Cummings and Goings - a fan's-eye view, with Stephen Cummings

WHEN you bear in mind that it's an everyday occurrence, you might have thought I would have got used to it by now, and found a way of dealing with the problem.

But no: I'm afraid it still manages to get under my skin, still manages to irritate me to the point of distraction - so much so in fact that I'm often inclined to go on some kind of insane rant about it which leaves me apoplectic with rage, ruddy-cheeked and often foaming around the mouth.

I refer, of course, to that most heinous of crimes - wearing the strip of a football team other than that of your home town club. Even in a town so partisan in its footballing beliefs as this Claret and Blue quarter of East Lancashire, this disturbing trend continues to grow unchecked.

Should anyone doubt this, I would invite them to take a walk around Burnley's town centre. Their path will be strewn with replica kits of Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle United and worst of all (given the local rivalry), Blackburn Rovers! That the majority of these tops are sported by pre-pubescents is something which speaks volumes. It is clear to me that the blame lies with the parents. For which self-respecting Clarets fans amongst us would ever allow our offspring to lend its support to any team other than Burnley?

The moment a child is born, for example, it should be indoctrinated in the ways of the Clarets. Its first meaningful words should not be "mummy" or "daddy," but the surnames of the 1914 FA Cup winning team.

But what is particularly galling about the current rash of juvenile Premiership wannabees, is the cost to Burnley Football Club itself. Because for every year that the Clarets spend in the wilderness of the basement divisions, another potential section of young support is lost to the more glamorous top flight clubs.

This also has a long-term effect. Because whilst Burnley are currently able to attract around 10,000 for every home game, this figure will fall and fall the longer the Clarets remain in the lower leagues.

Only one factor will ensure healthy support - success. What better way to boost the club's popularity, especially with the younger audience, than with a trip to Wembley?

It almost sounds surreal, but the AWS tonight could be Burnley's salvation.

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