Slightly delayed with writing this up, and it appears I haven’t updated the blog with real content in a while so you’ve had to put up with Twitter weekly updates. Sorry about that, I hope to get some regular posting going soon. For now, enjoy the story below .
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or not reading properly you’ll know by now that I’m a Burnley FC supporter. You’ll also probably be aware that we achieved promotion to the Premier League, the top flight football league in England (and quite possibly the world ), in May.
Well, what a baptism of fire we have had back in the top flight. Playing 4 of the top 5 teams within out first 5 games including Manchester United, Everton, Chelsea and Liverpool along with Stoke right at the very start of the season.
We didn’t have the best of starts, going down 2-0 at the Britannia on our season day opener but I’m delighted to say that things have just got better and better from there. Our Wednesday evening fixture against Man Utd on the 19th was attended by over 18,000 clarets who saw their team come out victorious in a 1-0 win against the champions of English football. I’m also proud to say “I was there” among the fans, cheering the team on to eventual glory. It really was a sight to behold and something that you can’t really describe, literally a cauldron of noise that even the United manager, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson commented on.
Not only did we beat Man Utd 1-0, we did exactly the same to Everton on Sunday. Two scalps in a week, and people think this division is hard to play in…
We’ve had two excellent results but there is still plenty of hard work to go. However, Burnley seem to be back where we belong . Come on you Clarets!
Those of you who are interested in Burnley will know that season ticket sales have jumped from 7,000 (2008/09 season) to 16,000 (2009/10 season). How people jump out of the woodwork when you’re successful eh?
Now, you’re going to say a similar thing to me because I’ve decided to get one in the newly segregatedCricket Field – David Fishwick for sponsorship purposes – End. At a 600 mile round trip it’s no mean feat but you’ve got to stay committed for our first season in the top flight for 33 years . Of course, there would be no way I’d be getting one if I hadn’t passed my motorcycle test, so everything has fitted into place nicely . I don’t think I’ll be making the effort for certain games but for the top four (Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea) and our “friends” down the road I’ll certainly be around .
Finally, good luck to everybody at the ticket office today trying to claim the 500 or so that are left. Also, much kudos to the ticket office staff who have had a pretty manic job recently.
One for those of you in the UK that watch The Apprentice here in terms of Siralun being rather misrepresented. Quite funny though .
If you are reading this in an feed aggregator and can’t see the above video click here. Enjoy and full props to Cassetteboy who deserves a shout out for some excellent work with this.
Brian "Beast" Jensen showing how 36,000 Burnley fans felt when the full-time whistle arrived at Wembley
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life, and I’m feeling good…
Well, it’s the day after the extraordinary afternoon which saw Burnley, a small mill town in Lancashire with only 70,000 residents, win the play-off final at Wembley to take us to the Premier League.
Feel free to re-read that statement, I can’t quite believe it either.
It’s one of those days that each and every one of the 36,000 clarets who attended Wembley will cherish and remember for the rest of their days. Some may say the Orient game back in ‘87 (Burnley had to win in order to survive in the 4th division. Had they have lost it would have meant playing non-league football and quite possibly the end of the club) was more important than yesterday but make no mistake that the 90 minutes played on the 25th May 2009 gave the club the biggest financial reward (around £60M) that we’ve ever had in our long and illustrious history dating back from 1882.
Burnley celebrate a fantastic victory over Sheffield United at Wembley
The feeling and emotion at the end of the game is indescribable, and you would only ever appreciate what it was like if you were actually there (simply look at the image to the left to see what I mean). I have huge sympathy for those who were unable to get tickets, especially as there were sections of Wembley completely empty around the “Club Wembley” section where the corporate “prawn sandwich brigade” like to locate themselves. Hopefully everybody who wanted to watch the game found a position where they were able to see the fantastic scenes, even if they were unable to be a part of them.
The entire town will be on a high for the considerable future. Proof of this lies with this evening, and the parade of the team through the streets for a civic reception at the town hall. Brilliant scenes, I only wish that I could have joined the crowds to celebrate the team’s homecoming.
So, some 33 years after being relegated from the top flight we are back where we belong. History has been made, and a new chapter in the Burnley Football Club book has been created. Premier League here we come .
We are Burnley. Super Burnley. We are Burnley. From the North.
Today will hopefully be a good day in the life and times of Burnley Football Club, and I’ll be there to experience it at Wembley. In the meantime, we must thank an individual who has joined our football club and taken us to the edge of the Premier League with a tiny budget and the smallest squad in either the Premier League or the Championship. Owen Coyle, a true legend in every sense of the word who will have firmly cemented his place in the history books should success ensue today.
Whatever happens today, we’ve done amazing things this season and I’m utterly proud to call myself a Claret. Come on Burnley, after 33 years of wandering lets dig out one more game to take us back where we belong; the top flight of English football.
.
), in May.
. Come on you Clarets! 
. Of course, there would be no way I’d be getting one if I hadn’t 
