1991–92 Burnley F.C. season

The 1991–92 season was Burnley's 104th season of League football and their seventh consecutive campaign in the fourth tier of English football. Frank Casper started the season as manager, having been appointed to the post two years previously, before he was replaced by Jimmy Mullen in October 1991.

Burnley
1991–92 season
ChairmanFrank Teasdale
ManagerFrank Casper
(until October 1991)
Jimmy Mullen
(from October 1991)
Division Four1st (champions)
League Cup1st Round
FA Cup3rd Round
Football League TrophyNorthern Final
Top goalscorerLeague: Mike Conroy (24)
All: Mike Conroy (29)
Highest home attendance21,216 v Wrexham
(2 MAY 1992)
Lowest home attendance2,590 v Doncaster Rovers
(19 November 1991)
Average home league attendance10,160[1]

Background and pre-season

Frank Casper started the season as manager of Burnley, having originally held the post in a caretaker capacity during the 1982–83 campaign and then returning as the permanent appointment in January 1989.[2] The chairman of the club was Frank Teasdale, who had taken control of Burnley in May 1985. The team had steadily improved since their narrow avoidance of relegation on the last day of the 1986–87 season, and having reached the play-offs at the end of the previous campaign, the Burnley side was confident of achieving promotion back to the Football League Third Division for the first time in seven years.[3]

Burnley began their pre-season with a short tour of Russia in July 1991. A Mike Conroy goal helped the team to a 1–1 draw with FC Dynamo Stavropol in the first game of the tour, followed by a match at Asmaral which ended in the same scoreline four days later.[4] Upon their return to England, Burnley competed in the Lancashire Manx Cup but were knocked out in the group stage following defeats to Bury and Preston North End and a draw with rivals Blackburn Rovers. On 8 August, Burnley played a testimonial match against Oldham Athletic at Turf Moor in honour of former physiotherapist Jimmy Holland, who had assisted the club between 1965 and 1991.[4][5]

Transfers

The majority of the team from the previous campaign remained at Burnley, with only three new players signing permanent contracts during the close season. Mark Yates was signed from Birmingham City on a free transfer, while fellow midfielder Steve Harper joined from Lancashire rivals Preston North End. Fees were paid for two players; striker Mike Conroy arrived from Reading for a transfer fee of £35,000, and central defender Steve Davis, who had spent a spell on loan at Burnley in the 1989–90 campaign, was bought for £60,000 from Southampton.[3] Goalkeeper Andy Marriott also joined the club on loan from Nottingham Forest in August 1991. Several players also departed Burnley during the summer of 1991. Neil Grewcock and Ray Deakin, the last two to remain from the side that achieved a 2–1 win against Orient in May 1987 to avoid relegation to the Football Conference, both left the club; Deakin retired from football at the age of 32, while Grewcock moved into the amateur game with local club Burnley Bank Hall. The contract of Ron Futcher, Burnley's top scorer in the previous season with 19 goals, was terminated by mutual consent and he subsequently joined Crewe Alexandra.[3]

Following the appointment of Jimmy Mullen as manager in October 1991, Burnley resumed their activity in the transfer market. Two more goalkeepers, Mark Kendall and Nicky Walker, were brought in on loan. Adrian Randall arrived from Aldershot in December 1991, while Paul McKenzie joined from Scottish side Peterhead a month later. Burnley's last signing of the season was midfielder Robbie Painter, who was bought for £25,000 from fellow Fourth Division club Maidstone United on transfer deadline day in March 1992.[6] In April 1992, Ian Bray was forced to retire from professional football due to an injury, and Jason Hardy departed for Halifax Town the same month.[7]

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player TotalDivision FourLeague CupFA CupFL Trophy
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
DF Wales WAL Ian Bray 905+102+000+001+00
FW Scotland SCO Mike Conroy 512938+0242+015+014+23
DF England ENG Steve Davis 53840+062+015+016+00
MF England ENG John Deary 54740+062+005+007+01
FW England ENG Roger Eli 471729+4102+003+227+05
MF England ENG Andy Farrell 53338+130+205+007+00
DF England ENG Paul France 806+001+001+000+00
FW England ENG John Francis 501136+182+005+006+03
MF England ENG David Hamilton 503+101+000+000+00
DF England ENG Jason Hardy 302+100+000+000+00
MF England ENG Steve Harper 48631+430+205+036+00
DF Scotland SCO Joe Jakub 52038+101+005+007+00
GK Wales WAL Mark Kendall 302+000+001+000+00
FW England ENG Graham Lancashire 3599+1680+002+213+30
GK Wales WAL Andy Marriott 19015+000+000+004+00
MF Scotland SCO Paul McKenzie 601+300+000+000+20
DF England ENG Ian Measham 37127+011+004+005+00
DF England ENG Mark Monington 1718+412+000+002+10
FW England ENG Peter Mumby 101+000+000+000+00
FW England ENG Robbie Painter 929+020+000+000+00
GK Wales WAL Chris Pearce 22014+002+004+002+00
DF Republic of Ireland IRL John Pender 53439+032+005+007+01
MF England ENG Adrian Randall 18211+720+000+000+00
MF Northern Ireland NIR Danny Sonner 300+300+000+000+00
GK Scotland SCO Nicky Walker 706+000+000+001+00
GK England ENG David Williams 505+000+000+000+00
MF England ENG Mark Yates 2219+810+000+202+10

Matches

Football League Division Four

Key
Results
Date Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
17 August 1991 Rotherham United (A) 1–2 Conroy 39' 6,042
31 August 1991 Doncaster Rovers (A) 4–1 Conroy (2) 1' (pen.), 85', Harper 73', Yates 77' 2,940
3 September 1991 Chesterfield (H) 3–0 Eli (3) 26', 54', 74' 6,647
7 September 1991 Crewe Alexandra (H) 1–1 Francis 52' 9,657
14 September 1991 Hereford United (A) 0–2 4,400
21 September 1991 Rochdale (H) 0–1 8,663
28 September 1991 Scarborough (A) 1–3 Lancashire 17' 2,596
5 October 1991 Carlisle United (H) 2–0 Pender 23', Lancashire 57' 6,157
12 October 1991 Wrexham (A) 6–2 Lancashire (3) 3', 27', 29', Harper 4', Davis 57', Eli 89' 3,181
19 October 1991 Walsall (H) 2–0 Davis 20' (pen.), Lancashire 23' 7,289
26 October 1991 Lincoln City (A) 3–0 Francis 39', Conroy 75' (pen.), Lancashire 83' 3,235
2 November 1991 Halifax Town (A) 2–0 Deary 55', Farrell 87' 4,491
5 November 1991 York City (H) 3–1 Conroy 10', Deary 16', Lancashire 82' 7,389
9 November 1991 Mansfield Town (H) 3–2 Conroy 7' (pen.), Davis 55', Pender 83' 11,848
23 November 1991 Maidstone United (A) 1–0 Conroy 28' (pen.) 2,375
30 November 1991 Northampton Town (A) 2–1 Conroy (2) 20', 86' 4,020
14 December 1991 Scunthorpe United (H) 1–1 Farrell 34' 8,419
26 December 1991 Rotherham United (H) 1–2 Francis 70' 13,812
28 December 1991 Doncaster Rovers (H) 2–1 Conroy 6', Eli 25' 9,605
1 January 1992 Chesterfield (A) 2–0 Deary 2', Francis 25' 7,789
11 January 1992 Blackpool (A) 2–5 Conroy 63', Francis 70' 8,007
18 January 1992 Gillingham (H) 4–1 Conroy (3) 8', 65', 83', Randall 66' 8,908
1 February 1992 Walsall (A) 2–2 Eli 69', Conroy 83' 5,287
8 February 1992 Lincoln City (H) 1–0 Conroy 45' 9,748
11 February 1992 Northampton Town (H) 5–0 Deary 35', Eli 50', Conroy 56', Harper 68', Francis 78' 8,825
15 February 1992 Scunthorpe United (A) 2–2 Conroy 46' (pen.), Davis 90' 5,303
22 February 1992 Blackpool (H) 1–1 Eli 30' 18,183
29 February 1992 Cardiff City (A) 2–0 Randall 85', Conroy 89' 16,030
3 March 1992 Gillingham (A) 0–3 3,729
7 March 1992 Barnet (H) 3–0 Davis 10', Barnett 52' (o.g.), Deary 61' 12,018
14 March 1992 Halifax Town (H) 1–0 Pender 70' 10,903
21 March 1992 Mansfield Town (A) 1–0 Conroy 41' 8,336
24 March 1992 Barnet (A) 0–0 4,881
28 March 1992 Maidstone United (H) 2–1 Davis 77', Eli 87' 10,986
31 March 1992 Hereford United (H) 2–0 Monington 25', Conroy 30' 10,578
4 April 1992 Crewe Alexandra (A) 0–1 5,530
20 April 1992 Scarborough (H) 1–1 Eli 9' 12,312
22 April 1992 Cardiff City (H) 3–1 Painter 1', Farrell 60', Conroy 63' 12,408
25 April 1992 Carlisle United (A) 1–1 Francis 43' 10,000 (7,500 away)
28 April 1992 York City (A) 2–1 Deary 60', Francis 90' 7,620 (5,000 away)
2 May 1992 Wrexham (H) 1–2 Conroy 33' 21,216
5 May 1992 Rochdale (A) 3–1 Measham 30', Conroy 41', Painter 67' 8,175 (5,100 away)

Expunged fixtures

Burnley played two matches against Aldershot during the 1991–92 campaign, winning both games. However, these results were expunged from official records after Aldershot resigned from the Football League mid-season.

Date Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
24 August 1991 Aldershot (H) 2–0 Conroy, Francis 5,877
21 December 1991 Aldershot (A) 2–1 Harper, Lancashire 2,574

Final league position

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Burnley 42 25 8 9 79 43 +36 83 Division Champions, promoted
2 Rotherham United 42 22 11 9 70 37 +33 77 Promoted
3 Mansfield Town 42 23 8 11 75 53 +22 77
4 Blackpool 42 22 10 10 71 45 +26 76 Promoted through play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
5 Scunthorpe United 42 21 9 12 64 59 +5 72 Participated in play-offs
Source:
Notes:
  1. Blackpool won the play-offs and were promoted.

FA Cup

Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
16 November 1991 Round 1 Doncaster Rovers (H) 1–1 Davis 26' 7,076
27 November 1991 Replay Doncaster Rovers (A) 3–1 Harper (2) 38', 50', Eli 86' 4,207
15 December 1991 Round 2 Rotherham United (H) 2–0 Conroy 59', Lancashire 83' 9,775
4 January 1992 Round 3 Derby County (H) 2–2 Harper 6', Eli 84' 18,772
25 January 1992 Replay Derby County (A) 0–2 18,274

League Cup

Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
20 August 1991 Round 1 First leg Wigan Athletic (A) 1–3 Conroy 8' 2,286
27 August 1991 Round 1 Second leg Wigan Athletic (H) 2–3 Patterson 47' (o.g.), Davis 79' 3,876

Football League Trophy

Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
22 October 1991 Preliminary Round Blackpool (A) 3–1 Francis 32', Eli (2) 36', 41' 2,805
19 November 1991 Preliminary Round Doncaster Rovers (H) 2–0 Francis 28', Eli 44' 2,590
4 February 1992 Preliminary Round Scarborough (H) 3–1 Conroy 56', Deary 63', Eli 87' 2,956
18 February 1992 Northern Quarter Final Rotherham United (A) 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4 – 2p)
Francis 10' 2,578
17 March 1992 Northern Semi Final Huddersfield Town (H) 2–0 Conroy 9' (pen.), Eli 24' 10,775
7 April 1992 Northern Final First Leg Stockport County (H) 0–1 13,259
18 February 1992 Northern Final Second Leg Stockport County (A) 1–2 Pender 22' 8,260 (2,900 away)

References

General
  • Simpson, Ray (2007). The Clarets Chronicles: The Definitive History of Burnley Football Club. ISBN 978-0-9557468-0-2.
Specific
  1. Simpson (2007), p. 426
  2. Simpson (2007), p. 551
  3. Simpson (2007), p. 420
  4. Simpson (2007), p. 509
  5. Gibbon, Gavin (3 June 2006). "Clarets physio Jimmy dies in Greece". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  6. Simpson (2007), p. 421
  7. Simpson (2007), p. 500
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