Famous name from the past leads Clarets out in Germany
Last updated : 01 August 2004 By Tony Scholes
 | Nathan Short (left) and William Irvine with Richard Chaplow and Steve Cotterill |
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The two proud dads, both Clarets Mad regulars, sat and watched as their 8-year-old sons took the mascot duties and led the walk to the half way line just before kick off. And one of those two boys was a link from the last time we played the German club some 38 years ago.
The first of them was Nathan Short who was over for the weekend with his dad and had arrived that day. He was thrilled to get such an opportunity and speaking to his dad I get the impression he was just as excited.
He was eager to take up the challenge unlike the second youngster who was so overwhelmed initially that he said he couldn’t do it. But there was a hero of the hour in new Burnley manager Steve Cotterill who took the both of them into the dressing rooms and talked to them until both were ready for the challenge ahead.
And how they accepted that challenge, proudly walking out in their Claret & Blue kit alongside Robbie and both ready to meet the TSV captain and the referee.
And now back to 1966 and that less than glorious day when the then German Champions hammered us 5-0. That day the two Burnley forwards were Andy Lochhead and Willie Irvine and yesterday the young lad alongside Nathan was William Irvine the grandson of the former Burnley and Northern Ireland goalscorer.
Willie was at home in Burnley but was thrilled to bits when he received a phone call to tell him that his grandson had been mascot. He told Clarets Mad, “What a wonderful gesture from the manager and his players.
“It shows the relationship they are building with the fans and it is something that William will remember for the rest of his life.
“I hope that he was as proud to run out with a Burnley team as I was”.
It was without doubt a very special day for Nathan and William – just take a look at them as they carry out their mascot duties.
