"SEIZE the chance and head for Wembley" is Ian Britton's message to Burnley's glory-chasers before their Auto Windscreens northern semi-final clash with Preston next week.

Britton went all the way to the Twin Towers with the Clarets in 1988 when they played in front of over 80,000 fans in the final of the competition, then called the Sherpa Van Trophy.

Despite losing 2-0 to Wolves, Britton ranks it as one of the highlights of his career and is urging the class of '98 to share the experience.

"For the lower clubs it's a great incentive and one of the few chances they will get. You get a great following and it's great for the team and the town.

"It was the first time a lot of the lads had been there when we went. It was unfortunate that we lost but there were 88,000 there to watch two Fourth Division clubs which will probably never happen again," said Britton, who had previously played at Wembley for Scotland schoolboys.

"It was a big thing, especially for Burnley.

"We nearly got relegated out of the league the year before and then we got to Wembley so it was a big turnaround."

Then, as now, Preston stood in the way of Burnley's quest to reach the final. For Brian Miller's side, however, the derby clash came over two legs in the northern final.

And Burnley looked to be on their way out after being held 0-0 at Turf Moor before going through in extra-time in front of a crowd of 17,952. "I think Preston had started to get their suits ready straight away," recalled Britton.

"I suppose we were underdogs after drawing at home but we went to Deepdale and won.

"We took the lead through George Oghani in the first half. I don't like to say I laid on the pass but I did and it was 1-0 at half-time.

"They equalised but Paul Comstive scored the second and Ashley Hoskin put it beyond them."

Burnley's semi-final in 1988 went to penalties after a goalless two hours against Halifax Town at Turf Moor, Britton scoring the third spot-kick in a 5-3 triumph.

There will definitely be a result next Tuesday night as well, with a golden goal or penalties deciding who will face Blackpool or Grimsby in the northern final.

And Britton believes Burnley have every chance of turning the clock back 10 years given their current run of form.

The former Chelsea and Blackpool midfielder, who will have a night off from taking training as manager at Nelson FC to be a guest at the game on Tuesday, added: "They just needed a bit of luck to string a few wins together and hopefully they will go from strength to strength. When you look from top to bottom in their division if you can put a few wins together there's not a lot in it.

"If they could get five wins like they have on this run they will be there in the play-offs."

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