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In the days leading up to the game, the town had been making its final preparations for Christmas and for one group the Christmas party was a success despite a late panic.
The Burnley Detachment of the 4th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment held their Christmas party at the Keighley Green club. Over 130 men, many accompanied by their wives and friends were present where they enjoyed dancing and tombola.
A supper of pies, sandwiches and other items had been ordered but they failed to arrive and they were unable to contact the caterers who had put down the wrong date. Thankfully a last minute dash around the shops brought success and they were all able to enjoy a fish and chip supper along with some chocolate biscuits.
MP Dan Jones had visited the post office workers at the Keighley Green Drill Hall to congratulate them on getting out all the Christmas post so well. The recently elected parliamentarian was greeted with the singing of 'For he's a jolly good fellow' - something which I'm sure his successors Peter Pike and Kitty Ussher have experienced.
They followed that up by making him feel at home with a post office workers rendition of 'We'll keep a welcome in the hillsides' as Jones surprised them by saying he'd worked as a postman for a while in the Rhondda Valley.
Last minute special gifts were made available at Hartley's chemists including ladies perfumes. Chanel No 5 was available at thirty bob (£1.50 today) and Je Review by Worth from £1. Men's perfumery, shall we say, was still in its infancy but they did have electric shavers, with the new triple head Remington available at £10 13s, or a nice comb.
Two young men were fined in court just ahead of the big day. They had been caught riding their motor cycles in Thursby Road, Colne Road and Briercliffe Road at speeds considered dangerous to the public. They were each fined £10 and offered to pay it at £1 per week.
Mr E. S. Thornber (presiding) said of the offer: "Well, that's ridiculous. Pay it all in a month." He also praised the police, adding: The bench must give a word of appreciation of the work of the police sergeant of the county police."
Do you remember the Padiham break ins recently when three establishments in close proximity were hit in one night? Two boys, one 16 and one 18, were found guilty of stealing a bike and were also charged with breaking into J Pollard Ltd. hardware shop where they stole 25 torch bulbs and £5. They were remanded on bail to appear at the next Preston Sessions.
Christmas shopping in Burnley had been at an all time high but it was hit with rainstorms and gale force winds which, among other things, made Burnley's outdoor market stalls look like wreckage from windjammer ships in a rough sea.
So bad was the weather that flying roof tiles from the Imperial Cinema at Gannow Top forced the closure of two streets. However, the local traders, despite the weather, were thrilled with the late trade and a spokesman said: "I'd like to say to all our customers, they were the nicest crowd of people it has been our pleasure to serve."
And so, Christmas turkey eaten it was on to Boxing Day and our game at Old Trafford as we looked to get the Leeds game out of the system. The recent weather had left the pitch in something of a state, and there is no doubt that 50 years on there would be no chance of the game having gone ahead.
Jimmy McIlroy was again ruled out but there was still a change at inside right. Billy White had played in the Leeds game but Ian Lawson was called up for his first game of the season.
After a difficult start we took command midway through the half when ROBSON scored from close range and LAWSON doubled that lead ten minutes before the break.
United came back strongly in the second half. QUIXALL pulled one back just past the hour but the Burnley defence remained resolute and were able to return to Turf Moor with both points and ready for the return game two days later.
The win took Burnley back to third in the table, above rivals Blackburn Rovers (who played twice in two days) on goal average. Preston were a point ahead of us in second place with Spurs a further two points above Preston at the top of the league.
Leeds and Luton remained in the bottom two positions, both a point behind Birmingham.
Click HERE to see the League Table
The teams were;
Burnley: Adam Blacklaw, John Angus, Alex Elder, Bobby Seith, Brian Miller, Jimmy Adamson, John Connelly, Ian Lawson, Ray Pointer, Jimmy Robson, Brian Pilkington.
Manchester United: Dave Gaskell, Bill Foulkes, Joe Carolan, Fred Goodwin, Ron Cope, Shay Brennan, Alex Dawson, Albert Quixall, Bobby Charlton, Dennis Violett, Albert Scanlon.
The Manchester United team, shown above, included Albert Scanlon, a survivor of Munich, at outside left. Albert sadly passed away this week at the age of 74.
Referee: Mr L. I. Tirebuck (Halifax).
Attendance: 62,673.
First Division Results 25th December 1959
Blackburn 1 Blackpool 0
First Division Results 26th December 1959
Arsenal 0 Luton 3
Birmingham 2 West Ham 0
Blackpool 1 Blackburn 0
Bolton 2 Wolves 1
Chelsea 2 Newcastle 2
Everton 2 Manchester City 1
Leeds 2 Tottenham 4
Leicester 2 Preston 2
Manchester United 1 Burnley 2
Sheffield Wednesday 1 Fulham 1
West Brom 2 Nottingham Forest 3