BURNLEY PLAYERS WHO SERVED IN THE WAR

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Ahead of Remembrance Day we take a look at Clarets who also served in the forces

2023-11-10T10:00:00.000Z

BURNLEY PLAYERS WHO SERVED IN THE WAR

Ahead of Remembrance Day we take a look at Clarets who also served in the forces

2023-11-10T10:00:00.000Z

Ahead of Remembrance Day we take a look at Clarets who also served in the forces

As we mark Remembrance Day, we take a look back at the many former Burnley FC players who alongside representing the club, honoured their country in the armed forces.

Fred Barron

Appearances: 423

Goals: 14

Position: Right-back

Barron signed for Burnley in the week of his 19th birthday in 1898 and made over 400 appearances for the Clarets.

He formed a series of successful defensive partnerships, but the best was with centre-half Joe Taylor. They appeared together on an almost permanent basis for six seasons.

He was nicknamed the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ for his immaculately timed tackles and was club captain from 1902 until 1907.

Barron played his final game at Turf Moor in April 1911. He then joined the Army after the start of WW1 in 1914 and was posted to France, where he was wounded and invalided out of the Forces in 1916, returning to Burnley in 1918. He sadly died of illness in 1939.

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Charlie Bates

Appearances: 15

Goals: 5

Position: Forward

Bates was spotted by Burnley whilst playing football in Birmingham and scored five goals in his first eight outings for the Club. However, in December 1911 he suffered a serious injury which effectively ended his playing career. He was made assistant trainer at Turf Moor and continued in that role until WW1.

He was called up to fight in WW1 but was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war until 1918. He then returned to Turf Moor and was made senior trainer and stayed until 1934 when he was not retained by Burnley. Almost a quarter of a century of service to the Clarets!

Tommy Boyle

Appearances: 236

Goals: 43

Position: Centre-half

Boyle was Burnley captain when we lifted the FA Cup in 1914, the only time we’ve ever won - it was also the first time the cup was presented by the reigning monarch (George V at the time).

He signed from Barnsley for a then club record fee of £1,150 and was swiftly made Club captain.

The centre-half won promotion in 1912/13 and beat Liverpool to win the FA Cup in 1914.

During WW1, Boyle enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery and fought in France but suffered serious injuries in the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium. However, he made a complete recovery and, in 1919/20 returned to lead the Clarets to runners-up in the First Division.

The following season he captained Burnley to a 1920/21 First Division Championship and that season held the record for a 30-game unbeaten run which stood for 80 years (beaten by Arsenal’s Invincibles). Aged 36, he retired in 1921/22 and sadly died aged 53 in 1940. To many he is regarded as the Club’s best ever captain.

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Jonathan Brown

Appearances: 1

Goals: 0

Position: Defender

Jonathan only senior appearance came at Turf Moor in February 1915, but he was a regular in the reserve side which beat Blackburn Rovers in the 1915 East Lancashire Charity Cup Final.

He then joined the East Lancashire Regiment and was killed in France just days before Armistice was signed. He is buried in Maubeuge-Centre Cemetery, France.

Matt Brunton

Appearances: 32

Goals: 8

Position: Striker

Born in Burnley, Brunton only played one full season for the Clarets in 1901/02 but returned in 1911 as assistant trainer. During WW1 he joined South Lancashire Regiment and was wounded in action in 1916. He was reemployed at Turf Moor in 1924 as assistant trainer before retiring in 1932.

Barney Donaghey

Appearances: 5

Goals: 2

Position: Forward

The Irish striker signed for the Clarets in 1907 after spells at Glentoran, Hibernian and Manchester United. He made five league appearances and scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Leicester Fosse at Turf Moor, however he was released at the end of the 1907/08 season.

Barney enlisted in the Army in WW1 and joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was one of thousands who died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and his body was never found. He is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial.

Benny Green

Appearances: 77

Goals: 33

Position: Forward

Benny moved from Birmingham in 1909 and in his two-year spell enjoyed a healthy goalscoring record. He was top scorer in both seasons and hit a hat-trick in the Christmas Day fixture in 1909 as Burnley beat Blackpool 5-1.

Green moved to Blackpool where he ended his career and then joined the Kings Own Royal Lancashire Regiment after the outbreak of WW1 and was killed in action in Northern France in 1917, he’s remembered at the Arras Memorial.

Billy Green

Appearances: 153

Goals: 0

Position: Goalkeeper

Billy Green signed in 1903 and was an ever-present during his first four years at Turf Moor.

When Jerry Dawson was signed, Billy lost his place in net and left for Bradford Park Avenue in 1908. He saw active service in WW1 but was severely injured and suffered a permanent disability. He maintained links with Burnley and continued to visit Turf Moor for many years afterwards.

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Teddy Hodgson

Appearances: 137

Goals: 62

Position: Striker

A vital cog in the side that lifted the FA Cup in 1914, Teddy scored five goals along the way. He scored 15 goals in the 1914/15 season, his best campaign in front of goal.

In 1915, league football was suspended, and Teddy joined the Army, gaining promotion to sergeant-instructor. He developed kidney trouble whilst serving in Germany and was confined to hospital where he deteriorated. He passed away in 1919 at just 33 years old and a benefit match was held in his honour at Turf Moor. He is remembered as one of Turf Moor’s legends.

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George King

Appearances: 35

Goals: 2

Position: Winger

George joined Burnley in 1892 from Sunderland Albion and spent two seasons with the Clarets.

He was transferred to Millwall in 1894 and retired from football in 1898.

In 1914, George joined the Northumberland Fusiliers and was posted to France. He was one of thousands killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and his body was never found. He is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial.

William Pickering

Appearances: 14

Goals: 6

Position: Striker

William joined Burnley in 1912 and played in the 1914 Lancashire Senior Cup Final where he scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Rochdale.

He also scored in the last ever match to be played at Turf Moor in April 1915, a 2-1 win against Sunderland. Play was suspended after this game and William joined the war effort, enlisting with the Seaforth Highlanders. He was involved in the fighting in the Middle East and in 1917 suffered severe injuries, dying from his wounds. He was just 23 and is buried in Baghdad North Gate Cemetery.

Jack Walders

Appearances: 49

Goals: 2

Position: Winger

Jack signed for Burnley from Barrow in 1904, a year after his brother David had taken the same path. The brothers played alongside each other for two years before they both left for Oldham Athletic in 1906.

In WW1, he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers and was serving when he was taken as a prisoner of war. He returned to Burnley on his release and worked in the local pit but sadly died in his adopted town in 1924, aged just 42.

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