IN terms of the overall history of Burnley Football Club the winning of the last ever fourth division championship might seem small beer.

After all Turf Moor was home to one of the great teams of the 1960s, champions of England, early pioneers in European football.

But the genuine warmth of the welcome for the members of the 1991-92 side that won that final title was hard to ignore as 400 devoted Clarets welcomed the squad back to Burnley to mark the ten-year anniversary.

And if anyone was left in any doubt about the importance of team spirit to the success of any club, they should have been there on Sunday evening.

For many of the players it was the first time that they had seen the others for several years and yet within a matter of minutes it was as if they had never been apart.

There may have been no smell of sweaty kit, no whiff of winter green, no steam creeping out of the showers but there was no mistaking the dressing room spirit that helped inspire the Clarets to glory.

It was enough to make grown men cry and in the case of the manager behind the triumph Jimmy Mullen, it did. He had not been back to Turf since his ignominious departure and the emotion certainly got to him.

But how he, his staff, the players and the fans loved it. For those long suffering supporters it was the chance to relive those past glories, the chance to meet and greet the players they roared on against the likes of Cardiff, Maidstone and Hereford.

How timely it was for the reunion to take place with the next game being so crucial in the push for the ultimate prize, a place in the Premier League.

How far the club has come in the past decade, building on the success of men like John Pender, Ian Measham and Roger Eli.

Could it be possible that in another ten years Ian Cox, Kevin Ball and even Paul Gascoigne will be replying to invites to mark the ten year anniversary of the Clarets' return to the top flight.

If that should happen only two players will be able to say they were at both events - skipper Steve Davis and midfielder Paul Weller, one of the 1991-92 youth squad under Harry Wilson.

It is a tribute to both men that they have served the club so well over so many years, Davis in two spells interrupted by a few seasons with Luton Town.

And if a 44-year-old Gazza was to come back for a big reunion party, it is safe to assume it will be a night to remember.