IN newspaper terms Burnley is what is known as a "good news" club.

That is not to say that the news is always good, in fact for much of the last 20 years it has mainly been bad, the fact is there is always something happening.

That is why it was no great surprise that the team that David Platt pulled out of the bowl to face the Clarets at Turf Moor in the FA Cup third round was the only non-league side guaranteed to still be in the competition, Ryman League leaders Canvey Island.

The champagne was still flowing in the Park Lane dressing room as the players celebrated the victory over Northampton Town that took the Gulls to the third round for the first time in the club's 75 year history.

In the run up to the match at the start of january there will doubtless be masses of publicity surrounding a club that sprung to national prominence last season with a giant-killing act at Port Vale and then their FA Trophy triumph at Villa Park.

But certain parts of the club's history will remain a secret as their early records were lost when in severe floods almost half a century ago.

The glory days have all come in the last few years as the club has risen through the non-league pyramid to a position where they sit proudly on top of the Ryman Premier League today.

The management team of boss Jeff King and coach Glenn Pennyfather has assembled a squad that looks to be well capable of winning the title and giving the Clarets a run for their money in the Cup.

Last season was the best in the club's history and hopes are high that this one will be even better.

There can be no doubting their cup fighting pedigree after the remarkable run to the FA Trophy final last season. It took them nine games to get there and they managed to beat Forest Green Rovers 1-0.

Burnley fans may have known nothing about the Essex club before the cup draw was made but it is a safe bet they will know them well enough by the time they meet at Turf Moor.