Burnley FC 3, Blackburn Rovers 0: Arthur Bellamy man of match

I write this column having returned from the funeral of former Clarets favourite Arthur Bellamy.
Arthur Bellamy, 1963Arthur Bellamy, 1963
Arthur Bellamy, 1963

Arthur was a talented inside forward at Turf Moor from 1962 to 1972 when he made 227 appearances scoring 29 goals.

Quite by chance, I already had a copy open of the Burnley Express editions from 1963, and it didn’t take long to find reference to Arthur.

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Indeed, Arthur was featured on the front page of the Wednesday, October 2nd, edition following a man-of-the-match performance against local rivals Blackburn Rovers.

New market, FlashbackNew market, Flashback
New market, Flashback

Burnley had won the game 3-0 at Turf Moor in a bad-tempered affair in which Rovers’ centre-half Michael England had been sent off, according to the Express’ football writer Keith McNee.

Keith had written: “Arthur Bellamy proved even in this bad-tempered match that skill always pays.

“Bellamy scored two of Burnley’s goals, and ‘made’ the third for Walter Joyce. A great comeback Arthur!”

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The win was even more impressive for the Clarets considering they had star names such as Adamson, Harris, Elder, Pointer, Irvine, Towers and Walker out injured.

Away from the football field, there was drama in Barley where the whole village came out to help fight a fire at the home of the chairman of Burnley Rural District Council and Barley Parish Council, Taylor Smith.

The fire had threatened to destroy the farm and home of 49-year-old Coun. Smith who told the Express about his good neighbours.

More than 100 villagers and other friends from Padiham, Barrowford and Nelson helped Nelson Fire Brigade in a night-long battle to save Overhouses Farm.

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It was a case of all hands to the pump as the report highlighted.

“While the men fought the blaze, the women of the village helped Mrs Smith to keep them going. During the night they used 1lb. of tea, three gallons of milk and four large loaves of bread.”

Coun. Smith said: “We had just returned home from an engagement at Harle Syke. I was still in my best suit and carrying my chain of office when my son Joseph ran in to say he could smell smoke...The place was a blazing inferno.”

Plans were unveiled for the new £4m. project to rebuild the heart of Burnley’s central shopping area which would “revolutionise” shopping habits in the town.

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The plan was presented to 200 traders when a model was presented in the ballroom of the Keirby Hotel – their reactions ranging from “admiration to incredulity.”

They then packed into the town hall to fire questions at the planners.

The paper reported there were hopes work could start the following April on the scheme and the project would be completed within five years.

There was even the possibility mooted of having a theatre incorporated into the plans with seating for 900 people.

It was envisaged a covered and open market would be provided in the scheme at first floor level to the west of Howe Square.