Turf Beat

Check in on your rival supporters

NO-ONE likes us ... we don't care!

A recent football fans census has confirmed Burnley as one of the biggest rivals for many northern clubs.

Unsurprisingly, the recent survey of 2,800 football fans the length and breadth of the country put Manchester United atop a comprehensive list of who other clubs view as their biggest, or secondary rivals, having a total of seven.

And second in the list of all 92 Premiership and Nationwide League clubs come the Clarets - with six clubs naming Stan Ternent's side as their main adversaries.

Blackburn form the obvious connection, with Stockport and Halifax Town also nominating Burnley as their biggest rivals.

Preston, Blackpool and Rochdale also join the list by declaring the Clarets as their second enemies.

Burnley fans quizzed repaid the compliment by naming Blackburn Rovers as their number one rivals.

Preston came in second and Blackpool were third.

There are many other headline statistics thrown up by the survey. Among them are:

Both Burnley and Blackburn fall into the group of 44 teams (less than half) who are involved in such a two-way rivalry.

71 per cent would support the opposition if their main rivals were playing in Europe.

40 per cent of fans do not have a second team and 43 per cent would not follow another club if their own ceased to exist.

45 per cent see history and tradition as the main reason their rivals are so, while for 35 per cent it is because they are the closest club geographically.

Only seven per cent of fans feel the rivalry is mainly based on competitive closeness or league position.

Three per cent of fans feel that rivalry plays a significant part in leading to football violence, just over half feels it plays a small part.

However, 71 per cent feel that on the whole, the positives of football rivalry outweighed the negatives. Only four per cent disagree.

SEARCH for star lift-off

BURNLEY have confirmed the course details for the Soccer Star scheme that could earn one lucky youngster a one-year training contract with the club.

Anyone aged between six and 14 can attend the courses, which take place at dozens of venues around East Lancashire over the coming months.

All children will need suitable clothing for their selected venue, along with a packed lunch and any medication required.

Details for February are: Turf Moor Leisure Centre (Burnley and Padiham) 16, 17, 18, 10am to 3pm, £27, indoor; South Craven High School (Keighley and Skipton), 16 and 17, 11am to 2.30pm, £18, (indoor/outdoor); St James the Less Primary (Rossendale and Todmorden) 16, 17, 18, 10am to 2pm, £27, (outdoor); Peel Park Primary (Hyndburn & Ribble Valley), 17, 18, 19, 10am to 2pm, £27, (outdoor); West Craven Leisure Centre (Nelson Colne & Barnoldswick), 18, 19, 10am to 2pm, £18 (indoor); Ermysted GS (Keighley & Skipton), 18 and 19, 11am to 3pm, £18 (indoor/outdoor); Turf Moor Leisure Centre, 19 and 20, 10am to 3pm, £18, (indoor).

Details of courses for April and June to follow next week. For more information, contact the club on 0870 443 1882, or write for a form to Soccer Schools, BFC Community Programme, Turf Moor, Burnley, BB10 4BX.

Seats for the Den

BURNLEY have been allocated just 836 unreserved seats for the forthcoming First Division game at Millwall on Saturday, February 28.

Season ticket holders, Foundation members and shareholders can purchase tickets from from Tuesday, February 17, £17 (adults), £11 (over 65s), £8 (U16s).

Season ticket holders require voucher R, while Foundation members must apply via the Foundation manager and shareholders via Cathy Pickup (secretary).

All remaining tickets will go on general sale from Monday, February 23.

Disabled supporters: Free for wheelchair, £15/£5 for adult/concession helper. To book places contact Georgina Gray at Millwall on 020 7232 1222.

Let's set the record straight in cup chaos

BURNLEY fans are still in the dark over whether they will be paying two trips to the New Den in less than a fortnight.

The Lions will hope to finally play their fourth round tie at Telford this Wednesday evening following two postponements.

Confusion seems to be reigning over the effects of this on Burnley's forthcoming fixtures, so here is the definitive situation as it stands.

Burnley's scheduled First Division game at Reading, on Saturday , February 14, has definitely been postponed and put back to Tuesday February 24 (8pm KO).

This will allow the Clarets to face either Telford or Millwall on Saturday 14th in the FA Cup fifth round.

However, should Telford and Millwall require a replay, that will take place on fifth round day and Burnley will therefore have a free Saturday.

In that event, a provisional date has been set for Burnley to then travel to the winners the following Wednesday, February 18, subject to police permission.

If local police do not give permission for this date, we would then play the winners on Wednesday February 25 - shunting back the Reading game again.

Got all that?

However, I'll leave the final word to a Millwall fan discussing the situation with a Burnley counterpart on a fans message board.

He moaned: "Spare a thought for us! We don't know whether we are playing you lot in the fifth round, Rotherham in the league, Telford at home in a replay or Telford away in yet another re-arrangement of the original tie!"

Quite!

Just the spirit from Jessica

THE fund-raising goes on, but Stan Ternent recently got some correspondence with a difference from Clarets fan Jessica Flintoff.

The nine-year-old included £21.70 inside a letter that read:

Dear Stan. I am a season ticket holder at Burnley and I don't know what it would be like if Burnley Football Club wasn't here. I don't know what I would do - I might even have to go to school. I have saved this money from what I have left from Christmas.'

Clarets chief executive Dave Edmundson, who was handed the cash for his fighting fund, said: "That is the spirit of Burnley that has never been broken.

"I have also visited a 70-year old pensioner on disability pension who told me if I came to collect the money, I could have it.

"He said he saved his pension for Christmas presents and for his season ticket, but the presents could wait because Burnley Football Club means more.

"That cannot be bought, so small amounts still count."

Accy have it all mapped out

ACCRINGTON Clarets have already pre-planned their transport for the FA Cup fifth round tie, irrespective of the opponents.

Things may change given a replay, but the supporters club need to finalise numbers, so fans are asked to secure their place by calling Phil Miller on 01254 301605.

If the opponents are Telford the coach will leave The Stanley Pub, Stanley St, Accrington at 9.30am.

If it's Millwall it will leave the same venue at 7am. The coach is open to both members and non-members.

Ellis on the mark

RADIO reporter to Sam Ellis: "Robbie Blake was outstanding in the FA Cup tie against Gillingham. Do you expect him to be more tightly marked (today)?

Sam: "He will be very tighly marked. He's suspended, so I'm marking him!"

Doh!

Reserve switch

BURNLEY Reserves' Pontins Premier Division game at Bradford, postponed last Tuesday due to a waterlogged pitch, will now be played at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium this Tuesday, 10 February, (KO 7pm).