AS one of the pioneers of professionalism and a founder member of the world's first league-based Association FootbalI Competition, Burnley Football Club's history is rich in wonderful players, colourful coaches and managers, flamboyant and notorious characters as well as more journeymen individuals who have all played their part in the club's various ups and downs. Over the years the club has won the FA Cup, fielded multi-international sides, provided the captain of England, as well as the Footballer of the Year, won championships of four different divisions and has also been instrumental in changes in the rules of the game itself. Burnley FC has played, and is playing, its full part in the game's continued development and, as such, has a history most clubs would envy. The recent purchase by Burnley FC of important historical (and valuable) artefacts at Sothebys has demonstrated the commitment of the board of directors to the development in the longer term of a permanent Turf Moor museum, to provide interest and enjoyment for football fans in general and Burnley fans in particular of all ages.

The proposal of such a facility has already received the full backing of all recognised Burnley FC supporters' groups and has also been welcomed by Mr Mike Townend, local historian based at Towneley Hall, who is acting as an adviser to the project. We at the club are certain that the project will be supported by all Clarets fans and to gauge the level of interest in the town and surrounding area it is planned to stage a temporary exhibition this coming summer within Turf Moor. The exhibition, which will be co-ordinated by Ex-Clarets in Sport, will feature memorabilia with a Burnley FC connection from all eras of the club's history and we hope that anyone who owns interesting and relevant items will be prepared to loan them for display.

All items offered for exhibition will, of course, remain the property of the owner and will be kept in secure conditions at all times. More details of the exhibition will be published soon, but in the first instance please make contact with me if you have items that you are prepared to make available for a wider audience to enjoy.

RAY SIMPSON, Burnley FC Historian, Turf Moor, Burnley. Tel (01282) 690709 (evenings).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.