Cats reminder

Clarets fans who want to attend the game are advised to get their tickets as soon as possible to guarantee a seat at the match.

Sunderland have sold all of their 4,000 allocation for the game and with the largest crowd of the season expected at Turf Moor, Burnley supporters are advised to purchase their tickets well in advance of the game, which brings the curtain down on the season next Sunday, May 9 (1pm kick off).

The headmaster!

IF Stan Ternent needs a new headmaster in his defence he only needs to look as far as the Turf Moor media department.

Website co-commentator Nick Veevers met a Danny Gabbidon hoof into the Ninian Park main stand stand at Cardiff the other weekend with a perfect headed clearance that found the pitch from 20 rows back - and he didn't remove his headphones!

Keeping up appearances

MILESTONES galore have been reached by Burnley players in the past two weeks.

Graham Branch made his 200th appearance for the Clarets at Cardiff, with Mo Camara and Mark McGregor making their 250th and 350th career appearances respectively.

The Wimbledon game on Tuesday, April 20, saw goalkeeper Brian Jensen clock up his 100th Football League appearance, while Lenny Johnrose reached the magical 500 career appearance mark in last Saturday's 1-0 win over Derby. Belated congratulations to all.

Holiday time

BURNLEY fans are reminded that the club shop and ticket office will both be closed on Monday, May 3 for the Bank Holiday.

Price has been right

THE deadline for cut-price season tickets officially expired last night. The Turf Moor ticket office has been flooded with applications for tickets during the traditional discount period.

And early yesterday afternoon, with a last minute rush still expected, officials had processed a healthy 6,344 ticket allocations for next season - just over 2,000 short of the number budgeted by club chiefs.

Chief executive Dave Edmundson said: "The response form supporters has been nothing short of magnificent and I see it as an indication of where the club can get to.

"The good news is that some of the tickets already sold are to 'new' supporters, rather than just renewals, so we are extremely hopeful of exceeding the budgeted total."

Wheels in motion to boost Clarets coffers

AS fans gear up for the conclusion of the campaign next weekend, an energetic group of Clarets are all go through the gears to boost club coffers.

Burnley Football Club catering manager Chris Gibson leads a gang of nine committed Clarets cycling 500 Miles across England and - hopefully - arriving at Turf Moor on Sunday May 9 before the Sunderland game.

The trek begins tomorrow morning with a trip to deepest Devon, when they will take to their bikes and cycle a daily average of 70 miles or so en-route back to East Lancashire - raising over £10,000 in the process.

A final meeting to firm up the trip was held at Turf Moor this week, where David Fishwick LDV Vans of Colne kindly supplied a minibus to deliver bikes and equipment to the starting point and a cash donation.

In addition, the 'On Yer Bike' cycle centre based in Burnley will also provide the cyclists with energy bars and equipment.

Gibson revealed: "We will be setting off from Honiton in Devon, where we will be seen off by the South West Clarets.

"The next stopover will be in Salisbury before we head to London where we hope to meet up with the London Clarets.

"Then it's off to Milton Keynes for the next night and then to meet the West Midlands Clarets at Coventry.

"The next stopover is near Knutsford in Cheshire and then it's on to Turf Moor in time for the game with Sunderland.

"We are hoping to raise over £10,000 for the cause and people can still sponsor us by contacting the club."

Gibson added: "We'd like to thank everyone who has sponsored us for the trip and of course all the supporters who are making the journey themselves.

"David Fishwick has kindly given us a minibus which will be driven by Ian Duerden throughout the week, whilst 'On Yer Bike' have also been a great help."

Fishwick himself added: "This is a tough challenge for all the riders and we wish them all the best.

"It's a great cause and one we are delighted to be associated with."

Awards night hits snag

BURNLEY'S player of the season awards night has been postponed following complications over the staging of the event.

As I understand it, the various official supporters groups were all in favour of changing the format of the traditional awards evening, which was pencilled in for Monday, May 10.

However, Turf Moor chief executive Dave Edmundson claims he is now unable to meet the demands of fans and has therefore decided to cancel the ceremony entirely rather than risk staging a "second rate" event.

Edmundson said: "This is entirely my decision. After discussions with the various supporters organisations, I wanted to put a prestigious player of the year awards night together.

"However, it has become clear for several reasons that we cannot do that and it would not have been the quality event I, or the supporters would have hoped for.

"In my role trying to take this club to a new level of excellence, I was not prepared to accept something second rate, so I have taken the decision not to hold the event

"I do not feel I can do my best for the fans on this occasion and I want to ensure we can plan to hold a better organised event in line with our own improvement in customer satisfaction."

Edmundson added that the decision was made while Burnley's First Division future was not secured, adding fears that such an event would be a "non-celebratory evening".

However, he hopes a supporters evening can now be arranged for pre-season, before the next campaign gets underway.

Supporters groups, however, still plan to name their various players of the year, although no official presentations are planned.

Stewart snubbed

FORMER Burnley target Michael Stewart has had his loan spell at Nottingham Forest cut short by mutual consent.

Fans might remember that last summer, Clarets chief Stan Ternent thought he had persuaded Manchester United to loan him the fiery midfielder for a season.

However, Stewart had a last minute change of heart and elected to join First Division rivals Forest instead.

But City new Ground chief Joe Kinnear, who earlier this year replaced Paul Hart - the man who landed Stewart - has now revealed: "I had a long chat with Michael and we decided it was best for all concerned if he returned to Manchester United."

Stewart returns to Old Trafford having started only 11 league games all season and failing to feature at all in 2004.

Cheer on the play-off winners

IT'S almost a decade since Burnley famously earned promotion to Division One by beating Stockport at Wembley.

And on the 10th anniversary of the play-off victory, Clarets stars of yesteryear are set to be re-united in celebration of a memorable day.

The Class of 1994 are being brought together for a gala dinner in the James Hargreaves Stand at Turf Moor on Sunday, May 30 - and supporters can join in the fun.

Tickets are still on sale for the event, which is being attended by Wembley goalscorers David Eyres and Gary Parkinson, as well as the entire Clarets side that defeated County 2-1 on a never-to-be forgotten day in the capital.

Norman Prince will MC the evening, with Peter Swan the guest speaker. Tickets, which are already selling fast, cost £25 per head, with table of 10 still available for £250.

For all bookings, contact Veronica Simpson on 07974 310099.