Remembering Ian Britton

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ClaretTony
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Remembering Ian Britton

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:55 am

Seven years ago I wrote this following the sad death of someone who will forever be remembered at Burnley FC

https://www.uptheclarets.com/goal-hero- ... asses-away

Top bloke was Britt and so sad that he lost his life at just 61.
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Spike
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by Spike » Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:56 am

God bless him

Dark Cloud
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by Dark Cloud » Fri Mar 31, 2023 10:01 am

I had the pleasure of meeting him several times socially through a mutual friend well after he'd stopped playing and was manager at Stanley (and after that). He really was a thoroughly nice guy!
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Funkydrummer
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by Funkydrummer » Fri Mar 31, 2023 10:03 am

Forever engraved in the history of our club - lovely bloke too.

Happy memories - god bless him.
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Claret Till I Die
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by Claret Till I Die » Fri Mar 31, 2023 10:17 am

Lovely man and a Claret legend
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tiger76
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by tiger76 » Fri Mar 31, 2023 10:33 am

He'll always be remembered for that goal despite enjoying a lengthy spell at Chelsea.

A grim irony is Ian Britton & Ray Deakin were the only 2 from that Orient team who started just a year later at Wembley, and sadly both died at an early age from cancer.

Cirrus_Minor
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by Cirrus_Minor » Fri Mar 31, 2023 10:55 am

A few years ago, I was walking around Roughlee with my wife and called into the Bay Horse pub for lunch. I was wearing a shirt with a Burnley badge, and a woman on another table saw this and said her husband had played for Burnley. I asked who that was, and she said it was Ian Britton and 'did I remember him?'. I told her that I certainly did and about how much Ian was thought of by supporters, especially for the crucial goal he scored. She was really emotional and really thankful for my tribute.
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Steve-Harpers-perm
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by Steve-Harpers-perm » Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:36 am

Seven years ago already. Really friendly and a good friend of my father in law. Will be rightly remembered in Clarets history.
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ClaretTony
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:46 am

Steve-Harpers-perm wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:36 am
and a good friend of my father in law
He played with him at Burnley if I'm right

Big Vinny K
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by Big Vinny K » Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:55 am

I played football against him and he was a true gent.
I remember him playing for Chelsea when I was young.
It was great that he embraced Burnley and it became his home - well Colne actually I think.
He will go down in our history for that Orient game but more than that he was just a genuinely nice bloke.
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Steve-Harpers-perm
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by Steve-Harpers-perm » Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:05 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 11:46 am
He played with him at Burnley if I'm right
Blackpool and then Burnley.

Juan Tanamera
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by Juan Tanamera » Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:21 pm

Shine on, Ian. 🙏
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elwaclaret
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by elwaclaret » Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:28 pm

My abiding memory of Ian Britton was (after that goal) was seeing him out socially talking to a group when he looked up and saw me standing slightly off to the side dept in thought. As usual I had fallen quiet trying to filter the background noise and was deep in thought (about what I can’t remember). He looked over smiled and mouthed, “ are you alright?”. I smiled and nodded and he gave me a big grin before continuing his chat. I often thought I should have made a point of explaining and thank him for noticing, sadly he died before I had chance to bump into him again

A hero of mine, along with many others.
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beddie
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by beddie » Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:48 pm

Agree he really was a nice guy. Always laughing and joking. The worlds a sadder place without him that’s for sure. When I see his face on the screen at home games I always think about him. God bless Ian.
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ClaretTony
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:58 pm

Steve-Harpers-perm wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 12:05 pm
Blackpool and then Burnley.
Of course, Blackpool as well, never considered Blackpool.

IanMcL
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by IanMcL » Fri Mar 31, 2023 1:19 pm

We remain in his debt.

AmbleClaret
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by AmbleClaret » Fri Mar 31, 2023 1:26 pm

I was on weekend emergency dentist call-out duty many years ago.Got a call on the Sunday evening so I trotted off to reopen my surgery in Padiham. The patient was Ian Britton. I sorted his toothache out without saying too much. Then he spotted my Turf Moor sketch framed on the surgery wall.
Needless to say we spent a good hour chatting about the club,but mostly THAT game.
As he left he said "what do I owe you ?"
'Absolutely nothing' I replied, 'you literally saved my club from extinction'. I'll never forget his beaming smile as he walked out. Top bloke.
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Claret Till I Die
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by Claret Till I Die » Fri Mar 31, 2023 1:28 pm

AmbleClaret wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 1:26 pm
I was on weekend emergency dentist call-out duty many years ago.Got a call on the Sunday evening so I trotted off to reopen my surgery in Padiham. The patient was Ian Britton. I sorted his toothache out without saying too much. Then he spotted my Turf Moor sketch framed on the surgery wall.
Needless to say we spent a good hour chatting about the club,but mostly THAT game.
As he left he said "what do I owe you ?"
'Absolutely nothing' I replied, 'you literally saved my club from extinction'. I'll never forget his beaming smile as he walked out. Top bloke.
That will have been cos he didn't have to pay... :lol:
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joey13
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by joey13 » Fri Mar 31, 2023 1:34 pm

Proud to call him a mate ,on a personal level he was top bloke who was more concerned about my wife’s illness than his own .
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TintoVerano
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by TintoVerano » Fri Mar 31, 2023 1:50 pm

What a legend, when I finally got in his company a bout of stage fright took over and couldn't say anything but he spoke to my son who didn't know who he was due to being only 4 at the time. I missed the opportunity to thank him, a serious regret. Image[/img]
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jrgbfc
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by jrgbfc » Fri Mar 31, 2023 2:34 pm

Lucky enough to get to know him a bit when he ran the football team at Nelson and Colne college when I was there. Then after that would often see him out at the Morris Dancers or Crossgaits, always had time for a chat. Great bloke taken far too soon.
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Aclaret
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by Aclaret » Fri Mar 31, 2023 2:47 pm

Think I've mentioned this before, me and a mate & wives made a weekend of it staying in the Chelsea Hotel when we played West Ham.
We were sat at a table in the bar, me & mate in our Claret & Blue, who approached us but Ian Britton.
He was there for a Chelsea reunion he said but spotted we were Burnley fans and made the effort to join us for 10mins or so, he certainly didn't need to.
What a great fella, a true legend in my eyes.

ClaretTony
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Re: Remembering Ian Britton

Post by ClaretTony » Fri Mar 31, 2023 3:02 pm

TintoVerano wrote:
Fri Mar 31, 2023 1:50 pm
What a legend, when I finally got in his company a bout of stage fright took over and couldn't say anything but he spoke to my son who didn't know who he was due to being only 4 at the time. I missed the opportunity to thank him, a serious regret. Image[/img]
Is that Peter Leebrook flanked by Phil Devaney & Ashley Hoskin?

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