CUMMINGS AND GOINGS with Stephen Cummings
MUCH more of this, and predictions of mere safety will need to be revised. First, a well-earned point at last year's FA Cup and play-off semi-finalists. Then on Saturday the taking of a major scalp in the form of Wimbledon.
The victory was notable for many reasons; three points won deservedly from a team who were tussling with Premiership opponents three months ago, Paul Weller's remarkable match-winner (dubbed 'goal of the day' in Sunday's Observer), and for older supporters a belated sense of revenge for our humbling FA Cup exit at the hands of the then non-league Dons in 1974.
At the centre of Burnley's success lies a delicious irony. For years Wimbledon have enjoyed trashing reputations. On Saturday they were given a taste of their own medicine.
Ternent will have enjoyed the win more than most. It was a victory crafted in the image of the man himself. Honest endeavour and hard work were the foundations on which the triumph was built.
They were the same kind of qualities Paul Weller has presumably used to fight back from his career threatening illness. In the last two games, Weller looks as though he may have a major role to play this season. If he can reproduce this form consistently Burnley will benefit majorly. Pleasingly, progress on the field is being matched off it. The addition of Chris Duckworth to the board appears to be a step in the right direction. As does the announcement of ambitious plans to buy out and relocate Burnley Cricket Club and increase Turf Moor's capacity to 30,000.
Unfortunately, one local councillor disagrees, claiming in the local press that: "Heritage is being destroyed."
This is both contentious and starkly at odds with the cricket club chairman's view: "This is an outstanding opportunity for our club and, indeed, for the town of Burnley in general."
The councillor also fears for the future of Burnley's annual fair which takes place at the proposed site for the cricket club's new ground. Of course, he is right.
Who would deny a whole generation of kids the pure adrenalin rush of paying £2 to throw three wooden balls at a two-year-old coconut glued to a stand?
So, either Burnley get a 30,000 capacity stadium, the cricket club get a state of the art ground at no expense to themselves and construction jobs are created in the town or, we get to keep the coconut shy. Tough choice, eh councillor?
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