Chelsea forum.

[longsidetrumpet]

Ferg’s mates back then included a lad called Mick who must have lived on Brunshaw Road near you and a lad called Alan Paul

[exilecanada]

I think Butch could have been Raymond Ashley, lived on Thirlmere. I knew Arthur (‘Ferg’, RIP) very well. Back in the 60s used to join in our kickabouts on land at the top of the smallholdings (ironically behind Doc Iven’s house). I got to know him better because we had a shared interest in American music, particularly soul music. He built up a massive collection. I continued to bump into him until not long before his death

Thanks, the name Raymond Ashley does ring a bell. Ferg had a massive influence on my taste in music as well and still does to this day, I currently listen to ‘Soul Radio UK’ on the Roku app, I also morphed towards hardcore Mississippi Blues and Chicago Blues. We’d play Subbuteo at his house, had a league going if memory serves. There was a record store in Burnley which specialized in obscure US soul music, Electron I think, I believe it’s still there. I got news of Ferg’s death from a long time Burnley friend Keith Astin, whom I still talk to after all these decades, talked to him yesterday about the upcoming season. I remember the kickabouts on the land you mentioned, was the Mick you talk about Mick Halstead? As for Alan Paul, I’ve known him my whole life

[ClaretTony]

Who was it that passed Joe Gallagher's medical? Doc Iven?

He was the club doctor at the time so I would thing he and Jimmy Holland would have done the medical. I don’t think it was very sophisticated back then and there were suggestions that West Ham hadn’t sent all the relevant medical information and they wouldn’t get away with that now.

Today’s medicals are unbelievably thorough.

[longsidetrumpet]

Thanks, the name Raymond Ashley does ring a bell. Ferg had a massive influence on my taste in music as well and still does to this day, I currently listen to ‘Soul Radio UK’ on the Roku app, I also morphed towards hardcore Mississippi Blues and Chicago Blues. We’d play Subbuteo at his house, had a league going if memory serves. There was a record store in Burnley which specialized in obscure US soul music, Electron I think, I believe it’s still there. I got news of Ferg’s death from a long time Burnley friend Keith Astin, whom I still talk to after all these decades, talked to him yesterday about the upcoming season. I remember the kickabouts on the land you mentioned, was the Mick you talk about Mick Halstead? As for Alan Paul, I’ve known him my whole life

Yes Mick Halstead I remembered after my last post. He lives near a couple we are good friends with. Do you remember Paul Bostock who lived at Pike Hill post office. He was another one into soul, but transferred his affections to country music in the 70s. He too had a brilliant record collection. Did you live across the road from a lad called Trevor Ludlow he was one of my junior school pals

[exilecanada]

Yes Mick Halstead I remembered after my last post. He lives near a couple we are good friends with. Do you remember Paul Bostock who lived at Pike Hill post office. He was another one into soul, but transferred his affections to country music in the 70s. He too had a brilliant record collection. Did you live across the road from a lad called Trevor Ludlow he was one of my junior school pals

The name Paul Bostock most definitely rings a bell, can’t put a face to it, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were pals at some point though. I do remember the son of the Pike Hill Greengrocer, we both had modified mini vans, he did a bit of rallying. Trevor Ludlow isn’t familiar to me, but that doesn’t mean a lot, memories get blurry as time goes by.

[sjb]

Only on Up The Clarets could a thread about the Chelsea equivalent morph into a discussion about hardcore Mississipi Blues & Pike Hill Post Office, via a tortuous route featuring a Dr Griffiths & getting hit on the head by a carefully aimed half Charlie! Fantastic stuff gents! Never change please

[exilecanada]

Only on Up The Clarets could a thread about the Chelsea equivalent morph into a discussion about hardcore Mississipi Blues & Pike Hill Post Office, via a tortuous route featuring a Dr Griffiths & getting hit on the head by a carefully aimed half Charlie! Fantastic stuff gents! Never change please

Good innit?

[elwaclaret]

He was the club doctor at the time so I would thing he and Jimmy Holland would have done the medical. I don’t think it was very sophisticated back then and there were suggestions that West Ham hadn’t sent all the relevant medical information and they wouldn’t get away with that now.

Today’s medicals are unbelievably thorough.

I seem to remember John Benson (assistant manager) pushing the deal through while John Bond was away. Bond was livid we’d signed him (Big Joe) if I am remembering correctly

[ClaretTony]

I seem to remember John Benson (assistant manager) pushing the deal through while John Bond was away. Bond was livid we’d signed him (Big Joe) if I am remembering correctly

Don't think Benson had much to do with it but Bond hit the roof when he got back. He tried to get the deal cancelled but whoever we appealed to declared Joe fit which was a joke.

We played our first game under Bond against St Mirren in the Isle of Man and we'd got to the ground before the team. They arrived and had to walk across the pitch and we noticed Joe was limping so assumed he wouldn't be playing. We didn't know that's how he was. We can only assume it was Doc Iven and Jimmy Holland who sanctioned the deal but it was downright ridiculous. Played twice I think and that was it for two years and then Brian Miller had to play him because we had no one else.

Really good bloke though was Joe.

[elwaclaret]

Don't think Benson had much to do with it but Bond hit the roof when he got back. He tried to get the deal cancelled but whoever we appealed to declared Joe fit which was a joke.

We played our first game under Bond against St Mirren in the Isle of Man and we'd got to the ground before the team. They arrived and had to walk across the pitch and we noticed Joe was limping so assumed he wouldn't be playing. We didn't know that's how he was. We can only assume it was Doc Iven and Jimmy Holland who sanctioned the deal but it was downright ridiculous. Played twice I think and that was it for two years and then Brian Miller had to play him because we had no one else.

Really good bloke though was Joe.

Yes I remember him being a really nice chap… he gave me a lovely trophy my Dad insisted we display on the centre of our mantle piece for a year too.

[ClaretTony]

Yes I remember him being a really nice chap… he gave me a lovely trophy my Dad insisted we display on the centre of our mantle piece for a year too.

I don't think he was the model pro - he did like a drink - but the help he gave the Junior Clarets back then (when it was run independently from the club), turning up at all their meetings. He got involved with a lot of supporters club stuff at the time too along with Vince Overson for a while. Two brilliant blokes. He'd been a bloody good centre half too.

[elwaclaret]

I don't think he was the model pro - he did like a drink - but the help he gave the Junior Clarets back then (when it was run independently from the club), turning up at all their meetings. He got involved with a lot of supporters club stuff at the time too along with Vince Overson for a while. Two brilliant blokes. He'd been a bloody good centre half too.

Yes I always look out for him on the Big Match. It was eye opening just how mobile he had been. He took a lot of stick at Burnley but despite his obvious problem he never let us down, as I remember (we’ve certainly had worse).

[ClaretTony]

Yes I always look out for him on the Big Match. It was eye opening just how mobile he had been. He took a lot of stick at Burnley but despite his obvious problem he never let us down, as I remember (we’ve certainly had worse).

We've had considerably worse. I said apart from those two early games, he didn't play for two years. It was actually three, he didn't play in the Buchan/Cavanagh season either. But we had Jim Hegarty then and Joe was better on one leg.

[elwaclaret]

We've had considerably worse. I said apart from those two early games, he didn't play for two years. It was actually three, he didn't play in the Buchan/Cavanagh season either. But we had Jim Hegarty then and Joe was better on one leg.

One thing is for certain their wasn’t many strikers didn’t pull out as Joe lurched towards them like a tank going through a bomb crater

[ClaretTony]

One thing is for certain their wasn’t many strikers didn’t pull out as Joe lurched towards them like a tank going through a bomb crater

He bought a hotel in Clitheroe after he finished playing but it’s a lot of years ago now. He’s 70 now and I think he and Billy Rodaway played in the same Liverpool schools team.

[NL Claret]

My only memory of Joe Gallagher was him scoring a header at Spotland, an important goal given the circumstances.

[elwaclaret]

He bought a hotel in Clitheroe after he finished playing but it’s a lot of years ago now. He’s 70 now and I think he and Billy Rodaway played in the same Liverpool schools team.

From Wikki sounds like he’s been working as part of the Birmingham City match day hospitality meeters and greeters most recently. Never thought about Billy Rod being about the same age, probably due to Billy being much earlier (at his prime) in my first Burnley memories and my Joe memories much later (in Billy Rod’s final days) but yes, makes sense given Joe’s career was also in its twilight… if that makes sense to anyone besides me.

[GordonvaleClaret]

Wasn’t St Nicholas’ Health Centre on Saunder Bank? (One street back from Finsley gate?)

Could be mistaken, memory’s not what it was….

Remember the school clinic on the next row down, Elizabeth Street?
I remember going there for the Mantoux.