History of Burnley Belvedere
08 Dec 2008

Brief history of Burnley Belvedere

Originating in 1888 from a St Peter�s choirboy team, Burnley Belvedere F.C. began their playing career with such names as Billy Mossman,
Wally Driver, Joe Harrison, � Toshy� Hurst and �Jonty� Watson. House to house collections and singing for a few coppers put them on their way financially and soon they were playing teams such as Wellington Rovers, Union Star,
East End and Blue Star. Ultimately they became well known over a wide area and at one time played at Turf Moor ( Burnley football club�s ground) on such Saturday�s as Burnley F.C. was not using the ground.
They became members of the Lancashire Amateur League at one time and met such clubs as Blackburn Crosshill, Liverpool Leek, Preston Winckley and
Old Xaverians. At a later date they had a ground near Ormerod�s Farm, behind the Cricket field, and later again the moved to St Andrews
Many Burnley cricketers played for Belvedere, among them were Mr.F.Maudsley
(one time Borough Analyst), A.A.Bell, J.T. Scott and F.Whittaker.
Eventually as interest in Belvedere waned the club became just a memory until 1930, when they got together again and played non-league fixtures with opponents from all over Lancashire and Yorkshire.
A story is recalled by their one time treasurer, who went on Easter tours with them to South Wales and other places. He was in charge of all the money for the tour, and in addition was made responsible for the player�s personal cash when they were on the field. His long overcoat was specially fitted with deep inside pockets to take all the money. This walking bank was J.Selwyn Grant who could talk for hours about the Belvedere of 1904, and such players as J.Booth, H.Chase, C.Sandy, B.Jackson, H.Heys, R.Cliffe, H.B.Cooper,A.Parker, J.Scott, F.Gregson and J.Biggs. Much later they had players of the calibre of J.V.Gregory, who represented Lancashire, and the goal scoring centre forward Stanley Williams, who notched 83 goals in the 1934 � 5 season. Stanley, was ably assisted by Reggie Clegg who scored 33 goals � the two of the scoring 116 goals out of an astonishingly high total of 169.

In the early days professionals and amateurs were never far apart. In the 1902-3 season amateurs Burnley Belvedere played their home games at
Turf moor, at the time Belvedere were in the Lancashire Amateur League, finishing runners up in 1903.

SEE PICTURE 1 HISTORY OF BELVEDERE

Burnley Belvedere 1902-3 season runners up in the Lancashire Amateur League

Following two pictures show Burnley Belvedere on their Easter tours of South Wales in Abergavenny 1903-4 & 1904-5 seasons
SEE PICTURE 2 SEE PICTURE 3
HISTORY OF BELVEDERE HISTORY OF BELVEDERE
1903 � 1904 season 1904 � 1905 season
Picture of results for the 1934-5 season when Stanley Williams scored 83 goals

SEE PICTURE 4 HISTORY OF BELVEDERE

SEE PICTURE 5 HISTORY OF BELVEDERE

Back row
E.Naylor, M.Shaw, B.Chambers, B.K.Grimshaw, H.Drake, B.Cunliffe, J.Smalley.

Front row
W.Brown, B.L.Gaynor, R.G.Clegg, H.Chatterton ( captain ), T.Hindle, S.Williams, J.H.Stuttard

Steve Richardson
Chairman
Burnley Belvedere