Turf Beat

Flying winger set to take off again

BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent has backed Luke Chadwick to rediscover his hot streak.

Clarets winger Chadwick this week admitted suffering a dip in form following a slower than expected recovery from the toe injury first sustained against Millwall almost three months ago.

The on-loan Manchester United winger has since started just seven games. But Ternent believes a storming return to form is just around the corner for the former England U21 winger.

Ternent said: "All players go through little dips throughout the season. Whatever you do for a living, some days you feel good and other days it doesn't work for you.

"Luke will come out of it, there's no question about that."

Chadwick himself continues to love life at Burnley - despite the culture shock of swapping United's state-of-the-art Carrington training facility for the harsher realities of life at boggy Gawthorpe.

Chadwick, 23, said: "I love being part of a first team squad and playing football week in and week out.

"Even though I'm not playing too well at the moment, I'm loving every single second of it.

"It's a great experience for me, even though it's a bit of a culture shock when you are used to life at Manchester United.

"But in any walk of life a football club is a football club and when you are playing football every day - obviously not with the same facilities - you still want the same thing.

"Winning games is what really matters and that goes for Burnley or Manchester United."

Communication remains rife between Chadwick and his Old Trafford colleagues. Many of Alex Ferguson's players have a healthy interest in how Chadwick, and former United stars David May and Lee Roche, are progressing at Turf Moor.

And Chadwick just hopes reports of some recent displays do not find themselves winging their way to the top brass at United's Carrington HQ.

He explained: "I still keep in touch with a lot of the the lads at United. They are enjoying life at the moment at the top of the Premiership and playing brilliantly, so it's great for them and great for me to see.

"They are interested in how we are doing too, especially the likes of David, Lee and myself.

"A few of the lads also know some of the coaches at Burnley, and obviously the manager is close to Sir Alex, so it's quite a tight knit connection between the two clubs.

"I don't speak to Sir Alex that regularly with being here at Burnley. But I would imagine he will be keeping tracks on how I'm playing and no doubt he won't be very pleased with me at the moment.

"Hopefully I can put that right by getting back to my best soon!"

Jensen gets a baby boom

IT'S certainly been an eventful new year for Clarets keeper Brian Jensen. Two clean shets have provided the perfect pick-me-up to 2004.

And the Dane hopes to be celebrating even more at the end of the month as his wife gives birth to the couple's first child.

Jensen, who revealed that personal issues surrounding the pregnancy have affected the settling in process at Burnley, said: "It's taken a little while because there have been a few personal problems.

"But everything is sorted now and it's only a couple of weeks until the baby should arrive, so I'm pleased."

Clarets boss Stan Ternent has been a constant figure of support throughout the Jensen family trauma.

And he moved to defend the keeper from criticism from certain sections of the Turf Moor crowd.

Ternent added: "To put it mildly, Brian has had a traumatic first half of the season, but he seems to be settling in nicely now.

"He's had some personal problems, but his wife is expecting a baby in the next two-and-a-half weeks and they have been through a lot with that.

"Everything seems to be okay at the moment, but there a lot of things people don't know about, because all they are concerned about is an hour-and-a-half on a Saturday afternoon."

On the up

TWO wins in a week have finally lifted Burnley Reserves off the foot of the Pontins League table.

Ronnie Jepson's side followed up their 2-0 win at Huddersfield with an even more impressive victory at table-topping Walsall. The Clarets second string are next in action at home to Preston North End in a mini-derby on Wednesday, January 28 (7pm).

Good Lord, it's Warsteiner

CLUB chiefs are raising a toast to Warsteiner, who have signed a deal to sponsor the Bob Lord Stand for a further three years, starting from the season 2004/2005.

Clarets chief executive Dave Edmundson said: "Thwaites have been a fantastic partner for Burnley Football Club and this renewed commitment is an indication of their confidence that Burnley FC will come through their current problems.

"Thwaites have rallied to our cause and we are extremely grateful to them."

Thwaites, who are sole importers and main distributor of Warsteiner in the UK, were today expected to make a cheque presentation during the First Division fixture with West Bromwich Albion.

Thwaites sales director, Brian Jenkins, added: "We are absolutely delighted to continue our partnership with Burnley Football Club.

"It's a winning team and we see Burnley FC as an ideal vehicle for the promotion of Warsteiner throughout the North West of England."

Er..thanks for that, Palace!

APPARENTLY, Burnley is a word that carries real clout in a small part of South London!

Crystal Palace carry a matchday programme feature on their opponents, posing the question 'Friend or Foe?'

We thankfully come into the former category due to past results - or at least I think that's what they are trying to say in this extract...

"Imagine if SE25 was transformed into a country with its own district langauge. A beginers guide to the lingo might focus on fundemental words such as 'Supa Al', 'Big Mal', '9-0', or 'team of the eighties'.

"In my view, 'Burnley' must be the first utterance from any student of SE25 - a word deeply rooted in our vocabulary.

"The dictionary defines 'Burnley' as "a supremely joyous event encapsulating everything that is magnificent about life at the time".

Answers on a postcard please....

Bid to ease financial crisis

ONE generous Clarets fan has already demonstrated his support to help Burnley's financial plight by donating a fantastic prize to the club, to auction off to raise funds.

The highest bidder will be involved in presenting midfielder Richard Chaplow with the PFA Divisional Player of the Month Award for December at the FA Cup match against Gillingham next weekend.

The winning fan will also be given the red carpet treatment at Turf Moor, with a hospitality package including a three-course meal, ground tour and match ticket for the executive area included.

The auction can be accessed on the QXL website (www.qxl.co.uk). For more details contact the marketing department on 0870 443 1882 (option 6).

Pool resources

GOOD to see the Burnley players have a competitive streak off the pitch as well as on it.

Paul Weller and Glen Little often indulge themselves in a spot of afternoon pool following training - and there are no prizes for guessing who came out on top in the latest showdown.

Glen was being interviewed on camera in the players tunnel earlier this week when Weller emerged from the dressing room grinning like a Cheshire cat and repeatedly chanting at the top of his voice: "Champion."

More incredibly, Glen was rendered speechless - for a second anyway!

Time to go now!

BURNLEY Football Supporters Club have announced travel times for the upcoming First Division clash at Wigan on Saturday, January 31.

Coaches depart as follows: Colne bus station noon, Nelson bus station 12.10pm, Queensgate 12.20pm, Turf Moor 12.30pm, Tim Bobbin 12.40pm, Rawtenstall 12.55pm.

All bookings to Robinsons Tours on 01254 880305 (day) or Yvonne Hudson, 01282 696947 (evening).

Discounts still on

BURNLEY fans can still take advantage of the club shop sale, with massive discounts made on many items of official club merchandise.

For more details, call the Clarets Superstore on 0870 443 1882 (option 0).