MARK YATES is determined to silence his Turf Moor critics by knocking his former club out of the FA Cup.

The 31-year-old - who turns 32 tomorrow - will face Burnley for the first time since he left the club in 1993 when he lines up for Cheltenham in the FA Cup fourth round at Whaddon Road on Sunday.

He knows he didn't perform anywhere near his best in claret and blue - and now is determined to show the Turf fans that they missed the best of him.

"I was only 21 or 22 when I was at Turf Moor and I had a great time but on the playing side I did not do myself justice," said Yates, who was bought by Frank Casper for £40,000 in August 1991.

"I remember coming from Birmingham, walking round the pitch, seeing the Bob Lord Stand and thinking 'Yes, this is for me'. It is a massive club.

"But the fans didn't see the best of me. I know I could have done better but ten years down the line I don't think I have got anything to prove.

"The Burnley fans may give me a bit of stick but I want to show them that I can play better than when I was at Turf Moor. I am playing better now."

It's a dream tie for Yates - and one he had predicted - after Cheltenham beat Second Division Oldham 2-1 in round three.

"When we beat Oldham on the Sunday one of the physios was leaving so the players, the manager and the board went out for the drink so we were all together with the supporters when we heard the draw.

"They all wanted Manchester United or Newcastle for a big pay day.

"But I had said to my wife a couple of days before that I wanted Burnley at Turf Moor as I have never been back as a player. That would have been the icing on the cake for me.

"But drawing Burnley at Whaddon Road is the next best thing."

And another former Burnley man hopes to get some revenge on the Clarets for letting him go all those years ago.

Defender Neil Howarth, originally from Bolton, only played one senior game at Turf Moor in his six years there. He went onto Macclesfield, and then eventually came to Cheltenham.

"He's my best mate," said Yates. "He only lives round the corner. I was with Neil at Burnley and we got friendly because we spent a lot of time in the reserves together!

"I kept in touch with him when he went to Macclesfield and I was at Kidderminster.

"I signed for Cheltenham in January 1999 and Neil came soon after. The gaffer had asked me about him and I recommended him.

"Neil was playing regularly and then got injured at the beginning of November and another lad came in and did well.

"So he is kicking his heels at the moment waiting to get his chance.

"He would love to do it on Sunday as Neil has fond memories of life at Turf Moor as well."

Despite a torrid time at Burnley, Yates says it was a great part of his life.

"I remember I only made about 20 starts - about 35 appearances - in my first season there.

"I had a good time, the team spirit was great and there were some good players with the likes of Micky Conroy, Steve Davis and Ian Measham.

"I remember my debut at Doncaster where I scored. The ball came over, I broke away from the half way line, beat the off-side trap and put it in. I remember it well as I think it was the only one I scored for Burnley!

"There was also the FA Cup run with Derby and the fog and then, of course, winning the last Division Four championship which I had contributed to.

"It is something that someone can never take away from me and I still have the medal!

"I enjoyed playing with Mike Conroy, just watching his finish was something special.

"And Steve Davis, he has done so well and I have followed his career. He has gone on to bigger and better things, it will be good to see him.

"And John Deary, he was the joker in the pack."

But things didn't work out following that first championship-winning season.

"Jimmy Mullin came in after Frank Casper and he had different ideas which I accepted, that's just part of football.

"But I couldn't sit on the subs bench and even though I was offered a new contract, I knew I needed first team football.

"When I look back, I regret not being more involved, especially the following year when we got promoted. I think I had more to offer and maybe I should have stayed, signed the contract and fought for my place. But I didn't."

So off he went to Doncaster.

"I didn't really enjoy my time there. I played around 30-odd games but it was nothing like Burnley. It just seemed so un-professional.

"I was there with Ian Measham when he injured his neck. It was touch and go for a while whether he would be paralysed. That was awful.

"I then spent four and half years at Kidderminster in the Conference. We finished second a couple times and it was good.

"I didn't mind semi-professional football, it was one of those things. I worked on the sales side in a printing works, it was a good job."

He moved to Cheltenham in 1999, the year they got promoted and he had no qualms giving it up to go back full-time when the Robins got promoted into the Football League.

"My wife was expecting a baby so it was also a chance to spend more time with them.

"Being at Cheltenham has been great. I have only missed three games in two and a half seasons there.

"Not many people get a second chance in professional football but I have signed another three year contract so I still have more than two years here. I have virtually been an ever present and I have loved it."

And, while he is looking forward to renewing some old acquaintances, he is not going to give much to his old pals on the pitch.

"I know Steve Davis and Paul Weller from my Burnley days and Dean West as I was on loan at Lincoln with him.

"I always look for their results and I am pleased to see Burnley where they are, up there challenging for a possible Premiership place.

"The club deserves it and the fans. I hope they get there but I hope we knock them out of the Cup on Sunday!"