The latest in featuring ex-Clarets - the brilliant Brian O'Neil

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https://www.uptheclarets.com/our-bedlin ... t-and-blue

Loved reading that. My wife is from Bedlington and on many visits there over the years I've never met anyone who doesn't know of Brian O'Neil. 'Aye, the lad from Bedlington Station,' they would say.
I believe his daughter is married to the Sky TV pundit, David Prutton.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 11:54 am

Loved reading that. My wife is from Bedlington and on many visits there over the years I've never met anyone who doesn't know of Brian O'Neil. 'Aye, the lad from Bedlington Station,' they would say.
I believe his daughter is married to the Sky TV pundit, David Prutton.

His younger daughter is married to Prutton. When we played at Norwich recently, the Sky pundits were right in front of us and I was going to try and grab Prutton's attention to ask how he was. Unfortunately, he wasn't there that day. I think Brian lives with them.

Boxing Day Turf Moor v Liverpool, muddy ground 0’Neil and Tommy Smith going at it hammer and tongs, no quarter given. Smith demolishes O’Neil in front of the longside, O’Neil looks up and shouts “hey Tommy” then follows it with perfectly aimed mudball straight in his face. Smith grimaces then smiles, let battle re-commence, no VAR in those days.
O’Neil was certainly one of our best.

It 's strange the things you can remember from over 50 years ago.
I too remember that Southampton game, Tony, and although I haven't looked it up I think that was the match where we had a four figure crowd (9595?) for the first time for many years for a league game.
But the main thing I remember is the headline in the Daily Mail match report the following morning. It was " Magnificent Mudlarker ", referring of course to Brian O'Neil. I can remember that headline as if it was yesterday.

Fully 30 yds doesn’t do it justice, CT. What a strike and what timing. The first time I ever saw a pyramid of players. All X1 and the wee man underneath them all.
A former coach of mine, Norman Callender, reffed him in the mid-60s and said he was the most foul-mouthed player he ever came across. It’s not a sin.

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 1:49 pm

It 's strange the things you can remember from over 50 years ago.
I too remember that Southampton game, Tony, and although I haven't looked it up I think that was the match where we had a four figure crowd (9595?) for the first time for many years for a league game.
But the main thing I remember is the headline in the Daily Mail match report the following morning. It was " Magnificent Mudlarker ", referring of course to Brian O'Neil. I can remember that headline as if it was yesterday.

9,405 the attendance in March 1968, won 2-0, Morgan got the first and O'Neil the second.

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 1:54 pm

Fully 30 yds doesn’t do it justice, CT. What a strike and what timing. The first time I ever saw a pyramid of players. All X1 and the wee man underneath them all.
A former coach of mine, Norman Callender, reffed him in the mid-60s and said he was the most foul-mouthed player he ever came across. It’s not a sin.

I can bet he was foul mouthed - special goal wasn't it? We didn't beat them again until Robbie scored.

Everybody has favourite players from the past but Brian O'Neil stands comparision with any Burnley player past or present .
Relentless , full of running , eye for a pass , stand up to anybody .
Approachable demeanour none of the " I'm a big star " about Brian .
Fantastic player , fantastic man.

He summed up the Burnley spirit for me did Brian O'Neil.Covered in mud and relentless...a never give up attitude..great to watch ....

My old man's favourite player, followed by Leighton James.

A friend of mine played against Brian in the Western League when he was at Bideford. He says that over 40 years later he still has the bruises!

The most tenacious and best tackler I have seen in over 60 years of watching football but never dirty. With the way the game has changed he would easily reach 15-20 yellows in one season today

Some years ago,I can’t remember the year,Hudson and Pearson of Loveclough area sponsered a match at Burnley.Brian O’neil was to do the half time draw so H and P and BFC arranged as surprise meal for Brian in the Bob Lord stand.Many of his ex colleagues were there such as Elder,Blacklaw Lochead ,Irvine, Latcham to name just a few.My friend who was a customer of H and P obtained 2 tickets for the event.When it came time to sit and eat we decided to sit at a table on the periphery,not wanting to intrude on what were our heroes.Who came and sat on our table,only Brian Oneil and his two lovely daughters.A few years before this one of his step sons had attacked Brian and hit him over the head with something.Brian that night talked very slowly as if he had had a stroke but he was still very entertaining and a lovely man.His daughters came with him because of the issues he now had.They escorted him onto the pitch next day at half time.His daughters were really easy to talk to,the only drawback was that I think one of them was engaged to or girlfriend of Kevin Davies,of barsteward fame.Had a superb night that night talking to many of my heroes.

Can remember Brian's 30yds goal like it was yesterday,I was making my way through the beehole end as the game was nearly over and was at the top behind the goals watching the last couple of minutes when Brian collected the ball and went forward past a couple of Utd defenders and then hit the ball from 30 yds out,leaving Stepney no chance and all the Beehole End just seem to go crazy .Fantastic celebrations on and off the pitch. One of my best moments on the Turf and there has been some good ones.

Replacing Brian in this day would mean he played one missed two until he was given a longer ban from too many straight reds

Lip wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 4:22 pm

Can remember Brian's 30yds goal like it was yesterday,I was making my way through the beehole end as the game was nearly over and was at the top behind the goals watching the last couple of minutes when Brian collected the ball and went forward past a couple of Utd defenders and then hit the ball from 30 yds out,leaving Stepney no chance and all the Beehole End just seem to go crazy .Fantastic celebrations on and off the pitch. One of my best moments on the Turf and there has been some good ones.

It finished off an interesting week for us. The previous Saturday we lost 7-0 at White Hart Lane and then in midweek beat Workington in the league Cup 6-0.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 5:06 pm

It finished off an interesting week for us. The previous Saturday we lost 7-0 at White Hart Lane and then in midweek beat Workington in the league Cup 6-0.

Silky, are you mixing up Workington with Grimsby ?.....We were special that night.

Royboyclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 5:16 pm

Silky, are you mixing up Workington with Grimsby ?.....We were special that night.

Yes, it was Grimsby we beat 6-0. We won 1-0 at Workington in the following round.

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 5:20 pm

Yes, it was Grimsby we beat 6-0. We won 1-0 at Workington in the following round.

Then we all ended up at the Hawthorns which ended in total heartache.....and a long journey home.

Painfull though it was to recollect......Was it Peter Noble, of all people, at the far end of the Burnley fans, to deliver the final blow for Swindon.

After Jimmy Mac, he is my second favourite BFC player. He was a one-man midfield, he tackled brilliantly to win the ball, he carried it forward at pace, he joined the attack at every occasion creating and scoring goals, God knows what he would be worth today (and I know he would have to adapt his aggressive, wholehearted style in the modern game). He seemed to relish the difficult conditions and awful pitches of the era. If we had a modern day Brian O’Neill in our squad now, we would finish next season in the top half of the PL......he was that good.

Royboyclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 5:16 pm

Silky, are you mixing up Workington with Grimsby ?.....We were special that night.

Yes I am. Put it down to advancing years, I suppose.

Another who remembers Brian O'Neil's winner against Man Utd. From where I was in the Bee Hole End with the Utd goal at the other end, I remember the ball travelling from Brian O'Neil's boot into the back of the net only a foot off the ground. A perfect volley.

1968/69, was that when the new Cricket Field stand was under construction?

My memory (may not be accurate) is that it was a night match.

November 1973 I was at college. My footballing mate was a Southampton fan. We ran the college team together that season. We went down to stay at his parents' for the weekend and went to the Dell to watch Southampton v Burnley. Again, if memory isn't too clouded by the passing of time, it ended a 1-1 draw. Many Southampton fans were also big fans of Brian O'Neil.

I’ve only just remembered the 30yder hit both posts and left us guessing for a short while.

Great article, CT.
Probably my all-time favourite Burnley outfield player

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 6:47 pm

I’ve only just remembered the 30yder hit both posts and left us guessing for a short while.

Some memory you have there, TT........Was it really both posts ?

Paul Waine wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 6:06 pm

Another who remembers Brian O'Neil's winner against Man Utd. From where I was in the Bee Hole End with the Utd goal at the other end, I remember the ball travelling from Brian O'Neil's boot into the back of the net only a foot off the ground. A perfect volley.

1968/69, was that when the new Cricket Field stand was under construction?

My memory (may not be accurate) is that it was a night match.

November 1973 I was at college. My footballing mate was a Southampton fan. We ran the college team together that season. We went down to stay at his parents' for the weekend and went to the Dell to watch Southampton v Burnley. Again, if memory isn't too clouded by the passing of time, it ended a 1-1 draw. Many Southampton fans were also big fans of Brian O'Neil.

Was definetly an afternoon game v Man Utd. I was in the Longside with a schoolmate who'd travelled from Manchester on an Arthur Mayne's coach that often transported their fans then to away games.
Think the old covered end was still being used then and full of United fans. Again, I think the last time it was used was just before 1968 ended in a game v Everton.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 8:21 pm

Was definetly an afternoon game v Man Utd. I was in the Longside with a schoolmate who'd travelled from Manchester on an Arthur Mayne's coach that often transported their fans then to away games.
Think the old covered end was still being used then and full of United fans. Again, I think the last time it was used was just before 1968 ended in a game v Everton.

Correct. I’d reached an age to go on the Town end but full of Manure so, under Dads advice, went back to my old perch on the turnstiles to the enclosure in the Longside.

Royboyclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 6:52 pm

Some memory you have there, TT........Was it really both posts ?

As I remember it. To the keepers right, across to the left and barely crossed the line near the first post struck.
Some games you wish Bob Lord had let the cameras on.

Funny how we all have different memories of goals scored. Brian O' Neil's winner in 1968 was definetly down at the cricket field end and also very late in the game. My memory of it was that he picked up a throw in from near the halfway line by the dugouts took it on a few paces and then just hit the ball with his right foot from a good distance out. Very similar to the goal Joey Gudjonnson scored at Turf Moor v Preston in Owen Coyle's time with us. It swerved, dipped and left Alex Stepney grasping thin air. But, as I said, that's how I, personally recall it and I might be wide of the mark.

There was a Q&A organised by Katy O’Neil on the Clarets Bar International page just over a couple of years ago. This is how the great man himself remembers this fabled goal.

“Got the ball on the half way line, knocked it through George Bests legs. Beat four Man Utd defenders crashed the ball with left foot into top left hand corner. Burnley won 1 - 0. “

Culmclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 3:11 pm

A friend of mine played against Brian in the Western League when he was at Bideford. He says that over 40 years later he still has the bruises!

He managed Bideford as well. Apparently, he drank in my local pub. All the old guys speak very fondly of him, but unfortunately he moved away before I had the chance to meet him.

I now play Walking Football and our team was given the chance to select our own shirt numbers.....I took No 4 and just said my idol wore the No 4 shirt. I try to explain but here in Lincolnshire they just glaze over Brian who!

A few years ago, I think it was the Championship game in 2012, I travelled to Southampton by coach.

Back on the coach after the game, two lads said they’d bumped into a bloke who had told them he’d played for Burnley. They weren’t too certain of the name he’d given them but they seemed to think it might be O’Neil. They were astounded when I told them they’d been talking to one of our greats.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 04, 2023 8:53 pm

Funny how we all have different memories of goals scored. Brian O' Neil's winner in 1968 was definetly down at the cricket field end and also very late in the game. My memory of it was that he picked up a throw in from near the halfway line by the dugouts took it on a few paces and then just hit the ball with his right foot from a good distance out. Very similar to the goal Joey Gudjonnson scored at Turf Moor v Preston in Owen Coyle's time with us. It swerved, dipped and left Alex Stepney grasping thin air. But, as I said, that's how I, personally recall it and I might be wide of the mark.

From the horse's mouth - Brian O'Neil's description of the goal speaking to Keith McNee in the Burnley Express the Tuesday after the game;

''I was near the half-way line: Ralph Coates was behind me on the right. He had the ball and when I shouted for it he pushed it for me. George Best was alongside, I think, but I got past him with no bother then Nobby Stiles came in and started jostling a bit.

I increased speed and kind of burst past Stiles then everything happened quickly. Fitzpatrick moved in at me and I can't remember whether I dribbled past him or just pushed the ball on and ran. Their defence was expecting me to pass but when I got about six yards short of their box the ball bubbled just right and I thought: 'Lovely, here goes.' I banged it as hard as I could with my right and then I thought 'Oh, it's too high.'

I could see Stepney couldn't get near it and then it dipped just under the bar into the far corner."

So there we have it, a right foot shot from about 24 yards so your memory is pretty good Silky - and yes, it was at the Cricket Field End.

sjb wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 9:14 am

From the horse's mouth - Brian O'Neil's description of the goal speaking to Keith McNee in the Burnley Express the Tuesday after the game;

''I was near the half-way line: Ralph Coates was behind me on the right. He had the ball and when I shouted for it he pushed it for me. George Best was alongside, I think, but I got past him with no bother then Nobby Stiles came in and started jostling a bit.

I increased speed and kind of burst past Stiles then everything happened quickly. Fitzpatrick moved in at me and I can't remember whether I dribbled past him or just pushed the ball on and ran. Their defence was expecting me to pass but when I got about six yards short of their box the ball bubbled just right and I thought: 'Lovely, here goes.' I banged it as hard as I could with my right and then I thought 'Oh, it's too high.'

I could see Stepney couldn't get near it and then it dipped just under the bar into the far corner."

So there we have it, a right foot shot from about 24 yards so your memory is pretty good Silky - and yes, it was at the Cricket Field End.

Fascinating stuff from Brian......but the question remains......did the ball hit both posts on the way to the net ?

Not my recollection......but Tricky Trevor seems convinced.

Royboyclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 10:13 am

Fascinating stuff from Brian......but the question remains......did the ball hit both posts on the way to the net ?

Not my recollection......but Tricky Trevor seems convinced.

I think Brian would have mentioned it in his description if it did. I was on the game but can offer no personal recollection as I left a couple of minutes prior to the goal to catch my bus!

sjb wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 06, 2023 10:25 am

I think Brian would have mentioned it in his description if it did. I was on the game but can offer no personal recollection as I left a couple of minutes prior to the goal to catch my bus!

Late 50's and especially early 60's my dad took me.to the match from Haslingden. He also had a habit of leaving a minute or two early to catch the bus back to Rawtenstall. I don't know why because when we got to the bus station there was a whole.convoy of football specials waiting to take people.back to Rawtenstall.

He was an incredible player. I could never understand why he never played regular for England, miles better than Styles who to me was just a glorified clogged who played for bigger club. Strange also that no other club tried to pinch him from us.

One of my most vivid memories of Brian was the home game against Sheffield Wednesday 2 days before Christmas 1967. Already 1 down to an early penalty, we were reduced to 10 men when referee Keith Walker (ironically later to become Secretary at Sheffield United) sent him off for what looked nothing more than a sliding tackle. We came back to win the game 2-1.

This was the game where in retaliation Bob Lord removed the plate of meat pies he had placed in the dressing room for the referee & linesmen at half time! I have in my possession the referee's report plus the letter which Walker wrote to the FA complaining about Bob's actions, and the reply in which he got short shrift. I've also got the original reports on the ref from both clubs - Wednesday gave him 5 out of 5, we awarded him 1.

My late father's favourite Burnley player. A shame I never got to see him play but this article summed up what dad used to say about him nicely. He was gutted they sold him.