A pitch perfect view of football history

It was a turbulent period in the history of Burnley football club and photographer Clive Lawrence was on hand to capture through his lens the drama on the pitch and the terraces.

Now, a series of his iconic black and white images of Claret fans taken between 1989 and 1992 have been published in a new book called ‘Protests to Promotion’.
It is described as ‘a gritty visual chronicle of Burnley FC’s transformation from crisis to revival’.

Clive’s images tell a story of frustration, defiance, and redemption. His photo series charts the club’s journey from the depths of Division Four to champions of the same division, sealing a long-awaited return to the third tier.

Published by Lower Block, which documents football culture and lifestyle from around the world, the photos were taken when Clive was a student at Nelson and Colne College studying photography, through to his time as official club photographer from 1990 to 1992.

They concentrate mainly on the fans, the fashions of the time and the interactions around football games during that time.

As well as being a hit with Claret fans, the work, which came about after he was approached by the publishers, has attracted a wider audience and is now on sale in Italy’s football hotspot Milan.

Award-winning freelance photographer Clive is a regular contributor to Lancashire Business View. He said: “I’ve been really surprised at just how well the book has been received.

“I’ve had lots of messages from people who have seen a picture that features one of their family members or a friend.

“It is also amazing that pictures taken 35 years ago still invoke such feelings from fans.”

Clive, a Burnley fan himself, spent three decades capturing its fortunes on camera.

He said: “I started taking pictures at the club in late 1988, whilst at college. It was around this time I decided I wanted to be a sports photographer, so I bought a ticket for the Bob Lord Stand and would take pictures from the front row.

“Most games I could get on the front row and some weeks I could swap ends at half time.

“The club was in a difficult place but the lads were giving everything and there was a really positive connection between most of the players and the fans.”

Protest to Promotion can be bought direct from the Lower Block website priced £8.50 plus postage.