I FOUND Eric Leaver's article 'Poor Stanley' (LET, November 24), most interesting because I remember the year, 1962, very clearly - the year that Accrington Stanley went out of existence, and the year that Burnley missed doing the double in the last match against Chelsea.

Burnley had reached the sixth round of the FA Cup and had to play Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

I went to the match and bought a draw ticket as I went on the ground. There was a 30,000 gate and, at half time, my number was announced as the winner.

The fate of Stanley was very much on my mind and, at full time, I collected my winnings, went up to the press box and waved my wad of notes in front of Granville Shackleton, then your Burnley sports reporter, and told him to let Stanley know that if they survived, they could have all my winnings.

Alas, it was not to be, but some representatives of the club called at my house with hundreds of programmes.

Stanley went out and Burnley went down at Wembley and lost the First Division championship in the last 15 minutes to Ipswich, after being top for most of the season.

JOHN TRICKETT, Searles, Uckfield, East Sussex (formerly of Waterfoot).

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