Clarets’ FA Cup history celebrated in print

The book will even include a copy of a rare front page of a special 1962 FA Cup edition of the Burnley Express, which was a preview of the clash with Tottenham Hotspur, and was even printed on claret and blue pages.

The front page is so rare it is not available in the National Newspaper Museum, meaning author of the book American Mike Bynum had to travel to Lancashire to visit the Burnley Express office to get a copy.

While at the office, he met up with goalscorer Jimmy Robson, father of reporter Dany Robson, to chat about the game and a photo opportunity.

Mike also got a chance to visit Turf Moor, and said he was delighted to be able to visit the football club and town due to Burnley’s history in the competition.

He said: “Burnley have played in the FA Cup final three times, won it once and lost it twice, but still that is a big deal, so those of us behind the book wanted to showcase as many things we could about Burnley FC.

“Burnley played in their FA Cup finals at some pivotal times in history. They played in the last what I would call real regular FA Cup final before World War One in 1914 — there was another a year later but that was at a time when the war had just started and players were getting called up to go to war.

“Then there’s the 1947 cup final which was right after World War Two, so at that time football and the FA Cup is still trying to find its feet again.

“Then in 1962 Burnley played against the great Tottenham side that was playing on the back of their magical year of 1961 when they won the double.

“However, the book appeals to everyone too not just Burnley fans. Hopefully it will be able to capture people’s imagination, there’s so much history and tradition behind the FA Cup that other people around the world wish their competitions had that.”

The book will be a coffee table style book and will consist of just short of 1,000 pages.

It will be full of glossy pictures from the biggest cup final moments over the years, and will also include the front cover of each FA Cup final match programme since 1908, and match reports from the games, and side narratives, such as an interesting anecdote about why the FA Cup was stored in a pub just outside Portsmouth during the World War Two.

The book will also include images of newspapers over the years, with many local papers creating special editions for the big occasion.

“You won’t see newspaper pages like this anymore, that’s why these pages are so special,” continued Mike.

“For example this paper was printed in the team colours. Then there’s the sheer size of it, and the wonderful typography and then the headline making a reference to v-day, it’s all fantastic. And there’s many pages like this in the book.

“To be able to get all these newspaper pages in one place along with everything else for people to enjoy is fantastic, it’s something that has never been done before and I doubt it’ll be done again.”

The book is due to be released on December 1st via football clubs offering it to their season ticket holders.

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