The season of 1961/62 was a significant one in the football history of Burnley. Fresh from their League Championship victory in the 1959/60 season, the team, under the guidance of their visionary management, was on the cusp of achieving a League and Cup double—a rare feat that had been accomplished only once in the century by that point.

The Clarets' FA Cup journey began in emphatic fashion, putting six goals past Queens Park Rangers at home. In the subsequent round, Leyton Orient provided sterner opposition, forcing a replay after a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor. The Clarets emerged victorious in the replay, setting up a showdown with Everton, which they impressively won 3-1.

Burnley's next opponents in the quarterfinals were Fulham. After a deadlock at Villa Park, a replay at Filbert Street saw the Clarets eke out a 2-1 win, setting up a tantalizing showdown with the giants of the country at Wembley.

However, shadows of the previous season loomed large. Burnley had been knocked out in the semi-final by Tottenham Hotspur, who went on to achieve the fabled double. With the Clarets leading the title race for a large part of the season, a similar achievement seemed destined for them. However, the team's form dramatically nose-dived. Despite having a six-point cushion over Ipswich Town with only six games left, their league form deteriorated, essentially putting paid to their double dreams.

And so, Burnley went to Wembley with the hope of redemption and to end their season on a high. A packed stadium of 100,000 spectators bore witness to a spirited match. But despite their best efforts, Burnley could not overcome Tottenham Hotspur. Goals from Greaves, Smith, and a spot-kick by captain Blanchflower ensured a victory for the London side. Jimmy Robson's goal for Burnley, though a mere consolation, became part of Wembley lore as the 100th FA Cup Final goal at the iconic stadium.

While the defeat was hard to swallow, Clarets fans remained hopeful for the future. Their team had shown promise and seemed poised for further successes. Yet, football is an unpredictable game. Instead of further silverware, the subsequent years brought about a series of challenges. Burnley would plunge to the depths of the Football League, and it would be over a quarter of a century before they would return to the hallowed Wembley turf.