The Martin Dobson column. . .

WHEN the Longside roared 'Uwe', supporters visiting Turf Moor were often left wondering who the chant was aimed at.

But Burnley fans everywhere knew there was only one Peter Noble.

Peter, who we also knew as Nobby, was one of Burnley's most popular and successful players in the 1970s, spending eight seasons with the club after joining from Swindon in the summer of 1973.

Peter recalled: "Swindon were struggling and letting at lot of good players go, so I thought it best to look elsewhere.

"I didn't ask for a move but a few clubs came in for me, such as Aston Villa, Birmingham and QPR, but the reason I came to Burnley was Jimmy Adamson.

"He was from the north east like me and as Burnley had just gone up to the first division, it was an exciting time.

"Jimmy told me I wouldn't be in the team straight away and I must be prepared to knuckle down and fight for a place, but in the first game at Sheffield United, Mick Docherty got an injury and Jimmy turned to me on the bench and said 'Can you play right back?'

"I said 'no problem, gaffer', despite never having played there before, and I stayed there all season.

"That's football. It was tough on 'Doc because he's a great lad, but it gave me my chance"

Peter soon slotted into a more familiar role, breaking forward from midfield to become a regular scorer for the Clarets.

"I hit a hot streak, scoring goals for fun," he added. "I got four in one game against Norwich, as well as several hat-tricks, but a groin injury put me out for about three months.

"At that time, a national newspaper was offering £10,000 for anybody who scored 30 goals in a season.

"I was on course and thought I had a chance, but the injury scuppered that!"

Nobby's goals came from all angles - 80 in 299 Burnley starts. No mean feat from midfield.

Many came from the penalty spot, from where he deadly. In fact, he never missed one.

He said: "It was just one of those things. I always felt confident. I liked scoring goals and taking a spot kick from 12 yards was a bonus.

"It was down to mental attitude. No great secret. I looked up in the last minute of my run-up and if the keeper moved, I'd stick it in the other side.

"If he didn't move then I knew which side I would put it anyway!"

Peter actually came into the game late, juggling his non-league playing days with Consett in the Northern League while working as a painter and decorator.

At last, his ability was spotted and he started his career at Newcastle. But it was Roker Park, home of bitter rivals Sunderland, where he dreamed of becoming a star.

"They never came in for me, so I signed for Newcastle and my dad didn't speak to me for the next three months," he laughed.

"I got a knee injury early in my career at Newcastle and that's how the move to Swindon came about.

"I didn't even know where Swindon was, but the manager Danny Williams had brought together players who had struggled at their previous clubs.

"Some had injuries, or had left under a bit of a cloud, but luckily it all came together. We got promotion and then won the League Cup against Arsenal.

"Fantastic days. I don't like mentioning it, but we beat Burnley in the semi-final. We won the game at Turf Moor 2-1 when I scored, then Burnley beat us at the County Ground by the same score. In the replay at WBA we won 3-2 after extra time and I scored the winner."

Ironically, that was around the time Jimmy Adamson became an admirer. If only Burnley had snapped Nobby up earlier in his career, the Clarets would have had a Wembley final to look forward to!

Recalling the final itself, Peter recalled: "The Horse of the Year Show had been at Wembley earlier in the week and it was like a ploughed field.

"As a lower division club it suited us - it was a real leveller. Arsenal were right at the top of the tree, as they are now, and we were under the cosh. But our keeper was brilliant and we survived an early battering before the game went into extra time and we won 3-1.

After Burnley, I went to Blackpool along with Paul Fletcher, when Stan Ternent was their manager.

"I played till I was 40, so I had a good innings. But because of my early injury at Newcastle I always thought I needed to have another string to my bow in case I had to pack in the game.

"So when I moved to Swindon I opened up a shirt business and then at Burnley I opened a sports shop.

"The people of Burnley were fantastic in supporting me through the difficult times. They kept me going and I'll always be grateful.

"After 25 years though, when the big retailers finally came into town, I knew it was time to sell up.

"But I had a great career and a wonderful time at Burnley. I was very lucky that Keith Newton was my room mate.

"Sadly, he's no longer with us but he was a super guy, such a nice man and a class footballer.

"He taught me at lot about how to play the game."

Maybe Nobby, but few who saw you will ever forget it!