Memories of Burnley
Charlton 3-2 Burnley, 22nd April, 1978
I remember this game for the sole reason that it was our last home game of the season, even though it had 3 weeks to run. I was er, 11 and frankly didn't want the season to end, even though in hindsight we were rubbish.
In those days though under Andy Nelson we always had a decent home record but could never win away - that season 1977/78 we won just two away but lost just four at The Valley.
Burnley were comfortably in midtable but we were in a relegation scrap with a number of other teams including Millwall. In the end a 0-0 draw at a replayed match at Orient a few days after the official end of the season just about saw us safe.
The Burnley game was pretty exciting from what I remember. With the help of
Home and Away, they scored first in the opening minute through Terry Cochrane. Then Big Dave Shipperley powed in an equaliser before whose that scoring goals Martin, Martin Robinson put us ahead just on half-time.
Malcolm Smith then pulled The Clarets level before Shipperley scored a second from a corner by Keith Peacock, who was making his 500th league appearance for us. What a legend.
In the programme Andy Nelson talked of the fans anguish of him allowing Colin Powell, Mike Flanagan and Laurie Abrahams to leave for the New England Teamen with 6 games left (they had scored 22 goals between them). This sure was an idiotic decision by Nelson, who we were to suffer for another couple of seasons. Looking back these sure were dismal times to be an Addick and only 6,000 of us were at the final home game, the 4th worst of the season.
Also in the programme was a plug for Bob Curtis' testimonial match at home to QPR (I think I went!), a profile on Alan Dugdale, whose ambition was to play in the (old) First Division with Charlton (yeh right) and the 1978/79 season ticket application form. Terrace tickets £14 for adults and £7 for under 16's. This was for a season, not a match! I guess you got what you paid for.
Charlton: Wood, Berry, Warman, Tydeman (Madden 70), Shipperley, Dugdale, Brisley, Gritt, Robinson, Peacock, Burman.
Burnley: Stevenson, Scott, Brennan, Noble, Robinson, Thomson, Cochrane, Ingham, Fletcher, Kindon, Smith.
Sub not used: Hall
Attendance: 6,511