My Finest Hour - with Vince Overson

ASK Vince Overson to name his finest hour in a claret and blue shirt and the big defender takes about three seconds to answer.

"Southend away, May 14, 1982. I was 20 the day after. It was a great birthday present."

The present in question was promotion from the old Division Three thanks to a 4-1 win at Roots Hall which was the prelude to clinching the title by drawing with Chesterfield at Turf Moor four days later.

Overson was suspended for the crowning glory but despite his tender years played a full part in the Clarets' march back towards Division Two and the decisive game at Southend where, according to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph report of the time, he was in "outstanding form" along with goalscorers Paul McGee and Brian Laws.

"We knew they weren't the best team and it was a case of not being complacement, because we knew we had to beat them," Overson recalled.

"We had a strong side and what made it better was that we had a lot of young players like Brian Laws, Trever Steven, Andy Wharton and myself. They were hungry, young lads who would have kicked their own grandmothers to win that game.

"We also had Steve Taylor and Billy Hamilton up front so we were capable of scoring goals as well.

"We went a couple in front and then when we went three-one up it was just a case of keeping the ball in their half. It wasn't pretty but we just lumped the ball forward and got them turned to stay on top."

Burnley had led with goals from Wharton and McGee and although the Shrimpers pulled one back through Keith Mercer the Clarets' promotion after two seasons in Division Three was sealed by late strikes from Laws and McGee again. "I remember that the celebrations were tremendous," Overson added. "There was a pitch invasion and we all ran into the dressing room to try and get out of the way.

"There was a crate of champagne in there and that was cracked open before went back out into the stand to join in a bit inebriated.

"It was an incredible for us being so young to get into the team and then to get a promotion."

Overson had made his Burnley debut two seasons earlier but was still in his teens when Burnley held off Carlisle United to take the title.

Brian Miller's side had been unbeaten in 20 games between early October and the start of March and after losing six of their first eight matches were to finish pointless only twice more that season.

With Overson joined by fellow homegrown youngsters Laws, Wharton, Trevor Steven and Micky Phelan, alongside the olders heads of Martin Dobson, Billy Hamilton and Tommy Cassidy, the future looked bright.

Just 12 months later, though, Burnley were relegated and on an irreversible slump that ended with near relegation from the Football League.

"Around the country people realised Burnley were a young side and great things were expected of the team.

"Unfortunately the following season it didn't materialise. Fans thought we would build a team round the younger lads but that didn't happen. "The team split up and I think that was the start of the demise of the club at that time," Overson said.

The powerful central defender stayed until 1986 before being signed by Birmingham City where he became club captain and lifted the Leyland Daf Cup in 1991.

He then joined Stoke City and won the trophy again the following season and also led the Potters to the Second Division title in 1992/93.

However, Burnley beckoned again and 10 years after leaving Turf Moor, Overson was back.

It was a dream return but sadly one that turned sour with an Achilles tendon injury limiting him to just a handful of appearances on the way to retirement from the game nearly three years ago.

"When I came back to Burnley I was the most disappointed man in the world to have that injury," admitted Overson, who now works for the Football in the Community Project at Turf Moor and coaches at the club's centre of excellence.

"I didn't really become an all-round player til my late 20s. Burnley fans remember the all-action, cavalier, no-nonsense centre-half.

"But when I left Burnley I played under a different coaches and managers and learned a hell of a lot and learned what the game is all about.

"I had a good grounding at Burnley. It stood me in good stead and gave me the building blocks for my career. The one thing it gave you was a sense of pride and discipline.

"But I really wanted to come back as a better all-round player and show that's what I had turned into. It didn't materialise and I was absolutely gutted that they didn't see me at my best. But I had a marvellous career for 20 years and I wouldn't change a thing."