In a season where Leicester City made history by winning their first-ever Premier League championship, Burnley also secured a place in the countries showcase competition only a season after relegation.
In 2014, the two clubs were promoted together with some comfort, leading many to believe that both could establish themselves in the Premier League. As it turned out, Leicester survived after a late rally where as Burnley were dropped but not without a fight, or indeed some memorable results. Furthermore, The Clarets appear to be one of the better-run clubs and, amazingly, are both profitable and debt-free, which could and should provide a sound basis for re-establishing them among the elite.
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Back in 1974, the Foxes and Burnley were not only in the top 10 of the First Division, but also FA-Cup semi-finalists. In the league, both teams held their own and scaled the heights during a season where Leeds United embarked on a then record unbeaten start (29 games) and relatively little separated most of the rest.
After promotion in 1971, Jimmy Bloomfield took over at Leicester and re-established the club in the First Division. They were acclaimed under Bloomfield as entertainers, but also had a decent defensive record courtesy of Peter Shilton, Steve Whitworth, Dennis Rofe, Graham Cross, as well as young defender Malcolm Munro, whose career was all too brief. But it was the season in which the maverick striker Frank Worthington, ably abetted by such players as Steve Earle, Mike Stringfellow, Len Glover, Keith Weller, John Sammels and Alan Birchenall, hit 20 goals. He would better that tally with Bolton five years later. The Foxes would be in the top six for a good part of the season, before ultimately finishing 9th with a defensive record (41 goals conceded) bettered only by Leeds and Liverpool.
Jimmy Adamson, former Burnley captain, had taken over as manager in 1970 from Harry Potts. In his first full season in charge, the Clarets had been relegated after 24 years among the elite. However, Adamson rebuilt the side and they won the Second Division title in 1973, with a QPR side starring Stan Bowles finishing in second. It was quite an impressive squad that took the club back into the First Division. Alan Stevenson would have many years in goal, while Peter Noble, Keith Newton, Jim Thomson and Colin Waldron made up defence. In midfield, there were Geoff Nulty, Doug Collins and Martin Dobson, while up front Paul Fletcher was often partnered by teenage striker Ray Hankin. Then there was the gifted winger Leighton James, a star not only for Burnley but also for Wales. Their season got off to a flyer and, after beating Liverpool 2-1 on Boxing Day 1973, were in third place. Eventually they faded to sixth, but a 4-1 win over Leeds at Elland Road was a spectacular result.
But it was in the FA Cup that the Clarets and Foxes vintage of 1973-74 came very close to glory. Leicester beat Tottenham, Fulham, Luton Town and QPR to reach the semi-finals, where they faced Liverpool and drew 0-0 and lost the replay 3-1. Burnley, on the other hand, beat Grimsby Town, Oldham Athletic, Aston Villa and Wrexham, but lost 2-0 to Newcastle United in the final four. As it were, Liverpool would brush aside the Magpies 3-0 to claim the trophy, while Leicester and Burnley would be left to rue what could have been.
The following season, Burnley were second in the League as late as March before finishing 10th. When relegation came the year after, it would be 33-years before they returned to the highest level with many years of hardship endured along the way. Leicester themselves had a few more decent seasons before Bloomfield made way for Frank McLintock, who oversaw a dismal relegation campaign in 1978. Hence, Leicester would spend much of the years that followed as something of a yo-yo club. They have now, at least, equalled their East Midlands rivals Derby County and Nottingham Forest in winning a League Championship.
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