At work over the years I have always claimed to Everton, Spurs fans and the like that it has been more enjoyable being a Burnley fan than if I had chosen another club way back when I chose claret and blue as my go to club colour. This was way back when I went on my first game, a 4-1 at home against Gillingham in the old 4th division. Mick Conroy got a hat trick that day and that season was the beginning of my Burnley journey.

I ask the mainstays of the premier League, Everton Spurs and such, in those years of me having so many ups, a few downs, last day dramas, what have you as s supporter really had to cheer about. I feel privileged to be a Burnley fan and don't think from that season to now any other club has really been on the journey we have been on.

Regards where we came from, where we are, what we have won, has any other club been as successful in moments like we have with experiences of visiting top top teams and beating them on their patch, trophies won, records made?

That Gillingham game was good !! One of our only highlights against them tbh lol

Yeah it was a great game, before the game my Dad took me on the market to get a shirt off Peter Noble, who I was clueless too at the time. So so so many memories made since that day

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Sun May 04, 2025 4:35 pm

That Gillingham game was good !! One of our only highlights against them tbh lol

Aye, they bashed us up 3-0 in the return. That was a long Tuesday night trip to Kent!

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Sun May 04, 2025 5:23 pm

Aye, they bashed us up 3-0 in the return. That was a long Tuesday night trip to Kent!

indeed, I've never seen us win there - I don't think many have tbh

Being a lifelong Claret has certainly allowed me to experience the complete polar opposites of football. I think fans of for instance Arsenal who have never been through a relegation are missing out in some way. I have experienced the extremes of 10 promotions and 10 relegations, I have seen us win at both Wembley stadiums and lose at Scarborough, I have seen us play in the quarter final of a major European competition and beaten by a non-league team in the FA Cup, I have seen us as a team to be feared in the top tier and as one game away from losing league status and extinction. So I think going through the lows makes the highs seem all the sweeter. This season I have found the steady “it’s a marathon not a sprint” kind of progress we made very satisfying to see. Someone asked me not long ago if I wished I had supported one of the “big” clubs - not a chance. Being a Claret with all its ups and downs has been a massive part of my life and will continue to be so.

Being a claret is a lifetime of sweet and sour. It's the football equivalent of travelling the most extreme theme park ride.