SIR: As a season ticket holder I attended the last ever league game to be played at Burnden Park on Friday evening, and what an emotionally charged evening it turned out to be!

I started following the 'Whites' in the early 1940s when football was played on a regional basis because of the war years.

During the game on Friday, my mind was continually going back over all those times between then and now. The 1950s in particular gave me very happy memories. I think the team in that era was very much similar to today's team. The team spirit was tremendous, and they never knew when they were beaten. Apart from the 1953 cup final defeat those were happy memories for me.

I thought of the 60s and 70s when the club had ups and downs, 1978 being a happy time when we finished champions of the Second Division. I thought of the 80s when we slipped into the Fourth Division and were on the verge of bankruptcy. Yes it has been a roller coaster of highs and lows, sad times and happy ones!!

Back to Friday night, suddenly it was all over at Burnden, I saw grown men with tears in their eyes, and I am not ashamed to admit that as I walked away from that famous old ground for the very last time, I too shed a few tears.

'Big Joe' Hodkinson

(53 years a supporter)

Banbury Street, Tonge Park

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