MOST Clarets fans feel the team's ill-fated return to the first division in 1994-5 is best forgotten. But not Stephen Cummings, author of 'Burnley Were Back!'

The book, a game-by-game account of the relegation season, is just out and, despite its depressing subject matter, is sure to be a hit with supporters.

It's not a dry, statistical record of the season, but an entertaining and witty piece of writing which is full of shrewd observation and amusing comment.

For Stephen, 28, researching the book was the fulfilment of a lifetime's ambition. "I had always wanted to see every single game in a season," he told the Citizen. "But it was only recently that I was able to afford it."

Stephen, of Manchester Road, Burnley, graduated in English language and literature from the University of Central Lancashire in 1994.

"I wanted to write a book with a bit of colour, one which would show what every game is like from a fan's perspective. It's most likely to appeal to Burnley fans but as it's about Burnley being relegated, I suppose a few Blackburn fans might enjoy it!"

Stephen, who works for the Crown Prosecution Service, wrote his match memoirs as the season progressed, working from memory after each encounter.

Here's a taster, from the FA Cup tie at Anfield in February 1995: "For a short while, things looked good. In a tremendous three-minute spell, Robinson thundered a thirty-yard piledriver against the crossbar, Davis chipped the keeper from the edge of the box and rippled the back of the net, and Eyres slotted home from the penalty spot. It was unfortunate, then, that the warm up had to end and the match begin."

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