Jackie Chew dies

Last updated : 21 October 2002 By Tony Scholes
Jackie was the right-winger in the Burnley side in the immediate post war era and was a regular as we won promotion in the first season after the war. That season saw us reach the FA Cup Final and he played in that side.

Sadly his death means that only one of that Cup Final side, Billy Morris, is still with us. The team that day was Jimmy Strong, Arthur Woodruff, Harold Mather, Reg Attwell, Alan Brown, George Bray, Jackie Chew, Billy Morris, Ray Harrison, Harry Potts and Peter Kippax.

He left Burnley to play for Bradford City before retiring from football but he didn't disappear from the local sports scene for many more years. He was a top Lancashire League batsman with Rishton and one of his last performances at Turf Moor (next door) will always be remembered by all who saw it.

At the age of 44 he lined up for Rishton against Burnley in the 1964 final of the Worsley Cup (the Lancashire League's knock out competition). This was a Burnley side who had won the league by a landslide with the most fearsome bowler in world cricket, West Indian Charlie Griffith.

Burnley were tipped to win the final with ease but had reckoned without Chew who in a innings of defiance and bravery (and in the days before helmets) alongside great technique and ability took everything that Griffith sent down. His innings was to be a match winning innings.

A Clarets' fan who can recall the team of the late forties and early fifties told us, "He was an outstanding winger and a great crosser of the ball. His partnership with inside-right Billy Morris was always one of our strongest attacking options. It is so sad to hear of his death."

He lived in Rishton and was always a regular there for the cricket and at the Turf for the football and will be sadly missed at both clubs.

Clarets Mad wish to send their deepest symapthy to his family and friends at this very sad time.