Orient game guests

Last updated : 06 May 2007 By Tony Scholes

I think we can safely assume that captain Ray Deakin won't be amongst them but both goalscorers, Neil Grewcock and Ian Britton, are expected to be there alongside some of the others who played in that side.

It is fair to say they weren't the best Burnley side ever but on that day in May in 1987 they all became heroes as they rescued our club from non-league football and a very uncertain future. Had we failed to win relegation to the Conference was assured, the first club to be automatically relegated under the new rules, and we would have been replaced by Scarborough managed by a certain Neil Warnock.

Today, twenty years on, we can welcome them as heroes again, the pain of that season having long since faded, the 6-0 defeat at home to Hereford almost forgotten. Welcome back, and thanks for winning when it mattered.

The team that day against Orient was: Joe Neenan, Peter Leebrook, Peter Hampton, Billy Rodaway, Joe Gallagher, Ray Deakin, Neil Grewcock, Phil Malley, Leighton James, Phil Devaney, Ian Britton. Sub: Ashley Hoskin.