ARTICLE: The Orient Game – the day we must never forget

[Sausage]

Does anybody else remember folk being stood at the side of the pitch towards the end of the game and somebody making out they were going to trip one of orients players up as he went speeding down the right wing? Not sure if my memory created that one in the meantime.

As BOT points out, that was Wrexham at home in 1992. He didn't just make out he was going to trip up the winger, he actually did it and sent the lad flying. At that point the ref immediately blew for full time despite the fact he hadn't played the full 90 mins.

[Longside4evr]

The date of 9th of may 87 was certainly one for the scrapbook and when you think in 82 we where promoted to the second Div after clinching the 3rd Div title.
Then relegated after one season in 83. when you think back we declined at a rapid speed from 83 to 87 nearly falling from grace how did we let that happen
When it was it was bad but looking back now it was dreadful for a club of our stature and the history that goes with it
Even in them dark days i can honestly say I enjoyed going to some of them grounds even after gracing the big top
Some of my happiest memories being a claret and made me appreciate what I am seeing in front of me today all the more UTC.

[andyh]

This was the last game my dad and I ever attended together as season ticket holders.

We had sat through a season of the worst football imaginable. Inside I think we'd both given up. No crowds, no atmosphere, no fight.

I struggle to think of the "heroes" of that day as anything other than the wastes of space that had played 45 of the most lacklustre games that preceded it.

It is interesting that for so many it re-kindled their interest. For me what had gone before slowly snuffed it out. I decided that I had better things to do on Saturdays and dad went and sat with my Aunty and Uncle.

I even felt we had cheated on the last game. I didn't think we would hold on for that last few minutes and injury time. I'd seen us collapse so often.. and then the ref just blew... I reckon on about 87 mins.

I came back to the fold... but by then we were in the middle of Jimmy Mullen's reign.

[BFCmaj]

I was 12 at the time and went on the game with my dad and my brother. It was my brother's first season going to watch the clarets and that particular game didn't really feel any different until I saw the size of the crowd. We were sat on the cricket field end near to the tunnel and my brother's mate was mascot for the game. I think you can see all of us on the picture of Ray Deakin leading out the teams. I don't think I fully understood the significance of the game (until recently) but I remember the goals going in and the final whistle and especially the pitch invasion.

My brother lives down south now so he doesn't get on many home games but I still go on with my dad. I remember turning to him after the 1-0 home victory against Man Utd in the first season in the prem and asking him if he ever though we would get to this point, he just smiled and shook his head.

My eldest was born in 2007 so doesn't really appreciate what I had to go through growing up as a claret. But I'm not sure whether I would swap my adventure for his.

[ClaretTony]

I remember turning to him after the 1-0 home victory against Man Utd in the first season in the prem and asking him if he ever though we would get to this point, he just smiled and shook his head.

I think so many of us can relate to that. Sliding down is one thing, climbing back up is something else and I never thought we'd get anywhere near where we are today.

[BFCmaj]

I think so many of us can relate to that. Sliding down is one thing, climbing back up is something else and I never thought we'd get anywhere near where we are today.

He is lucky enough to have seen Burnley at their best playing in Europe and being the top side in England. Most of my knowledge about those great players and our history comes from him and as well as being proud myself that particular match, I think I was more chuffed for him.

[Silkyskills1]

'and then the ref blew........ I reckon on about 87 minutes'
Not too sure about that. We kicked off late and I mentioned on an earlier post that I distinctly recall it being 4.57 when the whistle blew. Did we have 15 mins. for half time then? I honestly can't recall but I am sure that I suffered the full 90 minutes and more.

[IanMcL]

Where we are today defies the logic of probability. Three trips to the premier league is impossible for a town the size of Burnley and to be able to sustain football at this level.

Miracles and hard work do happen in tandem....just once....or twice....or three times....

[Orient Express]

One miracle would be enough for me at the moment....

[mdd2]

It has been an amazing trip for me.Stable for the first 20+ years-1950-1976 with a blip in 70-71 season. Decline thereafter for 10+ years 1976 to 1987 and then a slow climb up with a few hiccups 1987-2000 followed by another 17 years of climbing usually two forward and one back until now.
Also hard to believe I have been in the same seat for 30 years, no wonder I have "segs"

[ontario claret]

Nice posting, hoskins. Keep up the good work.