Joe’s journey went from Gigg Lane to Van Gaal
Burnley host Newcastle United tomorrow night with just a point separating the sides.
The Clarets have only one Scots-born player in Scott Arfield, although the former Falkirk midfielder represents Canada at international level.
Back in 1972, Burnley signed midfielder Yanek Jakub. A year later, he made his debut in England’s top flight.
But this teenage midfielder was no expensive import.
The player, known to most as Joe Yakub, was a Falkirk lad with a Polish father.
He was on the books of Airdrie before heading south to embark on a 22- year career as a professional footballer.
It was a journey that saw him become a team- mate of Louis van Gaal and pit his wits against the likes of Marco van Basten and Ronald Koeman.
Things might have been very different if he hadn’t been spotted by a scout working for Burnley.
Joe recalled: “I played for the successful Grangemouth International Boys Club and was taken on by Airdrie when I was still a schoolboy.
“My heroes there were Drew Jarvie and Drew Busby.
“But they agreed to release me when Burnley offered me terms.
“I could have gone to Celtic as well, but English football seemed a more- attractive option at the time.
“Burnley were the team of the moment and my dad advised me to go there.
“A year after joining, I made my debut in the First Division against Coventry City.
“We had players like Martin Dobson, Leighton James, Doug Collins and Frank Casper.
“Although we lost the game 3- 1, it was a tremendous experience.
“Unfortunately, we were relegated that season and I continued my career in the Second Division.
“A broken leg kept my out for seven months, and that was obviously a setback.”
Joe had two spells at Turf Moor, returning to play for the club between 1989 and 1993.
He became the first Burnley player for more than 30 years to appear for the club in all four divisions of English football when he lined-up against Swansea in 1992.
The intervening years had seen Joe spend six years with Bury – where he was involved in a squad of 15 that won promotion – and two seasons in Dutch football with AZ Alkmaar.
He said: “Having a successful season with such a small number of players would probably never happen now.
“Unless you had a serious injury, you just got on with it. I think I went two seasons without missing a single match.
“I then took the chance to try my luck in Holland with AZ Alkmaar.
“Louis van Gaal, who went on to be Barcelona and Manchester United manager, was one of my team-mates.
“I know he doesn’t come over as the most endearing person and a bit arrogant, but that’s just the way he is.
“When we played together, he told me: ‘ You get the ball and give it to me’.
“He wasn’t the most mobile, but he had good technical ability.
“He was a very good passer of the ball and I was able to get about the pitch.
“That time gave me the chance to play against teams like Ajax, with stars like Van Basten and Rikjaard.”
Joe, now 60, then had two stints at Chester City, his second spell at Burnley and a season with Wigan Athletic.
He lives in north Wales and has done several coaching jobs since hanging up the boots.