UWE – UWE – UWE
Last updated : 08 May 2004 By Tony Scholes
Having started his professional career with his own team’s rivals Newcastle he moved on to Swindon before joining the promoted Clarets in the summer of 1973.
Nicknamed Uwe by the Burnley fans because of his likeness to the great German striker Uwe Seeler he gave us over six years great service before signing for Stan Ternent at Blackpool.
He played over 300 games for the Clarets and scored an incredible 80 goals despite never playing as a striker. He played his first season at full back before finally settling into a midfield role vacated by Martin Dobson.
He was targeted by Bob Paisley and Liverpool but he remained at the Turf as we came close to a return to Europe. Following relegation and at the end of 1976 he replaced Keith Newton as captain and led the team to the Anglo Scottish Cup in 1978/79 season.
Most Burnley fans will probably point to a 4-4 draw with Norwich on the Turf for their most memorable Uwe moment. He scored all four for us that day including a couple of penalties.
I’m not sure anyone knows just how many he did take for us but he scored with the lot and it wins him a place in Trivial Pursuit.
Who will he want to win on Sunday? He has never left town since arriving 31 years ago, for many years had his sports shop in town. But that Mackem accent has never disappeared and he was born a Sunderland fan. I’m not so sure he would tell you if you asked, but I suspect it will be the Clarets.
The one thing that is certain – he’ll get a fantastic reception from the Burnley fans when he takes to the pitch at half time. And without doubt there will be a chant of Uwe – Uwe – Uwe.
For more on Peter Noble visit the Hall of Fame
