Taffy pips Dobbo in 1970s

Last updated : 27 June 2011 By Tony Scholes

Blake, Little and Steven had won the 200s, 1990s, and 1980s respectively but the 1970s vote soon became very much a two horse race between Martin Dobson and Leighton James, two players who just about started and ended the decade with the club.

I suppose it was all down to whether you voted for the sheer class of Dobbo or opted for the match winning expertise of Taffy, and it was the Welsh winger who just about came out on top with a 31.8% share of the vote. He made his debut during the ill fated 1970/71 season in a home win against Nottingham Forest and made the number 11 shirt his own in the following season.

Leighton James was the real match winner in the Burnley side that won promotion in 1973 and went on to have two really good seasons in the First Division before player sales, including his move to Derby, caught up with us and saw us relegated again.

He was very much the crowd favourite of the time and so it is no surprise to see him come out on top. However, his lead was only a narrow one from his captain Dobson who took second player.

Dobbo, won won 30.3% of the vote, was another to be sold (in 1974) as the club balanced the books. He captained the side in the promotion season and the following season when we reached the FA Cup semi-final and came close to a place in Europe via the league.

Both players returned to the club before the end of the decade but couldn't prevent the club sliding even further and into the Third Division.

Only one other player reached double figures in the vote. That was Peter Noble, who signed for the Clarets in the summer of 1973 and remained with the club until a move to Blackpool in early 1980.

And so Leighton James, Trevor Steven, Glen Little and Robbie Blake take the honours so far with two more to come. The 1960s vote will start tomorrow.

Best Player of the 1970s

31.8% - Leighton James
30.3% - Martin Dobson
13.4% - Peter Noble
5.0% - Frank Casper
4.5% - Steve Kindon
4.2% - Alan Stevensonv
3.7% - Paul Fletcher
3.2% - Colin Waldron
2.2% - Keith Newton
1.5% - Terry Cochrane