Clarets FA Cup celebrations!

Original strip: One of the shirts were in the 1914 FA Cup final

The Clarets beat Liverpool 1-0 to lift the famous trophy at Crystal Palace Gardens on April 25th and this month the club will be holding a number of commemorative events to mark the historic milestone.

The first of these is a unique display opening at Towneley Hall on Monday and running for four weeks.

The exhibition will feature a large number of artefacts including souvenir publications, documents and photographs relating to the final success.

For the first time also, a very important piece of the club’s heritage will go on public display.

The shirt worn by centre forward and scorer of the winning goal, Bert Freeman, was recently purchased by Clarets’ co-chairman, Mr Mike Garlick. Now mounted and framed, it will form the centrepiece of the exhibition, together with Freeman’s winners’ medal (also owned by Burnley FC, jointly with Colne Clarets).

The 1914 final marked the first time a reigning monarch had attended football’s most prestigious fixture, King George V presenting the trophy to Burnley captain, Tommy Boyle, after the final whistle. The exhibition will feature a letter from the king to manager John Haworth congratulating him on the win.

Fans have also loaned a large number of historic and fascinating items.

A notable exhibit is a Royal Box edition of the official cup final programme, presented in a leather cover with gilt tooled Royal Coat of Arms, loaned by Mr Andrew Morris.

Lifelong Clarets’ fan Derek Jenkins, Burnley-born but now living in Surrey, has also delivered a host of treasures to Turf Moor including a special printed serviette from the final, together with a medal presented to Bert Freeman during the Clarets’ tour of Eastern Europe in the summer of 1914.

Burnley will also honour the historic milestone on the pitch when they play Ipswich Town in the last home game of the season on Saturday, April 26th.

For the 100th anniversary fixture, the team will wear a special 1914 FA Cup final replica shirt.

Instead of the usual club crest, the shirt will also bear a Royal Coat of Arms badge, after the club obtained special permission from Buckingham Palace.