2 draw.

[Quicknick]

We played him at right-back that day - and I don't think he ever reached the level of being annihilated.

I remember he was right back. Peter Thompson was brilliant. Ran Jim ragged is my memory, but it is a long time ago.

[ClaretTony]

I remember he was right back. Peter Thompson was brilliant. Ran Jim ragged is my memory, but it is a long time ago.

Jim was never a right back though to be fair

[ClaretTony]

Cyril Knowles matey!

Definitely Knowles

[Stalbansclaret]

He lived around the corner from me in the Rosehill area during the 70's & 80's. I went to school with his two sons.

Jim and his wife were always welcoming to any visitors.

Top bloke.

I remember my Uncle Neville lived opposite him when I was growing up in the early 70s

[ClaretTony]

I remember my Uncle Neville lived opposite him when I was growing up in the early 70s

That would have been just off Manchester Road

[Quicknick]

Jim was never a right back though to be fair

Totally agree. At centre half he was brilliant.

[nig1954]

To be honest I always thought it was Norman Hunter’s tackle on Frank just before the 1973 FA Cup semi final that eventually sealed his retirement. It was a diabolical challenge and whilst not confirmed it was subsequently thought to be that injury which led to the end of his career as from memory he had a very long period of rehabilitation.
Having said that , my memory sometimes lets me down these days

[ClaretTony]

Totally agree. At centre half he was brilliant.

Him & Waldron fitted perfectly together