Why do you support Burnley?

[ecc]

Obvious question for most of us as we're "not a big club".

Born in the area but family moved south when I was just a few months old, so it was up to my Dad to pass on the faith. It wasn't a discussion; I would support Burnley. Was hard at school when I admitted the fact but have no regrets whatsoever.

Oddly enough, my Dad's father hated football and his only brother preferred Nelson.

[Volvoclaret]

Born in Rossendale, Grandad, Dad and Uncle all Clarets. It's in the DNA

[BigF]

My town, my club. !!

[ClaretDiver]

When I was a nipper growing up in Clitheroe a bigger mate offered to take me to a match…Burnley through and through from that day….could so easily have been the bastards if my dad had his way lol

[Bosscat]

1st taken on in the late 60's, fell out with football when I discovered Beer, Motorbikes and Girls in the early 70's ... a mate asked if I wanted to go on in the early 1990's to a Tuesday night match as they had a spare seat in the car... 3 weeks later I ordered a season ticket for the following season ... and the rest is history.

[miele-man]

Proud Yorkshireman from Gargrave (Skipton)
My dad took me when I was about 9 and as I grew older most of the local lads supported Burnley so we all went , I moved over to Harrogate and still try to get to a few games .

[Devils_Advocate]

Grew up in Burnley but didn't have much interest in football as a kid (full of hooligans plus Burnley was sh*t). When Sky launched the Premier League I got a little more interested and then when Coyle took us to the promised land I got the bug.

Moved to Leeds in my mid 20's so got a soft spot for them and hopefully this season both my teams will get promoted

[Stubsy]

Harry Brown and his lads.

[vinrogue]

Grandad born in Burnley, grew up in a Claret n Blue family paradise in the Burnley, Colne and Nelson triangle. Grandad taught me about the 1914 Cup winners and I learnt the half back line up by the age of 5!! Once a claret.....always a vin......

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Born in Burnley. My dad is from Burnley, but he isn't really interested in football, although he does keep an eye on our results. My older brother is a ST holder with me and he is the one who really got me hooked.

[Billyblah]

Spent my early years in Bacup, First game was at The Turf v Newcastle Utd with Malcolm McDonald in their team. A fairly dull 0-0 end of season fixture in the old First Div round about 1975....and whilst being unremarkable I was hooked.

[HB Claret]

Born in Burnley 1962, lived in Colne until 1968 when my dad lost his job (weaver). He was offered a weaving job in Kent so we moved to Whitstable but I still consider myself a proud Lancastrian and a Claret.

[Rowls]

In N.Yorks in the early 60s my Uncle and my Dad were playing football.

My Uncle was playing as one of his favourite Wolves players. "You can be Ray Pointer. He plays for Burnley."

So my Dad became a Burnley fan.

[equinox]

It's quite apparent that alot of the posters on here are very similar.

[Whitgord]

I started going in 1972 when my church minister offered to take me (I was 13 at the time). Also Burnley was the favourite team of the boy at junior school that I looked up to. Nobody else seemed to support Burnley. Once I could get there myself I did. Have had a season ticket now for about 40 years. It’s actually quite hard to explain how it gets in your blood but I am claret through and through.

[IPAclaret]

Born in Burnley (thankfully)
All my family and friends were / are Clarets (thankfully)
Went ont Turf from a very young age (thankfully)
Nothing more to say (thankfully)

UTC

[Dazzler]

Born and brought up a stone's throw from turf, ...so why not.

[Vegas Claret]

I lived in the town all my life until I moved here, went to Junior Clarets before I even stepped foot on the Turf in the 80's. Running on the path down behind the Longside to the gym in the pitch black was always a lot of fun Absolutely loved it, loved everyone there was a Burnley fan and as soon as I looked inside the ground I was completely hooked and no other team was ever going to get my attention regardless of what league we languished in or how bad we were.

Getting up at 4:30 to watch us isn't that much fun but I still do it, although PNE at 4:15 this weekend is taking the ****

I genuinely don't know how I would cope if I couldn't watch us, like others on here I bleed Claret.

[beddie]

I wonder why myself sometimes.

[bobinho]

Born here. There was never anyone else for me.

Dad went to his grave never actually confirming whether he was Burnley or Botherer. He was from a generation that went to home games, Burnley one week, Deadwood the next. I miss him telling me the score from the weekend when I went round…even tho we both knew I’d been to the game.

[Jakubclaret]

Because I want to. Sometimes there doesn't have to be a reason.

[Stevebfc40]

Born 2 miles from Old Trafford, Dad and Grandad both United season ticket holders. Moved to Edenfield aged 7. My new mates were Burnley fans. Wasn't till i went to High School in Haslingden that i started going regularly around 1981.

[Row x]

Born in Burnley, but have never lived there. Dad was a fan and took me to my first game in the mid 60s.
With no connection to the town or club other than me, my children and grandchildren are all fans and season ticket holders, it's a family thing.

[Stonehouse]

Born in Burnley and my Dad started taking me on the Turf to watch the stiffs in the mid 50’s watching the likes of Ian Lawson ,Ian Towers and Trevor Meredith.

[bfcjg]

Born in Burnley , just had to be a Claret, remember the excitement as a very small child looking out of our terraced house window and seeing blazes of colour as people bedecked in claret and blue streamed out of houses and up the street, such a contrast to the smoke stained terraced houses and constant plumes of smoke from the railway,the mill chimney which didn't work Saturday. It was such a bright vibrant scene and I still remember those early days and still get the buzz.

[Claretitus]

Born in Burnley in 1961. My dad was a Claret, he started taking me on in the late 60’s, and I’ve been going ever since. Was never gonna be anything but a Claret. Why would you when you have a Football League club in your home town? Not many towns do. I’ve been very fortunate. UTC.

[CoolClaret]

My first family home as a nipper was on Mitella St.

Claret runs through my veins (literally and metaphorically!)

[AmbleClaret]

Both grandads from the '50's onwards, got a great photo of one of them outside Wembley for the Spurs FA Cup final '62, with his rosette,scarf and pipe.

[Buxtonclaret]

Born in Rawtenstall, (Rossy Gen ). Moved to Derbyshire as a 3 yo.
My Dad & Grandad were Clarets & i inherited it.
Always incredible proud of the fact we've stuck two fingers up at the big city clubs, & done it 'our way'.

[No Ney Never]

Padihamer until my late 20's, spent many hours down Gawthorpe watching 'em training. First game in the BL 1976 v Luton, lost 1-2, mum gave my older brother the money to look after me for the day. By eck we've been down and up over ever since.

[Leyland Claret]

Moved to Burnley when I was 2. Originally from Sale but parents bought a business in Burnley in the early seventies after falling in love with the team of that era. I was only ever going to support one team because it’s all I know.

[louieollie]

Born in Colne in the 60's flirted with Colne Dynamos but needed more so had a look at Burnley on the Longside and that was it. Moved away 30 years ago down south , had two boys to a South lass and now we've got 4 Burnley fans in the house .........like someone further up there was never a conversation with my boys they just followed dad and they are life long fans.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Obsessed from a young age. George ohhani spal shirt was my first top. Took it to a place on Standish st to get it printed on with an iron (way before the club shops did it) it tuned pink with the claret haha still have it… aged 4 or 5. First game was a cup game against Norwich I think , remember being on my dad’s shoulders in the longside and being scared to death

First full season ticket was 91-92 4th division champs. All my heroes. Lived close to the training ground used to go down everyday in the summer and talk to Roger Eli and tell him he was my favourite player he said I was his number 1 fan. Was chuffed to bits.

Longside season ticket holder, aged 11 got scouted for Burnley by Brian Miller playing and scoring 2 against Blackburn town team in a 2-1 win . Offered schoolboy terms. Turned blackburn , Leeds and Bolton down to join my boyhood club. Watched the games for free for about 8 years as part of the setup . Got a yts and was a dream come true, playing and scoring for the reserves whilst still at school was my highlight . Sadly didn’t quite make the grade as we had at the time about 8 or 9 first team strikers and Stan never really watched us much. Went Wigan had a season there and then ended up semi pro for about 10 years.. played most Saturdays so missed the turf but always watched midweek games if i didnt have a game. Season ticket was bought the first season back in the prem under Coyle even though I missed most games.

Season ticket ever since. Love the club. It’s in my blood. In hindsight though I should have gone to Blackburn for the better set up they had and the fact their then academy director coached me later on in my playing days and said “if I’d have had you as a kid you’d be a premier league footballer now” haha no regrets

UTC

[fatboy47]

Ex- Rossy General.1956...lived all over the shop since the 80s but always a one-club fan since my dad took me to a 2-2 draw with Villa prob '64ish.

Support only ever wavered once, briefly, when the massive bellend Lee Hoos started chucking insults at anyone who wasn't a STH.

[Dawlishclaret]

My Dad came from Burnley. I spent most of my childhood in Devon and didn’t get to see my first matches until the 1970’s when I was teaching in Culcheth near Warrington. Now retired and back in Devon but try to see as many local away games as possible plus the odd home game. My wife is from Brighton but was soon converted

[Stalbansclaret]

Brought up in Colne and my dad took me on from a young age starting 1967 or 68 … it was never in doubt. Lived in the South East from 1982 to 2023 but happy to say that my son, now 31 and living in Brighton, is also a Claret. Had a season ticket again since the Coyle promotion in 2010 and moved back to the area in 2023 so it’s great not to have the long journey for home games.
Can’t understand how anyone can support any other team !!!

[Stockbrokerbelt]

Grandad born in Briarfield, I’ve never lived in Burnley but supported them since he took me to my first game aged 7, never looked back, still have a season ticket & get back from Spain to watch them as often as possible.

[PoshClaret]

I have never lived within 100 miles of Burnley but I still get the same thrill when Turf Moor comes into sight every other week. Why did I choose Burnley? You will have to read chapter 1 of my book, "Posh Claret" - available from Peter Shirtcliffe's merchandise stall. Or email me on mike.stokes@exportential.co.uk

[greeny364]

I thought I was a man utd 'fan' when I was in primary school. Me and another mate from bacup went to Ted's for secondary school. A lad in year 7 asked who we supported and we said man u. He laughed and said you can literally see the turf from the yard, so get on and actually watch games. A few quid a kid games in year 7 then a 35 quid season ticket in year 8 and I've had one ever since. I'm 38 now so a 26 year running history and my soft spot for man utd disappeared by the time I was 14

[cockneyclaret]

Had my mum's side of the family living in Stockport and when we used to visit "nan" would always treat us to a few football tops in the sales at the local sports shop.
I ended up with 4 tops, one being the green and black away top (1993 at a guess) and that was my favourite out of the villa, stoke and Wimbledon ones.
So back at school (in Dartford )we started football in pe and I wore that shirt, my friend wore his team shirt which was Swindon.
At the time we were both in the relegation zone and that's how I started to support Burnley!! All to get one over him.. I believe we both went down that season

[SurreyClaret]

Grandad, Dad, Uncle all Clarets so I didn't have much of a choice. Dad told me I was born al the exact time Burnley scored - not sure I ever fully believed him. First game was a 5-0 win over Millwall, in 1980 when as a 6 year old I fell asleep on the Bee Hole End and missed most of the goals.

Have lived down near Gatwick for most of my life now so sadly don't get to many games. I have though indoctrinated my two teenage boys to carry on the family tradition. They both play football for our local team, Horley Town, who play in Claret and Blue and are also nicknamed the Clarets. I can proudly say I am the Head of Youth for the Clarets as well!

[Jel]

1st taken on in the late 60's, fell out with football when I discovered Beer, Motorbikes and Girls in the early 70's ... a mate asked if I wanted to go on in the early 1990's to a Tuesday night match as they had a spare seat in the car... 3 weeks later I ordered a season ticket for the following season ... and the rest is history.

A bit similar to me. I started in the sixties and went to all the home games. 1st away game was 72/73 at Preston to see us win the league.
I stopped going on in the mid 70swhen I got into Trials Riding, beer and girls (although that took a few years to conquer).
It was kind of due to a girl that I'd met whilst helping out at a race meeting at Snetterton. This was late 80s. She lived in Norwich and on one particular weekend down there, I went to Carrow Rd to see Micky Phelan. I was directed to their training ground, where I was easily allowed to get in and knock on door of the changing room. Robert Rosario answered and went to get Mick. I know him from school, we had a chat and he organised some tickets for the game on Saturday against Sheffield Wednesday. Totally loved it again, and have been into football ever since.
As a side note, I was at Villa Park, watching Norwich v Everton on the day of the Hillsborough tragedy

[MoorTurf]

Mid-Warwickshire born and bred.
My Dad watched the ‘62 cup final and started following Burnley. He took me to my first game when I was a kid. Now me and my son are big Clarets and try to get to as many games as we can. No real local connection other than that!

[Tackler49]

I’ve been a Claret all my life from a very young boy on the Longside to the present day now living in Devon i listen to every match on Clarets+ wishing i there but that doesn’t stop me being a full Claret because like the saying goes once a Claret always a Claret UTC

[Mondsley]

Born in Littleborough 1955. Support in the village was split mainly between Burnley and Man Utd, so my Dad had a choice to make. Thankfully, he chose Burnley, and my first game was the 4 4 draw against Chelsea in 1961. My second game was a 2 1 win against Spurs where the ground was full so they let people sit on the perimeter behind the goal at the Bee Hole End. Fair to say, it's been a roller coaster ride but I wouldn't change it. My son,
grandson and most recently, my youngest granddaughter are all Clarets. Which fills me with joy as they live in Guildford but get to as many Soutthern games as they can.

[NL Claret]

My dad however I think it would have been influenced by our next door neighbour. My parents moved from Southport to the north of Bury in the 60s, a bloke by the name of Jeff Walker who lived next door was an avid Claret. 4 or 5 of us young kids were put in the back of a VW or a morris marina and driven up to Burnley then to sit in outside the falcon and be given pop and crisps to keep us quiet whilst they had a few pints.

Jeff moved to Surrey in 80s then retired to Somerset and contact was minimal, in the days when there weren’t many methods of communication he managed to get in touch with me when I was in Leicester the night before the Stockport play off final. He had got his hands on 10 tickets for the Olympic gallery! Think the next time I had a random meet with him was in the 8 bells Putney Bridge before a Fulham game in the 90s.

He used to travel up on the South West Clarets coach in the 90s. Bumped into him in the foundation lounge around the Howe era, if you went in there you would have definitely known he was in there!!

he was still travelling up to home games well into his 80s , sadly passed away recently. I put a post on here when he passed , a poster replied who knew him and I think said that Jeff felt he was a privileged to be a Claret.

[Crookedbillet]

What a great thread

[Crookedbillet]

What a great thread

[RammyClaret61]

My journey from no colours to Claret n Blue, from Rammy Clarets to Melbourne Clarets, and every emotion in-between following Burnley FC.

Saturday 12th September 1970.

The first time I set foot inside Turf Moor, 55 years ago. Just a starry-eyed 9 year old football fan. Ever since England won the World Cup in 66, I’d been interested in “soccer”, yes that’s what almost everyone called it back in the 60’s & 70’s.
I didn’t support a team, I had relatives in Stockport who were big Manchester United fans. They tried so hard to get me to be a Red Devil, that it had the opposite effect. I was favouring Manchester City. Close family, my Granda, uncle & nephew all supported Bury. My dad, although liked football, had no allegiance to anyone, but if pushed would say Portsmouth. He was in the navy during the war. Anyway, Boxing Day 1969 was my football baptism. Our Stockport family had got Christmas presents for us, match tickets for Old Trafford, Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers. Spent the game at the very front of the United Road Paddock. A 0-0 score line, but the crowd grabbed my attention more. I loved live football. I was still leaning towards City, Colin Bell my favourite player having met him in Ramsbottom one Sunday morning. January 70 was my next live game, it was a little less star studded than Best, Law & Charlton. It was my first visit to Gigg Lane. Bury v Tranmere Rovers. Really enjoyed this game, saw my first live goal, and my eighth. Bury winning 8-0, George Jones scoring half the goals. My third game was also at Gigg Lane. Bury losing to Orient 1-0.
The 70/71 season started with me playing Saturday morning football. One of the blokes running the team I played for, Ramsbottom Crusaders, offered to take anyone interested to a game the following Saturday. Burnley v Arsenal. I was in, most of the other boys in the team supported Man U, so only two of us took up the offer. My best friend Phil & myself. To be honest I was more excited about seeing Arsenal. In fact, I’m not sure I’d ever been to the town of Burnley before in my life.
The day arrived and we set off in Geoffs little sky blue mini. We parked off Todmorden Rd and walked through the ginnel near Tod rd school. My first sight of Turf Moor was when we walked past the Park view chippy. The massive floodlights and the Bee Hole Terrace towering high in front us. Entering the ground via the street facing turnstiles, we took up position on the green fence at the front of the Bee Hole, near the edge of the penalty area towards the Longside. I was enthralled by the size and noise of the Longside. Ok, so the game finished in a 2-1 win for Arsenal, but I was hooked on Burnley FC. The Claret shirts, Claret & Blue scarves. The Longside, I was even intrigued by the Turf only having 3 sides. I was a Claret. Also, at school there was no other Burnley supporter, so this enhanced it for me also. No following the flock for me. No United, no City, Bury or Bolton. No Red, no Blue, no White… Claret was my colour!!
55 years ago, What a ride it’s been, relegations, more than our fair share. Promotions, just enough to be where we are now. 3 visits to Wembley, European football. 4th division football for far to long. For me, from travelling on the bus from Rammy, to now running Melbourne Clarets 12,000 miles away. 14 years I’ve been away, I miss matchday so much. The group we have here are a great set of clarets. Even our ******* supporting friend behind the bar at the Sherlock. Also to be able to get coffee with Mike Conroy, and Nathan Peel. meeting your hero’s.
Yes, Burnley Football Club has been and still is a massive part of my life. UTC

So to answer the question. Why do you support Burnley?
It grabbed me, and never let go!

[Clockwork Claret]

Proud Yorkshireman, as was grandad (Barlick) and never had a choice.

UTC

Obvious question for most of us as we're "not a big club".

Born in the area but family moved south when I was just a few months old, so it was up to my Dad to pass on the faith. It wasn't a discussion; I would support Burnley. Was hard at school when I admitted the fact but have no regrets whatsoever.

Oddly enough, my Dad's father hated football and his only brother preferred Nelson.