Orient hero is guest

Last updated : 18 April 2003 By Tony Scholes

4:13 p.m. Saturday 9th May 1987
With the Clarets already 1-0 up it was Ian Britton who somehow got above the Orient defence to give is a two goal cushion against Orient back in 1987. It proved vital with Orient pulling one back, the goal that kept Burnley in the Football League.

Britt joined the Clarets at the beginning of that season from Blackpool, initially joining on loan, to bolster Brian Miller’s depleted squad. He was 32 and had spent most of his career with Chelsea before a short return to Scotland with Dundee United before joining Blackpool.

He quickly established himself in what could never have been described as one of Burnley’s best ever teams and his goal against Orient was his third that season. One other proved vital too in a 2-2 draw with Torquay in the week before Easter.

He lost his place at the beginning of the following season because of injury but was back just before Christmas and was ever present until the end of the season which culminated in a Wembley appearance in the Sherpa Van Trophy Final.

Ian Britton at Chelsea
Perhaps it is fitting that the player who scored the most important goal ever for the club should also provide Brian Miller with his last goal as Burnley manager, Britton rocketed in an unstoppable shot from distance at Tranmere in January 1989.

Towards the end of that season he was left out and was released by new manager Frank Casper. At 35 he retired from professional football and played for Burnley Bank Hall and Nelson, later managing the Nelson club.

Today on a Saturday afternoon he can be found at Turf Moor, as committed a Claret as any of us. It's just that he did what we can only dream about, he scored the club’s most important goal ever.

I think our minds will all go back some sixteen years at half time tomorrow when he strides out onto the Turf Moor pitch – we’ll never forget it Britt.