Match of the '90s: Burnley

Game A: April 28, 1992, York 1 Burnley 2

MANAGER Jimmy Mullen described it as: “One of the greatest moments of my life.”

A DVD titled ‘One Night in York’ has since been produced.

Coming from behind to beat York City 2-1 and clinch the title to end seven years in the Fourth Division is an occasion that will live long in the memory for Clarets fans of that era.

Around 8,000 had travelled to Bootham Crescent - plenty in fancy dress hoping to start a promotion party over the Pennines.

York tried to put a dampener on things in by taking a half-time lead.

But roared on by their fantastic following, John Deary scored the equaliser on the hour.

With time seemingly running out, John Francis converted Mike Conroy’s cross for the goal that secured Second Division football, following the birth of the Premier League.

Francis labelled his stoppage time winner as the most important goal of his career, while after the final whistle, Mullen added: “I have won three promotions in my time in football but this is the greatest moment of my life.”

Game B: May 19, 1994, Plymouth 1 Burnley 3

JIMMY Mullen’s pre-match team talk was quite simple.

Having played out a goalless draw at Turf Moor, Plymouth were confident of success in the second leg of this old second division play-off tie.

Too confident in fact, given that they had already booked transport to Wembley.

Their reasons for optimism were perhaps well founded, given that the Pilgrims had finished third, 12 points ahead of Burnley in a season in which the Clarets had not travelled well.

The game was unquestionably soured by the racist abuse John Francis suffered.

But the striker responded in the best way possible.

After Burnley fell behind to a goal in the 15th minute Francis, in his second spell with the Clarets, scored two goals in as many mintues either side of the half-hour.

Warren Joyce secured victory in the 81st minute, and booked Burnley’s place at Wembley and a date with Stockport County for the right to play second tier football in the 1994-95 season.

Game C: May 29, 1994 Stockport 1 Burnley 2

BURNLEY drowned out the Stockport supporters in number and voice, with the 44,806 crowd Wembley predominantly made up of Clarets fans for the old division two play-off final.

They were silenced when Chris Beaumont towered to head in David Frain’s free kick and give County the lead.

Worse was to follow when striker John Francis limped off with a knee injury soon after.

But the tables turned after Michael Wallace turned on Ted McMinn, spitting on the winger, for which he was sent off by referee David Elleray.

It was the catalyst for the Clarets’ success.

David Eyres picked up Adrian Heath’s pass and bent a stunning shot beyond goalkeeper John Keeley.

Eyres came close to the second in first half stoppage time, but was denied by the woodwork.

County were reduced to nine men when Beaumont was red-carded for stamping on Les Thompson, and again the Clarets used the opposition’s deficit to good effect.

Gary Parkinson scored the winner - his wild celebrations much more eye-catching than his toe-poked, bobbling finish.

Game D: May 2, 1998, Burnley 2 Plymouth 1

HISTORICALLY a grudge match, the mood between the two teams was not improved by Burnley relegating Plymouth in a last-day-of-the-season crunch clash.

Manager Chris Waddle said the Clarets players could emerge as heroes or villains.

They were most definitely the former, as two headed goals by Andy Cooke gave Burnley the win they needed to stave off the drop from the old Division Two and consign the Pilgrims to their fate.

The Clarets were 1-0 up at half-time, having defended as if their lives depended on it.

Damian Matthew’s clever ball put Glenn Little in behind the Argyle defence and his measured chipped cross was perfect for Cooke to nod in.

Prone to getting caught on the counter, Gerry Harrison - who ended the game on a stretcher - made one crucial tackle to stop Barry Conlan.

Paul Weller and Little were both denied by the woodwork, with a volley and header respectively.

But for the 20th time that season Cooke came up with the goods four minutes before the break with a thumping header.

Burnley were out of the bottom four for the first time since February, and still in the third tier.

Game E: December 11, 1999, Derby 0 Burnley 1

ANDY Cooke was the hero again as the Clarets celebrated another FA Cup cracker, causing a third round shock at Premier League side Derby County.

Second Division promotion chasers, Burnley rose to the occasion to outplay the Rams and book their place in the last 32 of the competition for only the second time since 1983.

Cooke’s 62nd minute goal helped the Clarets pull off arguably the result of the round – played unusually in December – making the journey worthwhile for almost 5,000 travelling fans.

The Clarets had threatened on a handful of occasions before Cooke won the day with his sixth goal of the season.

Glenn Little and Gordon Armstrong worked the opening up the left and when Armstrong swung over a perfect, deep cross, Cooke lost his marker to head the winner past Mart Poom.

Burnley held held out comfortably to record yet another clean sheet, their third in a row in the Cup.

The ageless Mitchell Thomas and his right-hand man Steve Davis were pillars of strength.

Burnley’s reward for their efforts was another Premiership tie, at Coventry City.