Uwe is special guest

Last updated : 15 December 2006 By Tony Scholes

It can only be Peter ‘Uwe' Noble, who joined the Clarets from Swindon and was our only signing in the summer after promotion. A centre forward at Swindon, he played virtually the whole of his first season at Burnley at right back following an injury to Mick Docherty, but then settled into midfield following the sale of Martin Dobson at the start of his second season at Turf Moor.

For the next few years he was the big crowd favourite at Turf Moor and his form in the midfield for the Clarets was such that he was targeted by Bob Paisley who wanted to take him to Liverpool. He stayed, and who can forget the fantastic hat trick against Newcastle on the day Malcolm Macdonald had a tantrum when he was substituted, or the day he hit all four against Norwich and yet still couldn't see us to victory in a game that ended 4-4.

He was a Claret for six and a half years before becoming the first Blackpool signing for rookie manager Stan Ternent midway through the 1979/80 season, be the impact he'd made on the Burnley fans still makes him a popular figure around town today.

Noble is the only Burnley player, to my knowledge, to have become the subject of a Trivial Pursuit question, and this is down to the fact that he had a long run as penalty taker at Burnley without ever missing one. The only time he failed from the spot he saw the referee ordering a retake and he made no mistake from the second attempt.

It was 2005 last time we a had a penalty, maybe he can be the inspiration that can see us finally benefit with a spot kick tomorrow.

A Mackem and a Sunderland fan by birth, I think this particular export from the North East might just be on the Claret & Blue side tomorrow when his two favourite teams meet.