|
It all started a month earlier, on 19th January to be exact, when I received an email from Ben Golby. He said he and Paul Warburton, both students at Lancaster, were up for some fundraising for the club and were ready to walk from Lancaster to a home game.
Now of course they weren’t serious, or so I thought, but after a few more emails to and fro the whole thing was set up for a month later and the Ipswich game.
It all finally got underway this weekend any by Friday evening they had reached Waddington for an overnight stay.
I, and a number of others, were on our way to the first Burnley FC landmark, the training ground at Gawthorpe, to meet up with them and to join them on their walk into Burnley.
There was soon to be another Burnley FC landmark. We had just about got past Gawthorpe school when we heard the rather loud voice of Jeff Brown bellowing at us through a megaphone and telling people we were ‘Walking up for Burnley’ and that they should get themselves to Turf Moor.
After lunch at the Bridge it was time to for the final part of the walk – to Turf Moor itself and by now a bigger number of fans were joining in behind the lads as they made their way into Harry Potts Way.
They were welcomed by Chairman Barry Kilby and Chief Executive Dave Edmundson and also had the opportunity to meet Frank Casper and have their photograph taken with him. "Thanks Mr. Casper," said Ben.
Two weeks ago they went into the Foundation Bar and collected money for their walk, yesterday they returned to a standing ovation.
There was to be one final walk and by then the Clarets were already two goals up and there was smiles on faces but I’m sure nothing could have prepared them for the incredible ovation they received from the crowd as they did a lap of honour round the Turf Moor pitch.
Supporters rose to applaud them as they made their way round and after a nervous start they looked every bit the stars as they began to milk it. And they were stars.
After a photocall with the Chairman and Chief Executive at the front of the Directors Box they completed their lap and even won superb applause from the travelling Ipswich fans.
Maybe the next time Ben emails me with an idea I should take him seriously from the start and one thing I do know is that this was an event that it was definitely worth breaking my Saturday morning ritual for.
Well done Ben and Paul – Clarets Mad are so very proud of you both.
There are now more pictures in the Clarets Gallery of the second day of the walk.