ARTICLE: Cooke bags first hat trick on final day of the season

[ClaretTony]

Burnley v Watford, 3rd May 1997, 25 years ago today and the start of a new feature on Up the Clarets.

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/cooke-bags ... the-season

[claretburns]

Whilst I enjoy the reporting from the earlier seasons, I am looking forward to this feature, the era when I began following the Clarets with my first game in the 97/98 season.

[ClaretTony]

I wasn't so sure whether to do it given it's definitely not a title winning season coming up but will see how it goes.

[Zom Zom]

I liked Andy Cooke.

[ClaretTony]

I liked Andy Cooke.

Never gave you less than 100%

[JohnDearyMe]

"Even before the game, manager Heath was admitting that he needed to stiffen things up down the middle and said he was looking for a truly competitive central defender, a combative midfielder"

Never fear Adrian, Mark Ford and Steve Blatherwick are en route...

[Dark Cloud]

Was this the game which was Graham Taylor's last ever game in management?

[Rowls]

They appointed Graham Taylor in the pre-season.

We went with Waddle.

[claretburns]

Was this the game which was Graham Taylor's last ever game in management?

I think that was in 2002 or 2003? Beat them heavily didn't we?

[ClaretTony]

Was this the game which was Graham Taylor's last ever game in management?

That was 2001 but then he went back to manage Villa. Kenny Jackett was manager at Watford for this game.

[superdimitri]

Cooke, Cooke, Andy Andy Cooke. Shoots at goal, scores a goal Andy Andy Cooke.

Can someone correct me on this I'm sure I have it wrong but can't remember?

[tiger76]

Remember that season well. promised so much, but ultimately ended in disappointment.

John Ward's departure and our subsequent downturn shows precisely how vital a strong number two really is.

We certainly had some exciting strikers in the 90's didn't we, Barnes, Cooke, Eyres, Nogan and Payton.

As for what followed Heath's exit, well that will make sober reading for the younger fans.

[dandeclaret]

Cooke, Cooke, Andy Andy Cooke. Shoots at goal, scores a goal Andy Andy Cooke.

Can someone correct me on this I'm sure I have it wrong but can't remember?

Andy Cooke, Andy Cooke, Andy Andy Cooke, he gets the ball and scores a goal, Andy, Andy Cooke....

[dandeclaret]

"Even before the game, manager Heath was admitting that he needed to stiffen things up down the middle and said he was looking for a truly competitive central defender, a combative midfielder"

Never fear Adrian, Mark Ford and Steve Blatherwick are en route...

Erm... Mark Patterson's here to see you boss.....

And is that.... is that Torsten Boer and Bambo in the background?

[ClaretTony]

Erm... Mark Patterson's here to see you boss.....

And is that.... is that Torsten Boer and Bambo in the background?

I never saw Bambo but for all the excitement generated, some of the players at the time told me he wouldn't have even made a good non-league player.

[superdimitri]

Andy Cooke, Andy Cooke, Andy Andy Cooke, he gets the ball and scores a goal, Andy, Andy Cooke....

Thanks. No idea why I couldn't remember that properly.

[Fretters]

I enjoyed 96/97, it's the first full season that I remember. A penalty shoot-out win against Walsall at Christmas sticks in the memory.