When our beloved Burnley Football Club were looking down the barrel, one step away from the abyss of non-league football, the club turned to someone who had represented them with distinction over four decades.

When the Clarets took on Orient in the last match of the 1986-87 season, knowing that only victory would suffice, it was fitting that local lad Brian Miller was at the helm.

"John Jackson and Doc Iven asked me to get involved and the club were in a real mess," said Brian. "I inherited just 13 players, two of them keepers and a centre back, Joe Gallagher, who had a dodgy knee.

"So I brought in Leighton James and Billy Rodaway on frees and I remember having to go cap in hand to the bank manager, to see if we could pay their wages. It was that desperate.

"The week before that final match I can't honestly describe what emotions were circulating around Turf Moor but I did realise how important it was that everybody remained positive.

"I insisted on upbeat training sessions so that, even though everything was grinding away inside, the players would

go into the game with as much confidence as possible."

It proved to be a very long and exhausting day. Brian recalls: "I still had my news agency business so on the day of the game it was an early start before I met the media at 8am on the Saturday morning.

"They had a field day. TV, radio, national press, everybody. The interest went as far as Australia.

"When we got the result the relief was unbelievable. Tears, laughter, joy. Emotionally, everybody was drained but we'd come through our darkest hour together.

"I remember going to my local that night and the whiskeys were set out on the bar. The smiles on the faces said it all and how much it meant to the town and the people.

"We knew then that at least the club had a future. I left the majority of the drinks and was in bed by 9pm - to sleep like a baby."

All this aggravation was a far cry from what was a hugely successful career for Miller.

He made my debut at 18 in a fourth Round FA Cup replay at Chelsea before being part of Harry Potts' championship-winning team of 1959-60.

But amidst all that glory of the early 1960s, I asked Brian if there was ever a time he contemplated leaving the club.

He said: "Unofficially, I heard that Arsenal were in for me but I was more than happy playing for Burnley as we were an excellent side, playing at the very top level and more often than not, qualifying for Europe.

"There was no need to move. Nowadays there is no loyalty but the game has changed."

Brian's playing career was cut short in 1966 when he caught his studs in the turf at Villa Park and damaged his cruciate knee ligament.

He was offered a coaching position with the youth side before becoming part of the first team set-up under Jimmy Adamson then inheriting the managerial reins himself.

Another milestone for Brian was his award of Manager of the Year when the Clarets won the Third Division championship in the 1981-82 season.

He said: "This gave me a lot of satisfaction as we started poorly but then went on a 19-game unbeaten run culminating in the Championship.

"A lot of younger players were making an impact and with the likes of Brian Laws, Andy Wharton, Vince Overson, Micky Phelan, Trevor Steven and Kevin Young the future was looking rosy."

Brian now supports the Clarets from his place in the stand and is very proud that a new Miller generation has followed in his footsteps.

Son David played for the club in the 1980s and Christopher and Paul, who came on as sub last week in the game against Coventry, are the latest to follow in grandad's footsteps.

"Going inside the ground still gives me a tremendous thrill after all this time," added Brian. "The club have been a very important part of my life and I have been very lucky with the support my wife Mary and all the family have given me over the years.

"When the Ex Clarets in Sport put on a dinner for me it was a brilliant night and the memories came flooding back. It's something I will always remember with great affection."