Gerry Wolstenholme's Blog - Posts Tagged "burnley"
Promotion with Blackpool - A life-saver at Burnley!
Ian Britton was born in Dundee on 19 May 1954. He began his football career as a midfield player with Scottish junior club Hillside Rangers before being spotted by Chelsea for whom he initially signed as a 17-year-old apprentice before signing as a professional in July 1971. He went on to play 279 League and Cup games, make 10 substitute appearances and score 34 goals for Chelsea where he had a reputation for 'a willingness to run for 90 minutes'.
After leaving Chelsea he joined Dundee United in August 1982 and he was a member of the Dundee United squad that won the Scottish League title for the only time in the club's history in 1982/83. He played two games for Arbroath at the start of the 1983/84 season and was signed by Blackpool in November 1983 on a month’s trial from Dundee United, who held his registration.
He made a modest first appearance for Blackpool in the Central League side against Port Vale reserves on 8 November 1983 when Blackpool lost 4-1. Then
on 12 November 1983 he made his first League appearance for Blackpool as a 55th-minute substitute against Doncaster Rovers when he replaced Billy Rodaway in a 2-1 defeat. After another Central League appearance, he made his first Blackpool start in the FA Cup first round tie against Gainsborough Trinity on 19 November 1983 when Blackpool won 2-0. And then the following week he made his first League start for Blackpool against Hereford United on 26 November 1983 when Blackpool won 2-1.
He had impressed in his short time at the club and Blackpool were keen to sign him full-time with manager Sam Ellis commenting, 'Ian has intimated that he would like to stay with us. The exact terms and offer will be finalised on Monday [5 December 1983] and hopefully he’ll sign a contract with us.' Fortunately Dundee United were willing to let him go and Blackpool signed him permanently for 'a small fee' in early December 1983.
He scored his first goals for Blackpool, two of them, in a 5-0 defeat of Aldershot on 2 January 1984 and he finished his goalscoring for the season with a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory over Halifax Town on 7 May 1984. In total he scored nine goals in his 29 League games, plus one as substitute, and he also played in five FA Cup ties and three Central League games in the 1983/84 season.
He was a regular choice in the 1984/85 season and he was an ever-present in the Fourth Division promotion side, playing in all 46 League games, scoring five goals. He also played one FA Cup tie, four League Cup ties, scoring one goal, three Lancashire Cup ties, two Associate Members’ Cup ties, scoring one goal, and four friendly games.
He was regularly the star man in the team and when Blackpool defeated Southend United 1-0 on 23 February 1985, the Gazette reported, 'It was only right that Ian Britton should score the winner. His poise and purpose was a constant shaft of light through a fog of muddled play, He popped up in the 50th minute to thread a left-foot shot past the Southend goalkeeper after efforts by Alex Dyer and Paul Stewart were beaten out. Thanks to Britton's promptings, Blackpool at least carved out some decent second-half chances.'
He played the first four League games of the following season before losing his place in the side. But he returned on and off during the remainder of the season and in all he played in 25 League games, plus making four substitute appearances, scoring one goal, one FA Cup tie, two League Cup ties, two Lancashire Cup ties, plus making one substitute appearance, 11 Central League games and one pre-season friendly game in the 1985/86 season.
As the 1986/87 was about to begin, Blackpool made the decision to loan him to Burnley for a month in August 1986 and on 22 September 1986 the club gave permission for him to stay at Burnley for a second month’s loan.
He was later transferred to Burnley on a permanent basis after his Blackpool career had encompassed 100 League games, plus five substitute appearances, scoring 15 goals, seven FA Cup ties, plus one substitute appearance, scoring one goal, four League Cup ties, scoring one goal, 14 Central League appearances, two Associate Members Cup ties, scoring one goal, two Lancashire League Cup ties, plus making one substitute appearance, and five friendly games. In all of his games he always gave 100 per cent and although his goalscoring was relatively modest, his approach play created many goals for the club.
And it was at Burnley that he wrote his name large in the annals of the history of Burnley Football Club when, on the final day of the season, he scored the goal that preserved their League status on 9 May 1987. His 48th-minute headed goal saw Orient defeated 2-1 and Burnley remained in The Football League by a single point. He went on to play 102 League games, make six substitute appearances and score 10 goals for Burnley up to the 1988/89 season, after which the club released him.
He had a short spell managing non-league Nelson in the mid-1990s and thereafter he continued to play football, turning out on occasions for the Chelsea Old Boys side, appearing for the team as late as 2008.
He continued to live in East Lancashire where he was the manager of the Seedhill Athletics and Fitness Centre operated by Pendle Leisure Trust and he was a regular attendee at Burnley games, often as a guest of honour.
After a long illness with prostate cancer, he died on 31 March 2016. His funeral in Burnley was attended by his former Chelsea team-mates Ray Wilkins and Clive Walker, along with many other former players who wanted to pay their tributes to a player who had made over 500 appearances during his stellar career.
After leaving Chelsea he joined Dundee United in August 1982 and he was a member of the Dundee United squad that won the Scottish League title for the only time in the club's history in 1982/83. He played two games for Arbroath at the start of the 1983/84 season and was signed by Blackpool in November 1983 on a month’s trial from Dundee United, who held his registration.
He made a modest first appearance for Blackpool in the Central League side against Port Vale reserves on 8 November 1983 when Blackpool lost 4-1. Then
on 12 November 1983 he made his first League appearance for Blackpool as a 55th-minute substitute against Doncaster Rovers when he replaced Billy Rodaway in a 2-1 defeat. After another Central League appearance, he made his first Blackpool start in the FA Cup first round tie against Gainsborough Trinity on 19 November 1983 when Blackpool won 2-0. And then the following week he made his first League start for Blackpool against Hereford United on 26 November 1983 when Blackpool won 2-1.
He had impressed in his short time at the club and Blackpool were keen to sign him full-time with manager Sam Ellis commenting, 'Ian has intimated that he would like to stay with us. The exact terms and offer will be finalised on Monday [5 December 1983] and hopefully he’ll sign a contract with us.' Fortunately Dundee United were willing to let him go and Blackpool signed him permanently for 'a small fee' in early December 1983.
He scored his first goals for Blackpool, two of them, in a 5-0 defeat of Aldershot on 2 January 1984 and he finished his goalscoring for the season with a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory over Halifax Town on 7 May 1984. In total he scored nine goals in his 29 League games, plus one as substitute, and he also played in five FA Cup ties and three Central League games in the 1983/84 season.
He was a regular choice in the 1984/85 season and he was an ever-present in the Fourth Division promotion side, playing in all 46 League games, scoring five goals. He also played one FA Cup tie, four League Cup ties, scoring one goal, three Lancashire Cup ties, two Associate Members’ Cup ties, scoring one goal, and four friendly games.
He was regularly the star man in the team and when Blackpool defeated Southend United 1-0 on 23 February 1985, the Gazette reported, 'It was only right that Ian Britton should score the winner. His poise and purpose was a constant shaft of light through a fog of muddled play, He popped up in the 50th minute to thread a left-foot shot past the Southend goalkeeper after efforts by Alex Dyer and Paul Stewart were beaten out. Thanks to Britton's promptings, Blackpool at least carved out some decent second-half chances.'
He played the first four League games of the following season before losing his place in the side. But he returned on and off during the remainder of the season and in all he played in 25 League games, plus making four substitute appearances, scoring one goal, one FA Cup tie, two League Cup ties, two Lancashire Cup ties, plus making one substitute appearance, 11 Central League games and one pre-season friendly game in the 1985/86 season.
As the 1986/87 was about to begin, Blackpool made the decision to loan him to Burnley for a month in August 1986 and on 22 September 1986 the club gave permission for him to stay at Burnley for a second month’s loan.
He was later transferred to Burnley on a permanent basis after his Blackpool career had encompassed 100 League games, plus five substitute appearances, scoring 15 goals, seven FA Cup ties, plus one substitute appearance, scoring one goal, four League Cup ties, scoring one goal, 14 Central League appearances, two Associate Members Cup ties, scoring one goal, two Lancashire League Cup ties, plus making one substitute appearance, and five friendly games. In all of his games he always gave 100 per cent and although his goalscoring was relatively modest, his approach play created many goals for the club.
And it was at Burnley that he wrote his name large in the annals of the history of Burnley Football Club when, on the final day of the season, he scored the goal that preserved their League status on 9 May 1987. His 48th-minute headed goal saw Orient defeated 2-1 and Burnley remained in The Football League by a single point. He went on to play 102 League games, make six substitute appearances and score 10 goals for Burnley up to the 1988/89 season, after which the club released him.
He had a short spell managing non-league Nelson in the mid-1990s and thereafter he continued to play football, turning out on occasions for the Chelsea Old Boys side, appearing for the team as late as 2008.
He continued to live in East Lancashire where he was the manager of the Seedhill Athletics and Fitness Centre operated by Pendle Leisure Trust and he was a regular attendee at Burnley games, often as a guest of honour.
After a long illness with prostate cancer, he died on 31 March 2016. His funeral in Burnley was attended by his former Chelsea team-mates Ray Wilkins and Clive Walker, along with many other former players who wanted to pay their tributes to a player who had made over 500 appearances during his stellar career.
An often unsung hero : Peter ('Uwe') Noble 1944-2017
Peter Noble was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 19 August 1944 and was a forward cum midfield player who had started his senior football career with Consett. From there he was signed by Newcastle United in November 1964. He went on to play 22 League games, make three substitute appearances and scored seven goals for Newcastle before he was transferred to Swindon Town in January 1968 for a fee of £8,000.
He was Swindon Town's top goalscorer in the 1969/70, 1970/71 and 1971/72 seasons with 16 League goals, 12 and 14 respectively and overall he played 251 games for Swindon, plus making five substitute appearances, and scoring 80 goals. He also helped the club to a treble in1968/69 season when the club won promotion from the Third Division, won the League Cup and also won the Anglo-Italian Cup.
Swindon fans were disappointed when he was transferred to Burnley in June 1973 for a fee of £35,000, although some reports state £40,000. Perhaps surprisingly, Burnley originally played him as a full back but, being (sensibly) moved to midfield he became the club's top scorer for three of the following four seasons. He went on to play 241 League games, make two substitute appearances (299 appearances overall) and score 63 goals for the club.
By the time he joined Blackpool, for a fee of £25,000 in January 1980, he had already earned the nickname Uwe, which came from the fact that he had a similar hairstyle to the then=German ace Uwe Seeler.
He made his League debut for Blackpool against Southend United on 18 January 1980 when he scored Blackpool’s goal in a 1-0 victory and by the end of the 1979/80 season he played 14 League games and had scored two goals for the club; his second goal came in a 2-2 draw with Millwall on 29 March 1980.
He missed the start of the 1980/81 season due to a reoccurrence of an old knee injury and the nature of the injury meant that there was serious doubt about his first team future at Bloomfield Road. This was especially so when, after just three games, he broke down again but his determination was such that by the later stages of the season he was ready for first team action once more. And he played 13 of the final 14 League games of the season, scoring one goal in a 3-2 defeat by Chesterfield on 21 March 1981. But his efforts were not enough to prevent Blackpool from finishing 23rd in Division Three and suffering relegation to Division Four.
When manager Alan Ball had been in charge of Blackpool in the 1980/81 season Noble was seriously considered as reserve team coach but, although he was considered an inspired choice he still had plenty of appetite for playing and was not keen on relinquishing that role. Similarly he had been in with a chance of the manager’s job at both Tranmere Rovers and Carlisle United but he preferred to carry on playing.
He had his most prolific season with Blackpool in 1981/82 when he missed only two League games, playing 44 League games and scoring nine goals in addition to playing in all five FA Cup ties and one League Cup tie. But age was beginning to catch up with him in 1982/83 and although he was always an inspiration to his side, he was in and out of the team, playing 21 League games plus making five substitute appearances and scoring two goals plus playing in two FA Cup ties and two League Cup ties. Even so it was a sad day for supporters when he severed his connection with Blackpool after that 182/83 season for his 100% commitment was always an inspiration to any side in which he played.
One record that he was pleased to have was that as a regular penalty taker he never missed from the spot, scoring all 28 penalties that he took.
Life after football saw him run a sportswear business in Burnley, Peter Noble Sport Ltd, but he decided to retire when the larger companies moved into the town.
Speaking of his career in May 2004 he said, “I went down the pit when I left school but soon decided it wasn’t for me. I tried for a job as an electrician, only to find it had been filled so I ended up as a painter and decorator. One night a pal was playing a trial game at Consett and I went along to watch. They were a man short and the manager asked if I fancied a game. I had my boots in the car so I gave it a go. I got chosen and my pal didn’t. I scored a lot of goals and before long Newcastle offered me terms. My Dad couldn’t believe it. He was a fanatical Sunderland fan and refused to set foot in St James’s Park, even though his son was playing there! He only went to away games.” Of his move to Burnley he commented, “I had seven great years at Turf Moor, they were in the old First Division during my first few seasons with Jimmy Adamson in charge. But after Jimmy left, they started selling players and gradually fell away. I never wanted to leave and thought there might be a chance for me on the coaching side. But that didn’t work out and I ended up finishing my career at Blackpool.” He concluded by saying that, bad knees allowing, he would still sometimes go down to Turf Moor to watch Burnley.
A fitting tribute to Peter Noble was that In 2006 at a special dinner at Turf Moor, along with a number of other players, he was officially declared a 'Burnley Football Club Legend' by the East Lancashire club.
He died on 6 May 2017.
He was Swindon Town's top goalscorer in the 1969/70, 1970/71 and 1971/72 seasons with 16 League goals, 12 and 14 respectively and overall he played 251 games for Swindon, plus making five substitute appearances, and scoring 80 goals. He also helped the club to a treble in1968/69 season when the club won promotion from the Third Division, won the League Cup and also won the Anglo-Italian Cup.
Swindon fans were disappointed when he was transferred to Burnley in June 1973 for a fee of £35,000, although some reports state £40,000. Perhaps surprisingly, Burnley originally played him as a full back but, being (sensibly) moved to midfield he became the club's top scorer for three of the following four seasons. He went on to play 241 League games, make two substitute appearances (299 appearances overall) and score 63 goals for the club.
By the time he joined Blackpool, for a fee of £25,000 in January 1980, he had already earned the nickname Uwe, which came from the fact that he had a similar hairstyle to the then=German ace Uwe Seeler.
He made his League debut for Blackpool against Southend United on 18 January 1980 when he scored Blackpool’s goal in a 1-0 victory and by the end of the 1979/80 season he played 14 League games and had scored two goals for the club; his second goal came in a 2-2 draw with Millwall on 29 March 1980.
He missed the start of the 1980/81 season due to a reoccurrence of an old knee injury and the nature of the injury meant that there was serious doubt about his first team future at Bloomfield Road. This was especially so when, after just three games, he broke down again but his determination was such that by the later stages of the season he was ready for first team action once more. And he played 13 of the final 14 League games of the season, scoring one goal in a 3-2 defeat by Chesterfield on 21 March 1981. But his efforts were not enough to prevent Blackpool from finishing 23rd in Division Three and suffering relegation to Division Four.
When manager Alan Ball had been in charge of Blackpool in the 1980/81 season Noble was seriously considered as reserve team coach but, although he was considered an inspired choice he still had plenty of appetite for playing and was not keen on relinquishing that role. Similarly he had been in with a chance of the manager’s job at both Tranmere Rovers and Carlisle United but he preferred to carry on playing.
He had his most prolific season with Blackpool in 1981/82 when he missed only two League games, playing 44 League games and scoring nine goals in addition to playing in all five FA Cup ties and one League Cup tie. But age was beginning to catch up with him in 1982/83 and although he was always an inspiration to his side, he was in and out of the team, playing 21 League games plus making five substitute appearances and scoring two goals plus playing in two FA Cup ties and two League Cup ties. Even so it was a sad day for supporters when he severed his connection with Blackpool after that 182/83 season for his 100% commitment was always an inspiration to any side in which he played.
One record that he was pleased to have was that as a regular penalty taker he never missed from the spot, scoring all 28 penalties that he took.
Life after football saw him run a sportswear business in Burnley, Peter Noble Sport Ltd, but he decided to retire when the larger companies moved into the town.
Speaking of his career in May 2004 he said, “I went down the pit when I left school but soon decided it wasn’t for me. I tried for a job as an electrician, only to find it had been filled so I ended up as a painter and decorator. One night a pal was playing a trial game at Consett and I went along to watch. They were a man short and the manager asked if I fancied a game. I had my boots in the car so I gave it a go. I got chosen and my pal didn’t. I scored a lot of goals and before long Newcastle offered me terms. My Dad couldn’t believe it. He was a fanatical Sunderland fan and refused to set foot in St James’s Park, even though his son was playing there! He only went to away games.” Of his move to Burnley he commented, “I had seven great years at Turf Moor, they were in the old First Division during my first few seasons with Jimmy Adamson in charge. But after Jimmy left, they started selling players and gradually fell away. I never wanted to leave and thought there might be a chance for me on the coaching side. But that didn’t work out and I ended up finishing my career at Blackpool.” He concluded by saying that, bad knees allowing, he would still sometimes go down to Turf Moor to watch Burnley.
A fitting tribute to Peter Noble was that In 2006 at a special dinner at Turf Moor, along with a number of other players, he was officially declared a 'Burnley Football Club Legend' by the East Lancashire club.
He died on 6 May 2017.
