On this day in 1891, Burnley played Blackburn Rovers in Division One and were 3-0 up at half time. The game was played in a snowstorm to start with and within four minutes of the second half a fight started and the players involved were dismissed. Annoyed with the decision, the entire Blackburn team left the field except for goalkeeper H.J Arthur, the England goalkeeper.
The referee gave Burnley a freekick, who took it and Arthur claimed offside. He was then given the free kick and took such a long time over the restart (nobody to pass to!) that the ref, bewildered by now, abandoned the game.
The first official league game between these two local clubs took place in November 1888 and their last encounter was in the League Cup on 23rd August 2017 which Burnley won away 0-2.
Overall Burnley have Won 42 Drawn 19 and Lost 41 times.
The referee was J.C.Clegg, later known as Sir John Charles Clegg, who became President of the Football Association. Charles Clegg was a proponent of the amateur game and when a young footballer came before him in a hearing over his dismissal for making ungentlemanly remarks to the ref, Clegg asked him to repeat what he had said.
The lad said "I have shit better referees". Clegg responded with this judgement:
"All right, I'll give you a week to prove that you can do that, but if you can't, I'm afraid I shall have to fine you £1."
William and Charles (below) Clegg were very important in the development of football in the Sheffield area and ultimately in the world!
Answer to above: AW, AF, BR, RE, RM...work out the initials and clubs.
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