Significant Burnley FC Games

[Anonymous Claret]

The Orient thread had me thinking of the significant games I have attended watching Burnley play. Some people may have a different interpretation of significant to me and I have may missed some games out that other people think should be in the list. Although I started watching the Clarets in 1973 my clearest memory from that period was December 1976 and my first away game which was at Blackburn where we scored 2 late goals to snatch a point. I am going to start from 1978. I will also include the significant games that I missed.

1978 Celtic home 1-0 ASC
1978 Oldham away 4-1 ASC
1982 Southend away 4-1 3rd Division
1982 Chesterfield home 1-1 3rd Division
1983 Spurs away 4-1 Milk Cup
1987 Orient home 2-1 4th Division
1988 Preston away 3-1 Sherpa Van
1988 Wolves Wembley 0-2 Sherpa Van
1992 Wrexham home 1-2 4th Division
2005 Luton away 3-2 Championship
2009 Sheff Utd Wembley 1-0 Championship
2014 Wigan home 2-0 Championship
2016 QPR home 1-0 Championship
2018 Aberdeen home 3-1 Europa League
2022 Blackburn home 3-0 Championship
2023 Boro away 2-1 Championship
2025 Sheff Utd home 2-1 Championship

Games I consider significant that I have missed and I would have loved to been there include Derby away (FA Cup) and York away in 1992, Plymouth away and Stockport at Wembley (play offs) in 1994, Scunthorpe away (League 1) in 2000, Reading away (play offs in 2009), Blackburn away in 2014, all European away games in 2018 and Blackburn away again in 2023.
As you may guess I am feeling a little bored and this is only my opinion of games that feel significant to me. I am sure that I have missed a few and I am sure that some people may hold different opinions to myself.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Can't remember the year, but one league cup game against Carlisle was significant to me, as it was the only game to date where ive been sat in the CFS. Long before away fans were permanently re-introduced to that stand

[NottsClaret]

Beating Plymouth 2-1 under Waddle. Going back to the 4th division again would have been grim.

[Leon_C]

Jan 2009 - Burnley 3 Spurs 2 (Carling Cup semi-final - agg 4-6)

An incredible evening, during an incredible season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JePTzbZYa_U

[Anonymous Claret]

Good shouts about Plymouth and Spurs. I missed the Plymouth 1 but I was at the Spurs home game 2nd leg.

[ChrisG]

I think beating Manchester United at the Turf in 2009 was a massive game, it was our first home game back in the top flight for 30 odd years, and we played brilliantly against the defending champions, at a time when Manchester United were a genuinely top team.

The atmosphere was one of the best I've ever experienced at the Turf that night, and the release when that Blake volley hit the net was unreal.

It almost felt like the journey back from the Orient game had finally reached it's pinnacle

[martin_p]

Surely the 1992 home game against Wrexham was completely insignificant and it’s the game before at York that should be included.

[longsidepies]

I've still not got over Newcastle beating us in the FA cup semi at Hillsborough

[Anonymous Claret]

Surely the 1992 home game against Wrexham was completely insignificant and it’s the game before at York that should be included.

It was significant to me because I didn't go to York. It was also the final game of the season where we welcomed back the team as champions and our final game in the bottom tier. The list only includes the games that I attended. The paragraph below the list are the games that I think were significant but I didn't attend. I get your point though as in the context of our history the Wrexham game probably has little significance to most fans, especially those fortunate to have been at York.

Like I said at the beginning it is all subjective. Another one that I included which probably has very little significance in our history was the Luton away game when we won with 10 men and Spicer in the goal for most of the game but for me it was magical to be there. If I am being pedantic there is a crossover in some instances between significant and memorable.

[Fretters]

Scunthorpe, May 2000. Promoted to the second tier and we haven't been lower since.

Edit - I missed that you mentioned this one, sorry.

[TheFamilyCat]

Beating Plymouth 2-1 under Waddle. Going back to the 4th division again would have been grim.

Definitely this. I doubt we'd have tempted Stan to come and manage us in the 4th tier. God knows where we'd be now.

[TheFamilyCat]

I'm also going to say the 0-6 pumping by City in 1999. Stan offered to resign, but BK backed him. Think we lost the next game v Preston, but played much better, then went unbeaten for the rest of the season before being promoted the next.

[Casper2]

I've still not got over Newcastle beating us in the FA cup semi at Hillsborough

And never will , bloody travesty

[dougcollins]

Beating Plymouth 2-1 under Waddle. Going back to the 4th division again would have been grim.

Very early start and derove up alongside the Green Army for that one. I felt sick all the way.

The day ended well.

[TsarBomba]

Burnley 0 - 1 Leicester 2015

A real sliding doors moment for both clubs.

[redwasp]

That Semi -Final v Spurs was
hard to take. Were we 1 up at halftime in the first leg and they came out and got four in quick time and then of course the second leg, 3-0up and on our way to Wembley and they get them two goals. I remember going in the Park View afterwards and everyone was just standing there completely dumb struck. But I think if we had made it to the Final we wouldn't have got promoted.

[dougcollins]

That Semi -Final v Spurs was
hard to take. Were we 1 up at halftime in the first leg and they came out and got four in quick time and then of course the second leg, 3-0up and on our way to Wembley and they get them two goals. I remember going in the Park View afterwards and everyone was just standing there completely dumb struck. But I think if we had made it to the Final we wouldn't have got promoted.

We went out on the Hardaker rule. Not it's official title.

Away goals only count double after extra time.

Does that still stand?

[HB Claret]

One I remember is winning at Roots Hall in May 1982 - superb performance - best them 1 : 4 to win promotion. Much better than a very dire goalless draw during the Cotterball period.

[wilks_bfc]

We went out on the Hardaker rule. Not it's official title.

Away goals only count double after extra time.

Does that still stand?

No they got eventually got rid of that rule in 2018/19

[dougcollins]

Deepdale 1972 0-1 was second only to the night at York for me.

Though the Coyle play off final was special.

[Aclaret]

Leeds 1 Burnley 4.
1974, highly significant, being leeds only home defeat of the season . Were they going for the title too, I cant remember now.

[Leon_C]

I think beating Manchester United at the Turf in 2009 was a massive game, it was our first home game back in the top flight for 30 odd years, and we played brilliantly against the defending champions, at a time when Manchester United were a genuinely top team.

The atmosphere was one of the best I've ever experienced at the Turf that night, and the release when that Blake volley hit the net was unreal.

It almost felt like the journey back from the Orient game had finally reached it's pinnacle

Absolutely agreed. Enormous match - the TV footage only emerged online years later (unlike today where you have it before the full-time whistle).
The stand visibly shaking during the celebrations was a sight to behold.

We had season tickets in the CFS that season, and we were probably 10-12m away from Robbie when he scored. Beautiful.

[dougcollins]

Leeds 1 Burnley 4.
1974, highly significant, being leeds only home defeat of the season . Were they going for the title too, I cant remember now.

They were also filming a documentary about Revie which he then blocked.

Poor losers, even worse winners.

[ClaretsPadiham]

Burnley 1 Man Utd 0

Nothing comes closes to the noise after the goal and nothing will, not supporting Burnley anyway.

[Claret Till I Die]

Michael Keane equaliser v Mboro in April 2016

[dougcollins]

Michael Keane equaliser v Mboro in April 2016

If you're talking about noise, and comparing with the Robbie Blake goal above, I agree with you.

The loudest moment I've ever heard at TM.

[Claret Till I Die]

If you're talking about noise, and comparing with the Robbie Blake goal above, I agree with you.

The loudest moment I've ever heard at TM.

100% the loudest noise and I think half of that came from our bench who ran down to celebrate with the team

[Clive 1960]

Preston 1.3 Burnley 1971 remember super Casper cracking one in from outside the area...

[Oppycat]

Leeds 0 Burnley 1 last season. Top smash and grab

[steve1264b]

Stockport wembley

[Jerry Dawson]

1975 Burnley 0 Wimbledon 1
Always felt significant for all the wrong reasons - not just the result itself but it seemed to immediately proceed the drastic slump culminating in the Orient game.

Weirdly, have you ever noticed how it's never included in the lists of biggest ever FA Cup shocks but Wimbledon beating Liverpool in the 1988 final always is despite them both being 1st Division clubs at the time.

[dougcollins]

Deepdale 1972 0-1 was second only to the night at York for me.

Though the Coyle play off final was special.

My mistake, it was 1-1 of course. Still highly significant.

[Bow]

Jan 2009 - Burnley 3 Spurs 2 (Carling Cup semi-final - agg 4-6)

An incredible evening, during an incredible season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JePTzbZYa_U

I think thats my favourite Burnley side- the Coyle promotion season

[Quickenthetempo]

That Bournemouth game was pretty significant where they scored on the Turf but VAR ruled it out and gave us a penalty, which we scored.

That was a first.