Burnley, the club I affectionately call the ‘village team’ can take pride in reaching their Centenary Year after experiencing the highs and lows of football fortune since being elected one of the League’s 12 founder members back in 1888. They have made a big contribution to the game and I sincerely hope they can recapture their place as one of England’s leading clubs.

Their recent history has seen them battling against the harsh financial problems that are threatening football in general. But the spirit and determination of the club, personified by their Chairman, the one and only Bob Lord, will carry them through, I am certain of that. It was a remarkable achievement for a small-town club like Burnley to remain a First Division side right through from 1947 to 1971 competing against big city rivals from Manchester, Liverpool, the Midlands and London.

Despite the limited population they can draw on for support, Burnley won the League Championship in 1960 – which was the very season I left Huddersfield to become manager of Liverpool. They were fourth in 1961, second in 1962 – when they also finished F.A.Cup runners-up to Tottenham – third in 1963 and third again in 1966 when we won the title at Liverpool. That was a tremendous run for the club who come from what can only be described as a village in football terms.

But they refuse to let the grass grow under their feet. They pioneered the idea of a super training ground which the more glamorous, bigger clubs have since followed. And Burnley’s ability to find and develop talented players has been phenomenal. If they made a mistake, it was in selling too many of them. John Connelly, Jimmy McIlroy, Brian Miller, Alex Elder (who I once tried to sign for Liverpool), Willie Irvine, Willie Morgan, Andy Lochhead, Gordon harris, Brian O’Neil, Leighton James, Martin Dobson....the list is almost endless. It was like a perpetual sale with the shop never closing. Although financial survival is a priority, no club anywhere could avoid suffering on the field by continually having to sell their best players. And the lifting of the maximum wage for players, on top of the other financial headaches, was bound to hit clubs like Burnley.

I think their team also suffered when the main stand at Turf Moor was demolished, leaving one side of the ground open, robbing it of most of its atmosphere. Bramhall Lane used to be the same. But now Burnley can boast a fine ground. With two new stands it is a marvellous place – and they have something unequalled in football. They have the best ‘private room’ in the business – and to be invited in has been a great privilege for me. To gain entry there is no magic password or special ticket. You get in by the ‘nod’ of Bob Lord. I am delighted to say that I have received the nod on several occasions which is not something everyone can claim.

I have known Bob for more than 30 years and I know his family. Controversial he may be. But he is no hypocrite. Everything he has done has been with the interests of Burnley Football Club at heart. He is Burnley through and through. If you think of the club, you think of him. The two are inseparable. I am glad now to send my best wishes to Bob and his club on completing the century.

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