Favourite ever Burnley manager / era

[Acting Claret]

Mullen because football in general was better then. The diving, cheating, var, he’s felt contact, he’s every right to go down era sullies the Dyche memories (although it has nothing to do with him, obviously).
Paying on the gate away, standing, best times for me. Blackpool away, in the club after the game and the team are in having a beer with the fans along with Mullen.

[Elizabeth]

My favourite Burnley manager is a choice between Stan and Jimmy Mullen. I can't add Coyle to that short list because of what he did.

I think the best one has been Harry Potts.i got upset a couple of times reading the book of his life. I've had respect for nearly all of the managers in my lifetime and that goes back as far as Harry.

As a fan I loved Stan's passion and I've always had a soft spot for the unorthodox. He's always been and still is a big part of the town, I still get a happy feeling when I see him out and about.and will always remember his lap of honour after his last game when the crowd were able to show their love and support for him. I hope that will always stay with him.

Jimmy was a bit of an unknown to me when he came to the club and the first thing that appealed to me was his wavy hair and the way he interviewed. Silly I know. Managers project a lot of key messages and Jimmy's first one was never to lose 2 games in a row. That struck a chord with me, I liked his attitude.He made unknown players favourites of the crowd. From memory Mike Conroy and Roger Eli were two such players. Again I would see Jimmy around town , especially the Thompson Centre and he'd always say hello

[MrTopTier]

Mullen for me as well.

The club was on its arse, when the biggest cheer on most given weeks was to the ball boys pre game, then you know how bad it was.

Massive empty spaces on the terraces(longside excepted), crap away followings and hammerings from teams that aren’t in the football league anymore.

What Mullen did was give the place, the team, the fans something to believe in. Hope if you like, the football was decent, one or two gems in amongst the hurly burly of 3rd and 4th division football. Aidy Randall, Mike Conroy, David Eyres and the Tinman.

The away followings were always decent, days out at Wrexham, Halifax and that support grew and grew as the seasons went on. Rochdale away, where every pub was shut. Blackpool, Barnet and York, never seen anything like it coming home from York, every pub we went in the way home was rammed with Burnley fans.

Derby in the cup, absolute scenes, just watch YouTube, non stop singing for the last twenty minutes, rarely have I seen that replicated watching Burnley. It didn’t end well,we know that, it was just ace, whilst it lasted.

[Corway]

Allan Brown is not mentioned much or known to many now but deserves a mention for his stints as a player when he joined on a free at 32 and captained the team to promotion and cup final. In his first season at the club Brown formed what became known as the "Iron Curtain Defence" with fellow defenders Reg Attwell, George Bray, Arthur Woodruff, Harold Mather and goalkeeper Jimmy Strong. Burnley earned promotion from the Second Division at the first attempt, conceding just 29 goals along the way. This was a club record low in a 42-game season, Brown having played in every one. The club also reached the FA Cup final in the same year, losing 1–0 to Charlton Athletic.
After retiring to run a shop in Burnley he tried management returning to be Burnley manager between 1954 -57 when he set up the team, recruited wisely and set up youth development at a new training centre he and some players helped to build
His novel tactics of short corners and free kick routines were copied by others.
Just as things were gelling he suddenly left to go to his home town team in Sunderland. A few years later Harry Potts got the benefit from them in winning the league, being an FA Cup Finalist and playing in the European Cup.

Harry Potts was the most successful and longest serving manager and the one I watched most but I often wonder what Brown would have achieved had he stayed.

His move didn’t go well as Sunderland was in the middle of a series of scandals over illegal payments to players and was struggling at the bottom of the First Division table. Brown saw the appointment as an opportunity to "clean up" the club that he had supported as a child. At a time when paying young players' parents bribe money to sign for a particular club was commonplace, Brown refused to do but the team was relegated. Brown gradually turned the club's fortunes around whilst simultaneously clearing out the corruption and getting promotion but left mid 60s.

[mdd2]

Posted earlier about the players in the 59-60 season signed when Brown was in charge

[Enola Gay]

Kompany's first season, promotion under Coyle, early-era Mullen.

All got me excited to go to games again after their immediate predecessors had me seriously close to packing in regular matchgoing.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

But with Mullen the reverse was happening and we were heading back down.

Like Dyche
Coyle
Stan

He left us at a higher place than he found us. You can’t say fairer than that.

[CaptJohn]

I've really enjoyed this thread and how opinions differ. In terms of football played it has to be Adamson for me but for excitement Mullen and Coyle are worth a shout. I loved the Dyche era but it was never sustainable. Harry Potts was wonderful with limited resources but a pipeline of great youngsters coming through. In some ways most of them have given us something to smile about. With the exception of Bond

[ClaretTony]

Like Dyche
Coyle
Stan

He left us at a higher place than he found us. You can’t say fairer than that.

He'd already had a relegation and the place was in turmoil with him

[ClaretTony]

With the exception of Bond

So not Benson, not Cavanagh, but Bond. Amazing.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

He'd already had a relegation and the place was in turmoil with him

He had. But we were above where he found us.

[ClaretTony]

He had. But we were above where he found us.

Just about but it wouldn't have been the case for much longer I don't think

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Just about but it wouldn't have been the case for much longer I don't think

It’s hard to say. Certainly we didn’t finish well. There were well known issues at the time.

But the thread is about favourite managers / eras. And for me Mullen 91-94 is my favourite.

After that we struggled a bit. But we also fared worse under Waddle. And then Stan in his first season. Where we finished on 55 points ( same as Mullens last season) but with a worse goal difference.

The end of Mullens era was very similar to the end of stans for me. Both had taken us to a better place than they found us. But both were showing signs of going backwards to where they found us. Same with Dyche.

All left at probably the right time.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Just about but it wouldn't have been the case for much longer I don't think

Just about?

We were 12th in the Division above when he was sacked weren’t we?

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Just about?

We were 12th in the Division above when he was sacked weren’t we?

We finished mid table on 55 points.

Same as where we finished under stan a few years later in the exact same points

[turfytopper]

Torquay away with our manager behaving really badly felt a low point.

So it the Mullen period for me, not because he was the best manager (he isn't fit to lace Stans or Seans boots) but because it felt great to watch the clarets again, there was a joy, expectation when we went away, finally getting out of the 4th division. It felt like the beginning of something.


[/quote]

Great post...can you remind me about the Torquay game and expand on your low point? Many thanks.

[mdd2]

Mullen was sacked; Stan's contract was not renewed. And a guy frequently lampooned on here Cotts, did a tremendous job keeping us in the Championship with not a pot to p**s in where many others would have failed. I think the arrival of Brendan Flood gave him some money for the first time and although he brought in players he couldnt make them gel so latterly we were going nowhere BUT he had signed some good pros who were the backbone of our promotion under Coyle I think they included a re-signed Blake, Graham Alexander, Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, Wade, and Gudjohnson. McCann was signed around the time Cotts joined us.

[CaptJohn]

So not Benson, not Cavanagh, but Bond. Amazing.

I never expected anything from Benson or Cavanagh so they didn't let me down. I got really excited about the appointment of Bond and felt really dejected and disappointed with how it all went. Perhaps if Kevin Reeves hadn't been injured it might have finished differently but who knows.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Mullen was sacked; Stan's contract was not renewed. And a guy frequently lampooned on here Cotts, did a tremendous job keeping us in the Championship with not a pot to p**s in where many others would have failed. I think the arrival of Brendan Flood gave him some money for the first time and although he brought in players he couldnt make them gel so latterly we were going nowhere BUT he had signed some good pros who were the backbone of our promotion under Coyle I think they included a re-signed Blake, Graham Alexander, Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, Wade, and Gudjohnson. McCann was signed around the time Cotts joined us.

Cotterill did very well overall. And some decent memories - Liverpool in the cup. And he showed we were getting closer to competing with rovers, with a team with far less resources. But he couldnt quite take us to the next level and its hard to say it was ever exciting. Althoygh akinbiyis debut was!

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Torquay away with our manager behaving really badly felt a low point.

So it the Mullen period for me, not because he was the best manager (he isn't fit to lace Stans or Seans boots) but because it felt great to watch the clarets again, there was a joy, expectation when we went away, finally getting out of the 4th division. It felt like the beginning of something.

Great post...can you remind me about the Torquay game and expand on your low point? Many thanks.
[/quote]

This intrigued me - I genuinely cant remember!

[claretonthecoast1882]

Great post...can you remind me about the Torquay game and expand on your low point? Many thanks.

This intrigued me - I genuinely cant remember!
[/quote]

The play off 1st leg, Frank's antics on the touchline had the look of somebody who had been on an all dayer the day before

[ClaretTony]

Just about?

We were 12th in the Division above when he was sacked weren’t we?

Just lost four on the bounce, he’d become less and less capable, players were just about plotting against him.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Just lost four on the bounce, he’d become less and less capable, players were just about plotting against him.

We were on the same trajectory under Stan and probably Dyche too. It happens eventually.

[Elizabeth]

I've really enjoyed this thread and how opinions differ. In terms of football played it has to be Adamson for me but for excitement Mullen and Coyle are worth a shout. I loved the Dyche era but it was never sustainable. Harry Potts was wonderful with limited resources but a pipeline of great youngsters coming through. In some ways most of them have given us something to smile about. With the exception of Bond

I have too but I wish certain poster(s) would expand more on their choice rather than try and run down other posters choices

[Bordeauxclaret]

Just lost four on the bounce, he’d become less and less capable, players were just about plotting against him.

I don’t think anyone would make an argument it was incorrect to sack him.

However it’s fanciful to suggest he “just about” left us higher than when he took over.

[turfytopper]

My favourite era has to be under Dyche. Two promotions and 7 years in The Premier League. Wins away at teams I never though I'd see us play again. To see Burnley at Wembley in an away draw against Spurs, wins away at Liverpool Man United, Chelsea...beating Liverpool at home....The night that was described as anti football - European football Thank you Sean.
I'm too young for the Potts era......
I'm hoping Parker will be my answer in 5 years time.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

I don’t think anyone would make an argument it was incorrect to sack him.

However it’s fanciful to suggest he “just about” left us higher than when he took over.

Have to agree. But I was and am a big Mullen fan.

[Dark Cloud]

Under Mullen it was brilliant until ultimately it wasn't and it had clearly (and sadly!) run its course. However, the Dyche era has to be the best for me because we were competing at the highest level much of the time and when we weren't we were still very successful. As a bloke in his later 60's it was something I spent years thinking I'd never see and I'll always be grateful for it, no matter what happens to us from now on.

[Spike]

This intrigued me - I genuinely cant remember!

The play off 1st leg, Frank's antics on the touchline had the look of somebody who had been on an all dayer the day before
[/quote]

We’d all been on an all dayer the day before hadn’t we ?

[blatherwickstattoos]

He'd already had a relegation and the place was in turmoil with him

Heard he liked a drink or 12 and by that season he was very heavily into it. Surely had a reason for some of the signings he made in the second division lol

[Bordeauxclaret]

Heard he liked a drink or 12 and by that season he was very heavily into it. Surely had a reason for some of the signings he made in the second division lol

The problems with alcohol started a while before that season unfortunately.

Andy Cooke and Peter Swan were the permanent signings that season. We’ve signed a lot worse.

[blatherwickstattoos]

The problems with alcohol started a while before that season unfortunately.

Andy Cooke and Peter Swan were the permanent signings that season. We’ve signed a lot worse.

John Gayle, liam Robinson. Mark winstanly.

[Bordeauxclaret]

John Gayle, liam Robinson. Mark winstanly.

Ah you mean the season before. Fair point.

[Big Vinny K]

Looking back at the footage, the results, our league standings, some of the fantastic players we had I think it would have been Harry Potts had I been around at the time.

Using the same criteria of quality of the team, players, success etc then it has to be Dyche for me by some distance. Nobody has got near what he achieved for the club since Potts which was of course a very different time in terms of money in the game.

But for a lot of supporters it’s all about memories and experiences at the time than anything else. And this will often vary depending on your age and your personal circumstances at the time in terms of family, friends, work etc. Based on the pure joy of going to home and away games with friends together with some long over due success it’s either Jimmy Mullen or Stan for me closely followed by the 12 month period under Coyle from around the time we beat Chelsea in the cup.

For pure atmosphere at the games, the cup run under Coyle, the play off final and then games like Man United, Arsenal, Everton etc at home in the EPL the period under Coyle has to be up there as my favourite time. But for obvious reasons he’s not my favourite manager and he was certainly a long way from being our best or most capable manager.

[It Is What It Is]

Harry Potts for me.
He must have found it so difficult with Bob Lord dangling round his shoulders all the time.
I think he would have enjoyed more success with BFC if it wasn't for the shackles and chains of Bob Lord.
Still can't understand why Lord wanted to sell Jimmy Mac....what a way to treat the Clarets most loved and famous legend

[GordonvaleClaret]

Harry Potts and my time from 1958 on into the 1960's. Magical times, boyhood heroes. exciting football and a time when football didn't dominate your week. Friday evenings/Saturday lunchtime was team news, the match and then the report Saturday evening and Sunday papers. That was it until the next game. Wonderful era.

Not to mention the bloke on the way home who popped out of his house to ask "Was McKilroy laking?"