Pearce was Foundation guest

Last updated : 14 November 2001 By Tony Scholes

It was a welcome back for the dancing goalkeeper Chris Pearce although he like everyone else cannot remember when the dancing really started as he told Foundation members in their almost deserted bar before the game.

He also explained why it stopped in two words, Jimmy Mullen. He was the manager who ended his career at Turf Moor and it is clear from last night that Chris had no time for the then manager of Burnley whatsoever. Sadly Chris is not by any means the only former Claret of that era to share this opinion of Mullen.

He joined the Clarets in the summer after the Orient game coming in for a tribunal set £4,000 from Wrexham along with Paul Comstive at £8,000. They were amongst a number of players who joined during that summer of 1987 as Brian Miller worked hard in starting to turn the club round.

Just about from day one he became popular with the fans but it was not just on the pitch with his dancing antics. In those days the Junior Clarets used to meet once a month on a Sunday morning and always hoped to have a first team player there. Chris Pearce used to turn up every time, to be honest I think he enjoyed it with the kids.

The highlight of his five years at the Turf must have been the Sherpa Van Final at Wembley and it was in the same competition that I saw his finest ever performance for the Clarets in a 1-0 win at Bradford City. He was just unbeatable that night.

His exit was soured by the way it was done. We had just clinched the 4th Division title and before the last home game against Wrexham he was released by Mullen. What made it worse was the whole thing was made public. True to character though the dancing keeper didn’t let it spoil his day, well he certainly didn’t let it show.

I for one will never forget his solo lap of honour or him jumping on top of the old Longside dug out to take his bow from the thousands stood there.

Nik the Greek might well be the goalkeeping hero now but no matter what he will never be able to dance as well as Chris.

Check out what the managers and the press had to say about the game last night in our Post Match Views section.