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Will he give us a dance?

Last updated : 04 April 2003 By Tony Scholes

With Ian Britton after the win at Preston saw us through to Wembley
Maybe Chris Pearce will always be remembered for his dancing, a regular occurrence until manager Jimmy Mullen put an end to it but he was also our first choice goalkeeper for four years.

He joined the club from Wrexham along with Paul Comstive for a combined tribunal agreed fee of £12,000 and was straight into the side at the beginning of the season.

Chris had started his career with Wolves before moving onto Blackburn but his list of former clubs never proved to be a handicap whilst he was a Claret despite the fact that he still lived within walking distance at Ewood.

Rochdale followed and it was here he made his first big television appearance, doing impressions of Max Wall for Granada’s Kick Off programme. Then it was on to Port Vale and then Wrexham where he made appearances in the European Cup Winners Cup and after beating Maltese club Zurrieq they only went out on the away goals rule against Spain’s Real Zaragoza after two drawn games.

But it was at Burnley where he established himself as first team keeper and where he played the bulk of his league football. Apart from a spell on the sidelines after a spat with George Oghani he was virtually ever present as the Clarets went to Wembley and then to the 4th Division play offs in 1991.

The following season, his last as a Claret, proved difficult as three loan keepers were all brought in. There was Andy Marriott, the quickly banished Mark Kendall and then Nick Walker. Even after they had gone David Williams went in goal for the last few games.

and at Wembley with the fans
There are two games from that season for which I will remember Chris Pearce as much as any other. Firstly there was probably his best Burnley performance in the Leyland Daf Trophy at Bradford City.

Then there was the last home game of the season against Wrexham, the day we were presented with the Championship trophy. Pearce was not in the squad but the crowd reserved a special welcome for him. At one point he jumped onto the old dug out in front of the Longside to take the incredible applause.

The Burnley crowd loved him, his attitude on the field was always spot on. I can tell you that it was the same off the field and his commitment to the Supporters Club and in particular the Junior Clarets was brilliant.

He wasn’t the greatest goalkeeper to play for the Clarets but there has not been a more popular keeper in all the years I have been watching Burnley.

As always his return will be welcomed with loud applause from the crowd and added to with the welcome he will always receive every time he takes a step onto the Turf Moor pitch.

PEARCE, PEARCE GIVE US A DANCE

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