11:51am Tuesday 7th September 2010
By Jon Livesey
A CLARETS fan who held a Burnley season ticket for 61 years has died suddenly at home after a short illness.
Avid Burnley fan Ken Anderson, who bought his first season ticket in 1949 as an eight-year-old boy, died of a heart attack at his home in Barkerhouse Road, Nelson.
Yesterday, friends of 69-year-old Ken all paid tribute to the man they described as a ‘true Claret’.
And club bosses said they would be happy to recognise his commitment in some way.
Born and bred in Nelson, Mr Anderson spent the first part of his working life as an over-looker at Smith and Nephew, in Brierfield.
He moved into the Great Marsden Hotel, Nelson, over 20 years ago and became close friends with Derek and Mary Warren and family.
Through the family he secured a job as a driver at Brierley’s Car Showroom, in Briercliffe Road, Burnley, which Michael Warren still owns.
And he remained an employee there for the next 21 years right up to his death on Sunday, August 29.
Mr Warren said Mr Anderson was ‘like one of the family’.
He said: “He moved into the hotel as a resident one night and then stayed ever since.
“He went to every single match, home and away. He was a true Claret.”
According to Mr Warren, Mr Anderson loved driving and would often provide lifts for people free of charge and in his own time.
He said: “You could not meet a more honest man.”
Mr Anderson’s neighbour and friend Michael Atkinson is to ask Burnley FC to honour the lifelong Claret.
A club spokesman said: “We would be happy to recognise his long-standing support.”
Mr Anderson never married.
For details of his funeral call Helliwell's Funeral Directors on 01282 870898.
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