TODAY was the day that Rovers and Burnley fans had been looking forward to.

The fixtures for the new season have pitted the arch rivals against each other for the first time in more than 17 years.

Turf Moor will host the first clash on December 16 while Ewood Park will stage the return match on March 31, 2001.

Both sets of fans today said they could not wait for the games -- but warned against impending trouble.

Rovers supporter David Stevens, 68, a retired driver for British Gas, of Spring Lane, Blackburn, said: "I have been to Burnley many times over the years and there never used to be any trouble. We used to go drinking in the pub before the game and it was all good fun. I'm looking forward to the matches and I will definitely be going.

"I just hope it is played in the good nature like it should be. We have been neighbours long enough."

Burnley fan Lesley Barnsley, 36, who lives near Turf Moor, said: "I think they will be exciting matches, but I wouldn't like to say there will be no trouble. I remember going to Ewood Park to watch Burnley, but it's a very long time ago."

Mum Bev Watson, of Rogersfield, Langho, said her Rovers-mad teenage son Blake had been looking forward to his first derby for years. At 16, Blake, who recently left Ribblesdale High School, Clitheroe, was not even born the last time the rivals met. "He is really excited about the Burnley match and will be going with his friend Gary Shannon and Gary's dad. I will be concerned about him because it is Burnley and there has always been rivalry between the two, but Blake's a sensible lad."

Butcher Neil Sledding, a Burnley fan, said: "They were talking about banning away fans at one point, but I don't think they should do that. There will be trouble near the ground because we haven't played them for so long and people have grown up with that local hatred."

Tony Openshaw, an officer for Blackburn with Darwen Council, has been following the fortunes of Rovers for more than a decade.

He said: "It's going to be a major derby and the whole First Division will be interesting this year with all the local clubs. I am hoping there won't be any trouble and I'm looking forward to going."

Mark Briggs, 42, of Burnley, said: "I do anticipate trouble unfortunately -- but it depends on how it is policed. It's also how it's organised in the town centre because there will be a lot of pre-match build up."

Rovers fan Stuart Mitchell predicted that the games would be tight.

"I think it will be a draw," said Stuart, 16, of Coronation Avenue, Blackburn.

"Both teams will be desperate to beat each other and I think they will cancel each other out. I've never been to a derby before but I know all about the rivalry between the two."

Peter Grogan, 38, of Coal Clough Lane, Burnley, said: "I'm glad Burnley have gone up, but I think they will have some tough games. It's when you come out of the ground that the hooligans spoil it."