This new stand was built to provide covered accommodation for even more spectators and it extended over the whole length of the popular side of the ground. It had cost the club a small fortune too, a grand total of £20,000 with vice-chairman Mr E. D. Kay revealing that, with Turf Moor able to accommodate over 40,000 under cover, it was fit for international football.
On the top side of the stand baffle walls had been inserted to prevent the draughts from blowing down and it was a steel structure with an asbestos sheeting roof. People passing the ground would have been able to see some building activity but it would be unfamiliar for out of town supporters.
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| The new international class shelter on the popular side in 1954 |
That was coupled with the work carried out on the playing pitch of which the club were justifiably proud. It was recognised as being one of the finest in the country and was once again in "billiard table" condition for which credit went to groundsman Mr Tommy Danns and his assistants.
Due to the wet weather the grass had been growing prodigiously and Mr Danns, who lived within the confines of the Turf Moor ground, was cutting it as often as three times a week.
That weather had seen interruptions to the pre-season training and for the most part the schedule had been restricted to the players going on walks.
Neither did we have a manager with no successor to Mr Frank Hill appointed after he'd recently resigned to take up a similar appointment with Preston.
Rumour had linked the names of several former players as being in line for the post, but Mr W. Hopkinson, chairman of the club, said that they hadn't even advertised the job.
"We are waiting for the right applicant to come along and we will then appoint him and play good wages," said Hopkinson who confirmed that the players would be in the charge of Mr Billy Dougall, the head trainer, assisted by Mr Ray Bennion, although the directors would be selecting the team once the new season started.
A new stand; an international class ground, but no manager and no proper training with only a week to go to the new season. The one real piece of positive news was that new signing Peter Francis McKay, from Dundee United, had been selected to take part in the players' first public appearance in the Clarets v Whites practice match.
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| Directors Mr W. Hopkinson, Mr R. W. Lord, Mr V. Pickard and Mr F. Kay ckecking the pitch before discussing team selection |
A crowd of over nine and a half thousand were there to witness the game, and of course the now covered popular side which was reported by the Burnley Express as being transformed into a vast all-weather shelter which should bring higher attendances throughout the season.
Protection against the elements was not needed on this occasion for the weather heralded the approach of football with sunshine and fair skies which combined to imbue everyone with an air of amiable anticipation for the afternoon's entertainment.
The game itself had phases of interest in which the goalkeepers of both sides distinguished themselves to keep down the scoring and earn the applause of the spectators. The fact that the Clarets won 4-0 was neither here nor there, a mere incidental.
Some of the exchanges became so keen that they gave the impression that some of the players were out either to maintain or gain first team status and it did not make for an easy game for Mr R. P. Hartley nor did it offer particular help to the directors who had the responsibility of selecting the team in the absence of a manager.
The Clarets' best raiser was PILKINGTON and he gave his side the lead just before McKay headed just wide.
There was more early second half aggression by the Whites but it was the Clarets who began to exert their more superior team work which overplayed the enthusiasm of their opponents and GRAY increased their lead from a Seith-Pilkington move.
McIlroy then confounded himself by missing an open goal provided by the nimble footed Shannon before a PILKINGTON right foot shot from a right wing centre swerved its way past Thompson to register a third goal.
Shannon schemed another opening and HOLDEN went through for the Clarets' fourth goal amid congratulatory cheers.
The match solved no problems but proved that competition for some places would be keen (which was all to the good) and several charities in the area benefited as a result of the happy policy of donating the receipts to such deserving causes.
The teams were;
Clarets: McDonald, Aird, Mather, Attwell, Cummings, Seith, Gray, McIlroy, Holden, Shannon, Pilkington.
Whites: Thompson, Binns, Sheridan, Rudman, Appleby, Bennion, Stephenson, Walton, McKay, Alexander, Cargill.
Referee: Mr R. P. Hartley (Burnley).
Attendance: 9,591.