Figure 8: Yorkshire Street Burnley, Looking Towards Turf Moor
One of John Haworth’s first changes was to drop the green and white colours. The favoured choice was claret and blue, worn in the style of the 1909-10 League Champions, Aston Villa. The Green and Whites were no more. Of the Burnley players who had played in the historic Cup encounters against Manchester United in 1909 and 1910, only Jerry Dawson remained a first team player. Most of the others had either moved on to new clubs or had retired and been replaced by a new school of younger players. Within two seasons of Haworth taking charge, the Burnley team had changed completely.
In January 1911, Howarth mounted his first Cup campaign. Burnley did well in their new colours. The Clarets met Exeter City in Round One at Turf Moor and beat them 2-0. In Round Two, Burnley were again at home where they met Tommy Boyle’s Barnsley and beat them by the same scoreline. In the Third Round, the Clarets trounced Coventry City 5-0 at Turf Moor to land a quarter-final tie away at First Division Bradford City. All was going well in the home Cup games but could the Clarets win away? 40,000 turned out at Valley Parade, but City beat Burnley 1-0. The Yorkshiremen went on to beat Blackburn Rovers in the Semi-Final. In the Final, they met Cup holders Newcastle United at The Crystal Palace. The game ended 0-0 and a replay took place the following Wednesday at Old Trafford. Bradford, with defender Dave Taylor having an outstanding game, won the replay 1-0 and took the Cup back to Yorkshire.
With the income from the Cup runs of 1908, 1909, 1910 and 1911, by the summer of 1911 and Windle’s astute financial management, Second Division Burnley were starting to pay out big fees for players. In April 1911, Burnley paid Everton £550 for the England international and the First Divisions record goal-scorer, Bert Freeman. In September that year, Burnley paid its biggest ever transfer fee, £1,250 for Tommy Boyle the Barnsley centre-half. Shortly after Boyle’s arrival, Howarth made him the team captain. The following year, Burnley spent another £2,000 for Bradford City’s Dave Taylor and George Halley a half-back from Bradford Park Avenue. Burnley meant business and wanted success.
Burnley’s 1911-12 League campaign was full of early promise but their Cup campaign that season was a short one. Burnley travelled to Fulham in Round One and were knocked out 2-1. Despite an early Cup exit, the team were making good progress in the League, but after leading the Second Division at Easter and promotion looking almost certain, the Clarets promotion bid faded and lost out in the last game of the season at Wolves. After spending thousands of pounds on players, it had to be promotion next year.
The Clarets got off to a great start in the first half of the 1912-13 season. By Christmas 1912, Burnley were top of the Second Division and were the divisions leading goal scorers. Come January it was time to mount a challenge in the Cup. Burnley were on an excellent run of form and a cartoon in the Burnley Express weighed up the Clarets options.
Figure 9
The 1912-13 FA Cup Campaign
In Round One, Burnley were drawn away against a fellow Second Division side, Leeds City. Going into the game, the Clarets had beaten Clapton Orient 5-0 at Turf Moor in the League the Saturday before to clock up their ninth successive League victory. The Monday before the Leeds tie, the Clarets took up residence by the seaside in Blackpool for Cup training. There was a lot of interest in the match as it wasn’t far to travel and the local newspapers reported that as many as 10,000 Burnley supporters would travel to Leeds on 14 specially chartered trains. But the January weather had other plans. From early Friday morning snow began to fall which led to line blockages and the cancellation of the special trains.
Leeds City v Burnley FA Cup Round One, Elland Road, Saturday 11 January 1913 Kick-Off 2:30 pm
The teams lined up,
Leeds City: Scott, Law, Affleck, Allan, Lintott, Foley, Bainbridge, Robertson, McLeod, Spiers, Croot.
Burnley: Dawson, Bamford, Taylor, McLaren, Boyle, Watson, Mosscrop, Lindley, Freeman, Hodgson, Husband.
Referee: Mr E. P Squire (Newcastle) Linesmen: Mr Pritchard (Derby) and Mr Jones (Sheffield)
Sportsman in the Burnley Express estimated that at least half of the spectators at Elland Road were from Burnley but how they managed to get there without the trains wasn’t clear. The gates opened at Elland Road at 1:30 pm around the same time as match referee Mr Squire was inspecting the pitch. There was some four inches of snow covering the pitch and the snow was still falling. Squire arranged for the sidelines to be swept clear and the game started on time at 2:30 pm.
The first half was a real end-to-end Cup tie with both sides going for the win. Teddy Hodgson put Burnley ahead after just four minutes before Leeds equalised straight away through McLeod. Two minutes later Tommy Boyle put Burnley back in front with a direct free kick from outside the penalty area. On twenty-four minutes, Foley equalised for Leeds to make it 2-2. Then Burnley’s Bert Freeman got the better of the Leeds defenders and scored twice putting Burnley four-two ahead at the interval. Snow continued to fall during the break and the second half was only underway a few minutes when Mr Squire called a halt and went to consult with his linesmen. While the officials deliberated, the Burnley players engaged in a snowball fight on the pitch, much to the amusement of the crowd. Mr Squire and his officials agreed that due to the conditions, the match couldn’t continue and the match was abandoned much to the disgust of the travelling spectators who had travelled through a snowstorm to get to Leeds.
Result: Match abandoned on 50 minutes with the score at Leeds City 2 (McLeod, Foley), Burnley 4 (Hodgson 2, Freeman 2)
Attendance: 13,000 (Gate receipts of £505)
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The following week it was reported that one group of Burnley supporters had set off from Nelson for Leeds at 10:00 am in a taxi. On reaching the Yorkshire border, the weather was so bad they had to turn back for a set of snow chains. They set off again, proceeding at a steady 7 mph in a raging blizzard. One frozen occupant fell out of the vehicle but they managed to haul the man back into the car and thaw him out. The group eventually reached Elland Road at 5:30pm only to find the stadium locked and in darkness.
Four days later with the snow all but gone, Burnley returned to Elland Road on the Wednesday afternoon. After the free-scoring first match, it was a much closer affair according to the Manchester Guardian.
Leeds City v Burnley FA Cup Round One, Elland Road, Wednesday 15 January 1913 2:3 Kick-Off 2:30 pm
The teams lined up unchanged from the abandoned first game,
Leeds City: Scott, Law, Affleck, Allan, Lintott, Foley, Bainbridge, Robertson, McLeod, Spiers, Croot.
Burnley: Dawson, Bamford, Taylor, McLaren, Boyle, Watson, Mosscrop, Lindley, Freeman, Hodgson, Husband.
Referee: Mr E. P Squire (Newcastle) Linesmen: Mr Pritchard (Derby) and Mr Jones (Sheffield)
Burnley found it a lot more difficult to beat Leeds City than was shown during Saturday’s match. During a large part of the game, Burnley were engaged in a tight struggle. Leeds scored first through McLeod on eight minutes, before Burnley replied with goals from a Boyle penalty kick, a direct free-kick from Dick Lindley and a third from Bert Freeman. Towards the end, Leeds City made great efforts to get back on level terms. Leeds hammered at the Burnley defence and Foley managed to pull a goal back for the home side just before the final whistle.
At Full Time: Leeds City 2(McLeod, Foley), Burnley 3 (Boyle, Lindley, Freeman).
Attendance: 13,200 (Gate receipts of £453)
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In the Second Round, Burnley had been drawn at home against Lincolnshire side Gainsborough Trinity. Trinity had been voted out of the League at the end of the previous season to be replaced by their local rivals, Lincoln City. With Burnley continuing their fine League form and going for promotion, non-League Trinity were very much the Cup-tie underdogs. The bookies had high-spending Burnley the clear favourites and were expected to win comfortably. Around 500 Gainsborough supporters made the trip aboard a special train, most of them wearing the club colours, some of them The Express reported, ‘forming a tin whistle marching band.’ Burnley however were suffering with injuries to no fewer than nine players and a cartoon in the Saturday Express made light of the situation. What team would Burnley play in the Cup?
Figure 10
Burnley v Gainsborough Trinity, FA Cup Round Two, Turf Moor, 1st February 1913 Kick-Off 3:00 pm
The teams lined up,
Burnley: Dawson, Bamford, Taylor, McLaren, Boyle, Watson, Mosscrop, Lindley, Freeman, Hodgson, Husband.
Gainsborough Trinity: Sewell, Gunton, Jones, Verrill, Coe, Tellum, Lounds, Green, Ibbotson, Bolton, Parker.
Referee: Mr H. T. Yates (Bolton)
In the first half, the Burnley forwards were thwarted mainly due to the heroics of the Trinity goalkeeper, the 22 year old Ronnie Sewell, who was outstanding. Alongside him, full-backs Sam Gunton and Cliff Jones had also played brilliantly. After half an hour of Burnley pressure, completely against the run of play, Trinity broke away and Ibbotson scored on 33 minutes with a header from a Parker centre. The goal stunned the Burnley players for the remainder of the first half as the teams left the field at half-time with the non-League visitors 1-0 up.
Things must have been said in the Burnley dressing room at half time as the team’s mood was more serious as the second half began. Five minutes after the restart, Bert Freeman levelled the scores. Another goal from Freeman, then a penalty from Tommy Boyle followed by a Teddy Hodgson goal, sealed the game at four-one. But the big talking point among Burnley supporters following the match wasn’t Burnley’s 4-1 victory. Trinity’s defence must have certainly impressed during the match, as after game had ended and the Gainsborough team had already left for the Lincoln train, the Trinity club officials along with Sewell, Gunton and Jones were all called back for talks. “By 6.30pm, Burnley had signed all three players for a reputed fee of £2,400!” (Manchester Evening News)
At Full Time: Burnley 4 (Freeman 2, Boyle pen, Hodgson), Gainsborough Trinity 1 (Ibbotson)
Attendance: 18,092 (Gate receipts of £586)
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In the next round the Clarets had been handed another home tie against Middlesbrough. For the Third Round the admission prices went up, doubling from the normal sixpence on the ground to a shilling and four shillings in the stand. Regardless of the prices, a big crowd was expected and the match was scheduled to kick off at 3:15 pm to enable all the special trains from the north-east to arrive. The Middlesbrough team train arrived at Bank Top station at 1:43 pm and a fleet of taxis were waiting to shuttle them to Turf Moor.
Burnley v. Middlesbrough, FA Cup Round Three, Turf Moor, Saturday 22 February 1913 Kick-Off 3:15 pm.
Burnley: Dawson, Bamford, Taylor, McLaren, Boyle, Watson, Mountford, Lindley, Freeman, Hodgson, Husband.
Middlesbrough: Williamson, Hisbent, Weir, Crosier, Jackson, Malcolm, Stirling, Carr, Elliott, Windridge, Eyre.
Referee: Mr I. Baker (Nantwich)
A clash of colours meant hosts Burnley played in an all-white strip. Dawson wearing ‘a kind of blue’ reported Sportsman, while the visitors appeared in their familiar red and white stripes. Tommy Boyle beat Williamson to the toss and Burnley played toward the Bee Hole End. “The pace was nearly as hot as the furnaces on Teesside,” Sportsman noted. After four minutes, Boyle struck a thirty-yard shot to test Williamson the Boro’ goalkeeper, which he managed to hold on to. It was a fast-flowing end-to-end game, the first half evenly matched. Sportsman noted that Boyle got in more shots on target than any other player on the field, letting fly whenever the chance arose. Jerry Dawson was tested a few times, but it was Williamson the much busier ’keeper, stopping efforts from Boyle, Dick Lindley (twice) Bert Freeman and Teddy Hodgson. At the interval the teams went in at 1-1, Hodgson scoring first for Burnley with Carr equalising for Middlesbrough shortly after.
Thirteen minutes into the second half Burnley won a throw-in. Dick Lindley took the ball down the wing. He cut inside Boro’ defender Hisbent and crossed the ball to Freeman, who scored. Two-one to Burnley. With their tails up, ‘The Whites’ continued to attack, and Williamson in goal had to handle more long-range shots from Boyle. Ten minutes from time, Burnley were awarded a free-kick. It was taken by McLaren who found Teddy Hodgson. Hodgson passed the ball to an on-rushing Freeman, who had run a good thirty yards to dribble through the Boro’ defence to score his second goal. Three-one and Burnley supporters were a bit more relieved. Moments later Freeman got away again, sensing the hat-tick. Burnley supporters around Turf Moor cheered him on as he skipped over tackles and closed on Williamson’s goal before finally losing the ball. Middlesbrough made several attacks to get back into the game and Dawson pulled off two fine saves the first from Jackson and later Windridge before Mr Baker brought proceedings to a close.
Final Score: Burnley 3 (Hodgson, Freeman 2), Middlesbrough 1 (Carr)
Attendance: 27,824 (Gate receipts £1,679)
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Boyle and Freeman for Burnley along with Williamson for Middlesbrough had been the best three players on the field. Sportsman praised the Clarets in his mid-week column, “it shows that the Turfites are worthy aspirants both for the First Division and The Cup, and that if they succeed in their ambition and win both trophies, they will be capable of holding their own in the best company.”
The Quarter-Final draw was made the following Monday at FA Headquarters in Russell Square, London. It brought a mouth-watering tie for supporters of the two East Lancashire clubs.
Blackburn Rovers v Burnley
Sunderland v Newcastle United
Everton v Oldham Athletic
Bradford Park Avenue v Aston Villa
For Burnley supporters it was a dream tie. First Division Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park for a place in the Semi-Final. Blackburn Rovers, mid-table in Division One and five times Cup winners. Burnley who had never won the Cup, never even reached the Semi-Final. Second Division Burnley who were second in the table. Blackburn Rovers, with their Cup record, with home advantage and a team of internationals playing in the higher division were clear favourites. Rovers had reached the Semi-Finals in both 1911 and 1912. Surely they would do it again in 1913?
Saturday came and it was a glorious day in East Lancashire. Many Burnley supporters set off early in the morning, some walking the twelve miles to Ewood Park. Burnley collieries closed on the Friday evening and the local mills and foundries had worked overtime on Friday night so the workers could attend the match on Saturday. Sportsman in the Express reported it was the largest, noisiest assembly of people he had ever seen on a football ground, with a good half of the crowd travelling from Burnley to Ewood by a dozen special trains, organised by Abraham Altham’s. Alternatively Eastwood’s were running wagonette and charabanc return trips to Ewood Park for 2s 6d.
Sportsman, “When the whistle sounded one would be pardoned for thinking Burnley supporters outnumbered those of their rivals who certainly never got the opportunity to shout.” Both sides had injury worries. Eddie Mosscrop who had been ill in bed all week was only passed fit on the morning of the match. Bill Husband was nursing a knock from the previous game while Rovers had five players doubtful. An array of Burnley banners were prominent in the ground. Officiating the match was the familiar Mr Herbert Sydney Bamlett, now one of the Football Associations top referees.
Blackburn Rovers v. Burnley, FA Cup Quarter Final, Ewood Park, 8 March 1913 Kick-Off 3:00 pm
Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Crompton, Cowell, Walmsley, Smith, Bradshaw, Simpson, Shea, Aitkenhead, Latherton, Anthony.
Burnley: Dawson, Bamford, Taylor, McLaren, Boyle, Watson, Mosscrop, Lindley, Freeman, Hodgson and Husband.
Referee: Mr H. S. Bamlett (Gateshead)
Tommy Boyle beat the Blackburn captain Bob Crompton to the toss and Burnley played with the wind toward the Darwen End. The game began at a “cracking pace” according to Sportsman, the game swinging from end to end, with favourites Rovers making the early running. Jerry Dawson was in fine form, saving efforts first from Bradshaw, then Latherton and Aitkenhead. Burnley gradually got into their stride. Dawson throwing rather than kicking the ball out to Boyle, whose wide passes across Ewood began the attacks down both flanks through Eddie Mosscrop and Bill Husband. Mosscrop’s pace caused Bob Crompton, the Rovers full-back problems all afternoon. Boyle fired in the occasional long-shots when the chance came as he had done against Middlesbrough. With just over half an hour gone, Burnley took the lead.
“When operations had been in progress for 33 minutes, Freeman got off splendidly and had the better of two Rovers defenders. Crompton prevented him giving possession to one of his colleagues, conceding a corner. The ball was placed by Mosscrop whose centre was met by Boyle full on his forehead, the ball soaring through Robinson’s fingers and into the Rovers net.” Sportsman had never heard a celebration like it: “An outburst of enthusiasm the like of which I have never seen on an opponent’s ground in the course of my twenty-seven years following Burnley.” Play resumed and shortly after another Burnley attack saw Dick Lindley ‘floored.’ No foul said Mr Bamlett. Before the break Boyle tried another long-shot which Crompton allowed to roll between his legs and over the line, Robinson only clearing the danger in time. After 45 action-packed minutes, Mr Bamlett brought the first half to a close with Burnley leading 1-0.
In the second half, Rovers fought hard to pull their way back into the game. They had much more of the play. It was Dawson the busier goalkeeper who was called on several times to clear, finger-tipping the ball over the crossbar on more than one occasion. Boyle and Taylor were prominent at the back, in fact Taylor was the player of the second half for his work rate. Burnley had further chances to extend their lead with efforts from Freeman, Mosscrop and another fine effort from Boyle. Finally and after a hard-fought game, Mr. Bamlett blew his whistle with The Clarets winning 1-0. Burnley had reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the very first time.
At Full Time: Blackburn Rovers 0, Burnley 1 (Boyle)
Attendance: 43,000 (Gate receipts of £3,003)
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Figure 11
Burnley supporters had never experienced anything quite like it. The underdogs had won. The result prompted Burnley’s member of Parliament Phillip Morrell to send a telegram to Burnley chairman Harry Windle: “It is with great delight that I have read in today’s papers of the magnificent victory won by our team yesterday at Blackburn. Please accept and convey to Captain Boyle and all members of the team my warmest congratulations.”
Cup fever hit the town, prompting one Burnley supporter to take up his pen,
It’s a long way to Crystal Palace
It’s a long way to go,
It’s a long way to Crystal Palace,
Leeds City told us so;
Goodbye Middlesbrough,
Poor old Rovers too,
It’s a long, long way to Crystal Palace
But we’re going there, that’s true.
(Burnley Express 2/4/1913)
Following the great victory at Ewood Park, two more players arrived at Turf Moor to bolster the squad. Right-half George Halley arrived from Bradford Park Avenue, along with Tom Charlton, a centre-forward signed from Stockport County. There were rumours that Burnley had also wanted to bring Dickie Downs and Robert Glendenning to Turf Moor from Barnsley. Twenty-five-year old George Halley’s fee was another outlay of around £1,200, and he had also been selected for the Scottish International trial game at Hampden Park later that month.
The draw for the Semi-Final of the Cup made the following week paired the following.
Burnley v Sunderland or Newcastle United at Bramall Lane.
Aston Villa v Oldham Athletic at Ewood Park.
Burnley would eventually play Sunderland following their victory over Newcastle after a replay. Sunderland were currently England’s form team. They led the First Division and were going for the ‘Double.’ In previous rounds, Sunderland had beaten Clapton Orient 6-0, Manchester City 2-0, Swindon Town 4-2 and finally Newcastle United 3-0 after two replays. Their 3-0 win coming at St. James’s Park, a brilliant result against their local rivals. The Wearsider’s had scored 17 Cup goals with only 4 goals against. Sunderland were a team full of international stars, they were big, they were physical and they were a skilful. A well-drilled side managed by Bob Kyle. Burnley would most definitely be the underdogs.
The Athletics News lead-up to the match, gave spectators travelling to the match that it wouldn’t be interrupted by any suffragist demonstrations, “Bramall Lane has been guarded day and night for fear of certain intruders.”
Rail travel to Bramall Lane for the Semi-Final was 3s 6d return plus a shilling in the ground. A lot of money to watch football, but that didn’t stop 33,655 turning out, Burnley bringing around 15,000 supporters to South Yorkshire. Twelve special trains began leaving Burnley railway stations for Sheffield from 9:30 am. It had rained in the county all the previous week, and after more overnight rain, the vast Sheffield pitch was like a swamp.
Burnley v Sunderland, FA Cup Semi-Final, Bramall Lane, 29 March 1913
Kick-Off 3:30 pm
The teams lined up
Burnley: Dawson, Bamford, Taylor, McLaren, Boyle Watson, Mosscrop, Lindley, Freeman, Hodgson, Husband.
Sunderland: Butler, Gladwin, Ness, Cuggy, Thomson, Low, Mordue, Buchan, Richardson, Holley, Martin.
Referee: Mr A. Adams (Nottingham) Linesmen: Mr A. Ansell and Mr P. Sant
Tommy Boyle beat Charlie Thomson to the toss and Burnley defended the Bramall Lane End in the first half. The game began in lashing rain with a gale force wind behind it that made any attempt at decent football impossible. Anyone not under cover was soon soaked to the skin. Even the pressmen under their oilskins on the touchline were drenched. Sportsman later reflected on his experience, “I was one of the small band of unfortunate pressmen who had to sit at temporary tables on the track side near the touchline and I had the worst experience of my life in reporting a match.”
Sunderland managed the first attack of the match and Boyle, Watson and Taylor were called upon early on to clear the danger. The other flank of Burnley’s defence was also kept busy from Buchan and Mordue. Burnley soon became accustomed to the Wearsider’s game plan and adapted themselves well to cope with it. Boyle was in the thick of things, both in attack and defence performing a valuable pivotal role, mustering his forces. Freeman was well watched by Thomson and it was Husband who managed to get in Burnley’s first shot on the Sunderland goal. Husband was Burnley’s most dangerous player in the first period. One shot from him whistled across the Sunderland area but was cleared and so easily have gone into the net. As the rain continued to pour down, the players and officials took well-earned rest with the scores level at 0-0.
Early in the second half, Bill Husband was injured in a collision with Gladwin. He was alright again soon after attention and resumed his place. Jerry Dawson was called upon several times to save from Butler and a fine feature of the Burnley defence was Dave Taylor’s excellent work. It was later learned that Taylor had received the doctor’s attention in the dressing room at half-time. Fifteen minutes into the second half, Burnley claimed for a penalty for hand-ball by Gladwin. Mr Adams declared it was accidental. Sunderland then won several corners, but the Burnley defence was, “safe as the proverbial house,” according to Sportsman. Sunderland adopted the short-passing game while Burnley’s style was to swing the ball out to the wingers across the wide Bramall Lane pitch. Bert Freeman got away from Charlie Thomson and dribbled toward Butler’s goal when he was knocked off the ball by Thomson inside the penalty area. The offence should have brought a penalty but Freeman’s claim was ignored, by referee Adams, as a similar Sunderland claim in the Burnley area was also refused. The game was almost over when Freeman was tripped again just outside the Sunderland penalty area. Boyle’s free-kick was passed out to Mosscrop whose centre was cleared but only to Dick Lindley whose header went just over the crossbar. Bearing in mind the poor weather conditions, both sides were happy to settle for a draw and a replay at St. Andrew’s the following week.
At Full Time: Burnley 0, Sunderland 0
Attendance: 33,655 (Gate receipts £ 2,263)
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The Burnley players went home to rest for the weekend before regrouping on Monday morning at their training base in Blackpool. They had played well against a very good Sunderland side. They had matched them in every department but could they repeat their performance and beat them? On Monday morning, eight of the Burnley team travelled over to Blackpool on the 8:51 train. As the train approached Kirkham and was steaming at full speed, the passengers heard a loud banging and clanking noise and saw huge pieces of iron flying past the carriage windows. A crankshaft on the train had broken and had almost led to the train’s derailment. Tommy Bamford, joking to his colleagues, had said, “Hello lads, Sunderland are going to have themselves a walkover.” All on-board were lucky that the train had not come off the rails and no one had been hit by the flying debris.
Sunderland had travelled down to Birmingham from the North-east the day before and stayed at a hotel in central Birmingham overnight while Burnley had made the unusual decision to travel on the morning of the match. It would prove to be a bad decision that would cost the Clarets dearly.
The big story in the morning newspapers was the start of the trial at the Old Bailey of leading suffragette, Mrs Pankhurst on the charge of attempting to blow up the house of Mr Lloyd George. In football news, the Football Association were investigating a claim brought by Fulham director, Mr H. G. Norris, that members of the Liverpool Football team were, “not trying their best” to win the match v. Chelsea held at Anfield Road on Easter Monday (the 24th of March). The FA’s investigation would run for almost a year.
The Burnley train left Bank Top station at 8:40 and travelled via Manchester, zigzagging its way across the country to Birmingham. After several unscheduled delays, what should have been a 3½ half hour journey took almost five hours. The train finally pulled in to Birmingham New Street at 1:50 pm, well over an hour late. The players had managed to have their lunch on the packed train but had had no space to walk up and down to stretch their legs. With less than two hours to go before the kick-off, most of the Burnley players were nowhere near St. Andrews and by the time they had collected their kit and exited the station there were no taxis. It wasn’t the best start to such an important game. “A Jading Journey,” noted Sportsman who travelled with the team. The players managed to reach St. Andrews in just enough time. Burnley made one enforced change. Winger Jimmy Bellamy came in for Eddie Mosscrop, who had not been given release from his teaching commitments.
Burnley v Sunderland FA Cup Semi-Final (Replay) St. Andrews, Wednesday April 2 1913 Kick-Off 3:30 pm
The teams lined up:
Burnley: Dawson, Bamford, Taylor, McLaren, Boyle, Watson, Bellamy, Lindley, Freeman, Hodgson, Husband.
Sunderland: Butler, Gladwin, Ness, Cuggy, Thomson, Low, Mordue, Buchan, Richardson, Holley and Martin.
Referee: Mr A. Adams (Nottingham)
It was a warm afternoon in the Midlands as Sunderland came out onto the pitch first, followed by Tommy Boyle leading out the Burnley team. Charlie Thomson won the toss and elected to kick off, with Burnley playing against the wind in the first half. Despite their exhausting journey, Burnley began the first half well and were, “the more aggressive side,” said Sportsman. An early Billy Watson effort came close for Burnley. His shot going just wide of Butler’s left post. Three minutes later Teddy Hodgson had the ball in the Sunderland net, only for the linesman to flag Hodgson for offside. From the resulting free kick, Sunderland broke up field. Martin crossed for Charlie Buchan who scored with a leaping header past Jerry Dawson. One-nil to Sunderland. A minute after that Buchan put the ball in the Burnley net again, only to be flagged offside. In the first half, apart from the two Sunderland goal attempts by Buchan, Burnley had seen most of the ball. A melee in the Sunderland area led to a deliberate handball by defender Gladwin. Mr Adams blew his whistle this time and pointed to the penalty spot. Tommy Boyle picked up the ball and placed it on the spot. He took his customary ten paces back, ran in and with his right foot drove the ball past Butler in the Sunderland goal to level the scores. Five minutes later, Burnley attacked again this time through Husband down the left. Husband played a one-two with Freeman, as Sportsman noted,
“Freeman sprinted with great speed and though the goalkeeper came out and ran full tilt into him, the Burnley centre had already skilfully guided the ball into the net.”
Two-one to Burnley! The game had turned in Burnley’s favour. The first half was just drawing to a close when Boyle was viscously kicked under the kneecap by Sunderland’s Charlie Thomson. Boyle limped on until the end of the half, “but he was not the same after,” said Sportsman in the Express.
Boyle did appear in the second half but he probably only made his knee much worse. The injury slowed him down but he soldiered on. In the second half Sunderland attacked and were awarded a dubious penalty, when Holley went down after Dawson had already collected the ball. The referee whistled and pointed to the penalty spot. Jackie Mordue stepped up for Sunderland and scored from the penalty to make it 2-2. Both sides fought tooth and claw for the next goal. Sunderland claimed for another penalty as Dave Taylor cleared the ball but it wasn’t given. Two minutes later, Mordue collected the ball, chipped the ball over Dave Taylor’s head and passed it to Holley, who shot past Dawson to make it three-two to Sunderland. The balance and momentum was now with Sunderland as Burnley tired on the heavy pitch and Boyle’s knee injury got worse. The Clarets searched for an equaliser in the final minutes and had chances for Lindley and Husband, but the goal never came and the Clarets were out of the Cup.
At Full Time: Burnley 2 (Freeman, Boyle pen), Sunderland 3(Buchan, Mordue, Holley)
Attendance: 25,000 (Gate Receipts of £2,000)
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The match had been a bruising, bloody and painful encounter as Tommy Boyle could testify. The mood in the dressing room would have been funereal, the players were done in, knackered, having given their all. They had come so far in the competition only to lose in the last phase of the game. Burnley had tired in the second half there was no question of that. The long train journey on the morning of the match must have been one factor, injuries to key players and tiredness another. The Clarets were out of the Cup and that was that for another year.
Burnley manager John Haworth needed to pick his team up quickly. Six important League games remained starting on Saturday with a trip to Bradford Park Avenue. There were twelve valuable promotion points at stake. Burnley had fallen to third in the table, one point behind second placed Birmingham but had two games in hand on them. The team would have to play all six games without Tommy Boyle who was ruled out for the rest of the season thanks to Charlie Thomson’s boot. Eddie Mosscrop would also miss the two mid-week games in hand due to his teaching commitments.
Burnley got off to a good start in their promotion quest, beating Bradford Park Avenue (2-3). They then pulled off a fine 1-1 draw with League leaders Preston at Deepdale, where Burnley were also without the services of Billy Watson. The following Saturday, the Clarets produced another excellent performance beating Wolves 4-2 at Turf Moor. Three games down and three to go. Six points left. Two promotion points needed.
So much rested on the next match at Filbert Street against Leicester Fosse. Burnley travelled down to Leicester on Friday morning and stayed overnight. A win and two more points would be enough to secure the runners-up spot in Division Two. The match took place on Cup Final day, where Sunderland were playing Aston Villa at The Crystal Palace. Burnley’s team were now relying on their reserve players. They had to re-organise at the back. Winger Jimmy Bellamy was brought in as a makeshift right-back! George Halley took over at centre-half and Ernie Bradshaw filled in at left-half. Leicester had three changes of their own which included the loss of their normal goalkeeper Mearns, with the youngster Harry Furr deputising.
Leicester Fosse v Burnley, Filbert Street, Saturday April 19 1913 Kick-off 3:00 pm
Leicester Fosse: Furr, Thompson, Currie, McWhirter, Hanger, King, Douglas, Mills, Sparrow, Osborne, Harrison.
Burnley: Dawson, Jones, Taylor, Bellamy, Halley, Bradshaw, Mosscrop, Lindley, Freeman, Hodgson, Husband.
Referee: Mr L. N. Fletcher (Bury)
Burnley kicked-off facing the sun, the wind in their faces. They began the better side and after half an hour of stalemate, on 36 minutes Teddy Hodgson opened the scoring, sending a 20-yard shot flying past Furr and into the net to give the Clarets a deserved lead. Hodgson’s shot took Furr completely by surprise who saw it way too late and had no chance of stopping it. Three minutes later, Burnley attacked again forcing a corner on the left. From the cross, Furr fisted the ball out but it came straight back into the area and from the resulting melee, Hodgson scored his second goal. Burnley held on to their two-goal lead as Mr Fletcher blew his whistle for half-time.
The second half was a much different game. With Leicester also needing the points to avoid being sucked into the League re-election places they came out fighting. With nine minutes of the second half played, Leicester’s Douglas found Osborn who scored to pull a goal back for the home side. The Foxes took the game to Burnley and five minutes later following more pressure saw the best move of the game. Leicester attacked in numbers to seek the equaliser. Jerry Dawson left his goal to meet their inside-left, Mills running toward him. Mills put the ball over to Harrison. Harrison’s low strike went behind the Burnley keeper to find Sparrow running in to tap in. It was all square and at this point the game could have gone either way. The following weeks Athletics News describing it as a “ding-dong struggle for mastery.” Fifteen minutes remained and it looked as if Burnley had thrown a precious point away, and that promotion would have to be secured the following week. Bert Freeman had the final say. With five minutes left, Freeman scored to restore Burnley’s lead and see the Clarets out eventual winners 3-2.
At Full Time: Leicester Fosse 2 (Osborn, Sparrow), Burnley 3 (Hodgson 2, Freeman).
Attendance: unknown- not given in Sportsman’s or the Athletics News reports.
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When the results of the other matches were known, Burnley had something to celebrate at last. Sportsman’s regular football column on Wednesday 23rd April, began with a simple headline that read,
BURNLEY BACK
It was a case of lucky thirteen according to Sportsman, “After thirteen years wandering in the wilderness of the Second Division, Burnley on Saturday, on their thirteenth visit to Leicester, won their way back to the First Division…”
A cartoon accompanied the match report showing the good ship ‘Turf Moor’, being waved into the 1st Division harbour by a collection of players from other 1st Division Clubs, With the line beneath …
“Safe in Port at last. The good ship ‘Turf Moor,’ after 13 years buffeting by storms, adverse currents and the avoiding of dangerous rocks and shoals, returns safely to ‘harbour’ with a full crew, a full treasure chest, and an enhanced reputation.”
Several telegrams of congratulation arrived at Turf Moor. Burnley’s Member of Parliament, Philip Morrell, wrote, “Well done Burnley! Delighted to hear of your brilliant achievement in regaining once more your true place in First Division. Please accept my heartiest congratulations upon a great and well-deserved triumph.”
The 1912-13 Cup Final
As Burnley were busy securing their First Division future at Leicester, the Cup Final at the Crystal Palace between Aston Villa and Sunderland was in full swing. It is worth mentioning this for a few reasons that would have a bearing on the following year’s competition. With so much riding on the game between the top two sides in the Football League, massive numbers of spectators turned out to see the battle of the giants. It was the biggest attended Cup final in England with an official gate of nearly, 122,000. In trying to get the best view of the match, some spectators climbed onto one of the stand roofs. Their weight was too great and the roof collapsed, with people falling through the roof and on top of the seated fans below. The Daily Mirror showed a photograph of the wrecked stand. A number of people were hurt but fortunately none badly.
All around the stadium there was crushing on the terraces. People lost their footing and slid down the mud and grass banking. The Daily Express headline on Monday 21st April read, ‘THE CUP FINAL SCANDAL’ followed by ‘THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MAKE LONG RAILWAY JOURNEYS AND SEE NOTHING OF THE GAME,’ as many who had paid for entry couldn’t get in to see the match.
A protracted FA investigation followed. They demanded changes be made to the stadium and threatened to pull the next Cup Final out of The Palace. An argument over funding broke out over who should foot the bill and a war of words took place in the newspapers. On 21 November 1913, the football correspondent Orion, writing in a detailed article in the Daily Express said, “there does not appear to be the slightest chance of the Football Association and the Crystal Palace authorities coming to terms with regard to improvements to the Final Tie ground.” Some £70,000, a massive sum, had been identified as the figure needed to improve the standard of the Palace if the problems of 1913 were not to be repeated. The arguments ran on into early 1914 and it looked highly likely that the 1914 Final would not take place at The Palace.
On the field, the 1913 Final lasted 18 minutes over the scheduled ninety, mainly for the foul temper in which the match was played. Hacking, injuries and fouls on both sides took place throughout. The worst of it was a running feud that took place between Sunderland’s Charlie Thomson and the Villa centre-forward, Harry Hampton. Hampton had been kicked, punched, and knocked to the ground and had got up each time and smiled at his assailant. Hampton had clearly got the better of Thomson who didn’t like it. The referee told Thomson to cool it, his Sunderland teammates told him, but it was only after Tommy Barber had scored for Villa twelve minutes from time did he quit. The personal battle led to both players being suspended for a month at the start of the 1913-14 season. The same Thomson who had crippled Tommy Boyle in the semi-final and had put him out of the last six games of Burnley’s season. The Cup Final referee, Mr Adams, was suspended by the Football Association for lack of control. He never officiated again. Villa playing in claret and blue won. They carried away the Cup, the gold medals and the glory back to the Midlands. Charlie Buchan’s Sunderland lost. They would win the League Championship a week later but that achievement got small mention in the newspapers by comparison. Cup winners Villa were all over the front pages of every national paper. If Burnley were ever going to win the Cup they would need to take on and beat the likes of these two sides. These two were among the best teams in England. Burnley would have to raise their game next season that was without question as they played among the big boys.
Burnley’s Final Match of the Season
With promotion secure, two games remained of Burnley’s season. The Clarets eased off in the next game, losing at home to their promotion rivals Barnsley 1-0 in front of a crowd of over 18,000 on Wednesday 23rd April. The final match of the 1912-13 season was against Stockport County the following Saturday. Burnley were without the services of four players. Tommy Boyle was still nursing his injured knee and Billy Watson, Dave Taylor and Cliff Jones were all injured. Bert Freeman captained the Clarets for their final League game in Division Two against Stockport County.
Burnley v Stockport County, Turf Moor Saturday 26 April 1913 Kick Off 3:00pm
The teams lined up
Burnley: Dawson, McLaren, Bamford, Bellamy, Halley, Bradshaw, Mosscrop, Lindley, Freeman, Hodgson, Husband.
Stockport County: Birds, Froehlich, Fagan, Tattersall, Garrett, Chivers, Crossthwaite, Rodgers, Cook, Smith, O’Brien.
Referee: Mr A. Briggs (Blackburn)
The weather was ‘wretched’ according to the match reporter in the Athletics News with rain falling continually throughout the match which also affected the attendance which turned out to be the smallest gate of the season. Burnley kicked off with the advantage of the wind and after a dull start, the Clarets scored twice, just a few minutes from half-time, firstly through Dick Lindley and two minutes after by Teddy Hodgson. The two-goal margin ‘flattered Burnley’ according to the Athletics News reporter. The match was a much more even affair in the second half. County attacked and Rogers pulled a goal back for the visitors. Thirty minutes into the half, from an Eddie Mosscrop centre, Bert Freeman restored Burnley’s two-goal advantage. County came more into the game after Freeman’s goal and they scored a second through Garret from a fine shot which struck the inside of Dawson’s post and deflected into the net. At the end of a damp April afternoon, the Clarets signed off their excellent season with a 3-2 victory and cheers from the small crowd.
At Full Time: Burnley 3 (Lindley, Hodgson, Freeman), Stockport County 2 (Rogers, Garret).
Attendance: 5,000 (The Burnley Express gave the gate receipts of £128 the lowest of the season which would equate to around only 5,000 people.)
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The final top four places in Division Two for the 1912-13 season were now complete;
|
Preston North End, |
53 points, Champions |
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Burnley, |
50 points, Runners-Up |
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Birmingham City, |
46 points, |
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Barnsley, |
45 points. |
The high-scoring Clarets had netted 88 League goals and another 13 goals in the FA Cup to make it over a hundred for the season. In recognition of their achievement, on Thursday the 1st of May, a celebration dinner was hosted by Philip Morrell MP at Burnley’s Mechanics Institute. During the evening the Mayor of Burnley presented Burnley’s Billy Watson with a gold watch, chain and medal in recognition for his services in having played in a hundred consecutive matches for the football club. The dinner was attended by several noted guests and dignitaries and speeches given by Mr J. McKenna and Mr C. E. Sutcliffe representing The Football League. They were followed by Philip Morrell’s vote of thanks and lastly Burnley captain Tommy Boyle who toasted the Burnley team and gave these words,
“On behalf of the members of the team I beg to thank you most heartily for the toast which has been so ably proposed by Alderman Whitehead, and which you have drunk with such enthusiasm. As captain of the Burnley team I feel proud to have the honour of responding to it. (Hear, Hear) Since I first joined the Burnley club, it has been my ambition to see the team back again in the First Division, and I need scarcely to say that it was a most bitter dissapointment – especially to the players when we failed to win out last match at Wolverhampton last season. But we have made amends this season. (Hear, Hear and applause) Our task has not been an easy one by any means, for we have had many difficulties to face. Especially in regard to injuries, but the players have shown a skill and determination which have brought us through successfully (Hear, Hear). We also gave a good account of ourselves in the English Cup Competition, and the form we displayed in those matches should fill us with confidence for our fight in the First Division next season. I should like to say how much we appreciate the kindness of Mr. Morrell in entertaining us to dinner and for the great interest he has always taken in the team, especially when we have visited London (Loud applause).”
By the end of May, the 1913-14 League fixtures were published. Burnley would begin the season against Everton at Goodison Park before travelling to The Hawthorns for a meeting with West Bromwich Albion. The Clarets first home game would take place on the Bank Holiday Monday against the old enemy, Blackburn Rovers.
The biggest news of summer 1913 came on the 4th of June at Epsom racecourse. Those in attendance for the 1913 Derby were King George V and Queen Mary to see their horse, Anmer, run in the Royal colours. Among the thousands present were a contingent of suffragettes, many who had travelled together to raise the profile of their campaign at important and well known sporting events. Knowing they faced arrest on entering the grounds if wearing their WSPU colours, the group of women kept the colours hidden until they were safely inside. One of the suffragettes present was Emily Wilding Davison. She was a known militant who had been arrested two years previously for planting a bomb. Davison had been imprisoned and was force-fed in Strangeways prison after going on hunger-strike. As the afternoons programme began, Davison was waiting by the rails at Tattenham Corner. On hearing the horses approaching Davison slipped under the rails and strode onto the course. She spotted the distinctive scarlet and blue colours worn by Anmer’s rider, Herbert Jones. The King’s horse was going flat out as Davison attempted to pin the WSPU colours to Anmer’s reins.
“The horse struck the woman with its chest, knocking her down among the flying hooves...blood rushed from her mouth and nose. Anmer turned a complete somersault and fell upon his jockey who was seriously injured.” (Daily Mirror, 5/6/13)
Davison never recovered from the injuries she received and died four days later. Queen Mary was a well-known anti-suffragette and though it has always been thought that Davison did not intend to commit suicide, she did want to make a point of protest before the Royals. What made Davison’s act more prominent was that it was captured on moving film and shown to cinema audiences across Britain.
A week later, over six thousand women marched behind Davison’s funeral cortege while some 50,000 lined the funeral route from St. George’s church in Bloomsbury to Kings Cross railway station where her body was taken home to Morpeth in Northumberland for burial in the family grave. Following Davison’s death, the Suffragette’s protests intensified. Racecourse stands were burned down, golf courses were dug up, shop windows smashed, buildings fire-bombed and politicians targetted for stonings. In the wake of Davison’s death, all manner of mayhem took place across the country. Security around The Royal Family was tightened as they attended the summer seasons events at Ascot, Wimbledon and Henley. To date football matches had not been targetted, but would that change in the coming season?
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