ON THIS DAY: Low key send off for Burnley legend Steve Davis

On this day, 17 years ago, Steve Davis’ third spell as a player with Burnley would come to a low-key end, in front of only 1,972 fans at Selhurst Park.
Steve Davis challenges Paul MersonSteve Davis challenges Paul Merson
Steve Davis challenges Paul Merson

Burnley endured a testing season, after the collapse of ITV Digital, finishing 16th after conceding 89 – the worst defensive record in the First Division - after a 2-1 defeat against Wimbledon.

Davis had hoped for another deal at the club, but ended up departing for neighbours Blackpool.

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He explained: “It was disappointing, bearing in mind I’d been told I was going to get a contract, but it turned out I didn’t.

“In hindsight there are things you’d change, but it was a disappointing way to go out at Selhurst Park in front of a just a few people.

“There you go, that’s the way it turned out, no complaints.

“The way it all happened at Burnley, I sort of felt when I left there that was it, I was finished.

“My last couple of years at Burnley I’d picked up little niggles and did my knee one season, and going into Blackpool, I picked up little niggles there.

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“I never got a proper run in the side, or a run of being fit at Blackpool, but it was a good experience.”

That final season with Burnley did bring its highlights.

Davis scored the winner as the Clarets dumped Spurs out of the League Cup at Turf Moor, earning a home tie with Manchester United.

While Premier League Fulham were also sent crashing in the FA Cup in a Turf Moor replay.

Burnley would go on to reach the FA Cup quarter-final for the first time in 20 years, but went out with a whimper at Vicarage Road against a Watford side with Sean Dyche on the bench.

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Stan Ternent famously left out Robbie Blake and Glen Little, while Davis was also a substitute on the day: “The Watford game was a big disappointment, it was a strange day.

“I didn’t play, Glen didn’t, or Blakey - not that we had a divine right to be in the team.

“I’d been injured leading up to it, and I wasn’t fit, put it that way, but Blakey and Glen possibly should have started.

“But I’m not going to argue with the gaffer!

“You sort of felt if we could nick a draw and take them to a replay, or nick a result, you were in the semi-finals, and anything can happen from there.

“That was disappointing, but it wasn’t meant to be.

“We’d beaten Spurs and Fulham, and playing Man United was a good experience, so some good times, and some disappointing that season.”