ARTICLE: A Friday night win at Swindon

[ClaretTony]

We're back to 1973 and this time a rare Friday night game for the Clarets at Swindon

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/a-friday-n ... at-swindon

[ClaretPope]

Made a weekend of it. Went down by train, stayed at The Railway Hotel. After the match, spent the evening in the Supporters’ Club where the natives were friendly. Went to London on Saturday for the League Cup Final: Spurs beat Norwich 1-0 with Ralph Coates scoring.

[ClaretTony]

Made a weekend of it. Went down by train, stayed at The Railway Hotel. After the match, spent the evening in the Supporters’ Club where the natives were friendly. Went to London on Saturday for the League Cup Final: Spurs beat Norwich 1-0 with Ralph Coates scoring.

I had a long weekend. Got there Friday afternoon, stayed in Oxford with my mate (the one occasion I could claim to be at Uni at Oxford). I'm sure I would have been stood with you at the match along with that old Central Motors crowd - Eddie, Dustbin, Benny etc.

[ClaretPope]

No, we had seats in the main stand - we were always sophisticated.

[lakedistrictclaret]

I can remember this trip particularly well.

I was in my final year at Birmingham University, and after my afternoon lecture I caught the train down to Swindon. I think I arrived shortly after 6 o'clock, and had time for a pint in a pub near the ground. It's funny how you remember the most trivial of things, but I recall sitting next to the jukebox in the pub and listening to Gilbert O'Sullivan's cheerful little ditty "Alone Again Naturally".

As for the game itself, it was similar to other away games that season ( Brighton, Cardiff ) in that we took a very early lead and hung on to it without much trouble.

After the match I made my way back to the station and caught a train back to Gloucester, where I had a two hour wait for my connection ( these were the days when trains ran during the night ). My Finals were coming up in three months time, so I'd taken some work with me. There can't be many people who have revised Land Law in the waiting room at Gloucester Station between 11.30pm and 1.30 am.

My train got into New Street in time for me to catch the 3am night service bus the five and a half miles down the Bristol Road to my Hall of Residence ( bodge may know this bus, he was at the same Hall many years later ). I suppose I had a lie- in on Saturday morning, but I was up in time to go to Villa Park in the afternoon to see Fulham win 3-2.

I'd give anything to be able to relive those few months again. I felt on top of my studies ( I ended up with a solid if unspectacular 2:2 ), I really enjoyed life at the Hall of Residence, and of course 72-73 was possibly my favourite season of all time.

On a less happy note, my Dad died twenty years ago today. Whilst it would be an exaggeration to say I think about him every single day, he is often in my thoughts. He was a lovely man, and a smashing Dad.

[strayclaret]

Was in the posh seats myself, as I was down visiting my uncle who lived in Cheltenham.
Originally from Burnley his first match since he went to the FA Cup Final against Spurs.
Pre match we went for a pint near the ground and met a couple of my chums, not sure what he made of them, but he was impressed with our performance and the 2 points

[ClaretTony]

No, we had seats in the main stand - we were always sophisticated.

It definitely wouldn't have been sophisticated with us

[sandy richardson]

I might have missed this in the report but does anybody know why there were three games played on a Friday?

[ClaretTony]

I might have missed this in the report but does anybody know why there were three games played on a Friday?

It was rare then for games to be played in a Friday, particularly at second division level. The usual suspects for playing on a Friday were Stockport and Tranmere in the fourth division because of one of the Manchester and Liverpool clubs to be at home on the following day. There haven't been many in this season and to get three was a surprise.

[lakedistrictclaret]

Swindon, I think, is the only ground where I have seen Burnley more than once and have a 100% win record. My only other visit was 81-82.

[ClaretTony]

Swindon, I think, is the only ground where I have seen Burnley more than once and have a 100% win record. My only other visit was 81-82.

We did have a very good record there initially. We won our first four league games there and the first defeat I saw was in 1985/86 when we were sliding and they were about to win promotion. And that last visit for the League Cup in 2012 still haunts me.

[sandy richardson]

It was rare then for games to be played in a Friday, particularly at second division level. The usual suspects for playing on a Friday were Stockport and Tranmere in the fourth division because of one of the Manchester and Liverpool clubs to be at home on the following day. There haven't been many in this season and to get three was a surprise.

And Stoke City the only club to kick off at 3:15.

PS Very impressed by lakedistrictclaret's adherence to their revision timetable, especially if they were going to have to keep it going for three months.

[ClaretTony]

And Stoke City the only club to kick off at 3:15.

PS Very impressed by lakedistrictclaret's adherence to their revision timetable, especially if they were going to have to keep it going for three months.

Bury, Coventry and Stoke always kicked off at 3:15 for whatever reason.

[Silkyskills1]

I, too, was in my final year as a student in 1973. I didn't attend the game but just to highlight how little coverage there was then of games compared to today I was informed of the score by a friend in the bar on a lively Friday night. Have to say it continued to be lively until closing.

[ClaretTony]

I, too, was in my final year as a student in 1973. I didn't attend the game but just to highlight how little coverage there was then of games compared to today I was informed of the score by a friend in the bar on a lively Friday night. Have to say it continued to be lively until closing.

Fans today wouldn't understand that but you actually did well to get the score that night

[Silkyskills1]

Bury, Coventry and Stoke always kicked off at 3:15 for whatever reason.

Bury played a lot of games on Friday nights in the 60's. I also remember when power cuts were affecting life in the 70's, Bury played a number of home games on Sunday afternoons(very unusual then) that Iattended where they tripled their average gate and more. It was 1974 and they won promotion at the end of that season with John Murray in their line up. Great era.

[sandy richardson]

With Stoke it was supposed to do with the shift patterns in the potteries but I could never see exactly how that worked.

[IanMcL]

We're back to 1973 and this time a rare Friday night game for the Clarets at Swindon

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/a-friday-n ... at-swindon

I rode from Reading to Swindon on my Honda 50!

[Silkyskills1]

I rode from Reading to Swindon on my Honda 50!

How did you get back? But seriously how many miles in total would that have been?

[IanMcL]

How did you get back? But seriously how many miles in total would that have been?

40 each way, so 80 via the A4.

No helmets then I think. Not quite sure.

Seems a long way on a Honda 50!


I remember driving the 26m each way to Oxford for a Kris Kristofferson concert with Rita Coolidge and Booker T.

Best was a trip to Brighton and back to see a fabulously beautiful young lady! She was stunning! I was very stiff indeed when I rolled off the bike, on arrival!

[lakedistrictclaret]

I remember driving the 26m each way to Oxford for a Kris Kristofferson concert with Rita Coolidge and Booker T.

How did you fit Rita Coolidge and Booker T on the back of your moped?

[IanMcL]

How did you fit Rita Coolidge and Booker T on the back of your moped?

I got Booker down to a T and Rita fitted in nicely!

[Herts Clarets]

I got Booker down to a T and Rita fitted in nicely!

No MG?

[Silkyskills1]

Just checked and the law was passed on 7 th Feb. 1973 and came into law on June Ist the same year. Just intrigued because I required a helmet in the month of June that year sharing a ride with fellow student, Phil Don, who some might remember as a referee from years ago.

[IanMcL]

No MG?

Not me! I was just a poor boy!

Booker had cornered the market!

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Phil Don, who some might remember as a referee from years ago.

Is that the fella whose son was an international tri-athlete, Silky? Made the Olympics, I think.

Edit: it is and he was individual world champion in 2006.

[ClaretTony]

Phil Don, who some might remember as a referee from years ago.

He was head of PGMOL wasn't he before Mike Riley?

[IanMcL]

Any relation to Monty?

[Top Claret]

I remember the game I went with my Dad and we stayed over in the Post House at Swindon. I also seem to remember the players staying over at the same hotel