1/8 Payton is revealed
to have a fractured toe. The injury is said to be of ten days to two weeks duration, which
means he may miss the opening game at Bolton. He certainly won't play in any more
friendlies. Ramsbottom United 2 Burnley Reserves 2. Scorers: Heywood,
Wharton. Team: Mawson, West (Scott), Brass (Williamson), Armstrong (Kevan), Heywood, Smith
(Devenney), Harrison, Jepson (Boardman), Oakes (Wharton), Shandran, Lee. Sub not used:
Paxton. Congratulations to fine Burnley brewer Moorhouse's, whose Black Cat Mild wins
Champion Beer of Britain at this week's CAMRA Great British Beer Festival.
2/8 Burnley 2 Manchester City 1, which
is a small measure of revenge for some of our recent drubbings at their hands. Scorers:
Gray (30), Mullin (41) / Peacock (52). Team (3-5-2): Crichton, Cox, Davis, Thomas (Brass
74), Weller (West 60), Mullin (Mellon 69), Ball (Jepson 46), Cook (Johnrose 69), Briscoe
(Branch 61), Cooke, Gray (Lee 74). Att: 5,426, suggesting people have had enough of Man
City. Ian Wright's adopted son, Shaun Wright-Phillips, plays for Man City as a sub. See our match report for details. Hats off to Phil Gray, who is
called up for the Northern Ireland squad for a friendly against Yugoslavia on August 16th.
The last serving Burnley international was Brian Flynn in June 1984 (Wales away to
Israel).
3/8 Padiham 0 Burnley Youth 0.
4/8 Ho hum. The last of the first team
friendlies finishes Rochdale 1 Burnley 0. The game is notable for Ternent
substituting all ten outfield players. Team: Crichton, Weller (West), Cox (Harrison),
Davis (Armstrong), Brass (Jepson), Briscoe (Smith), Mullin (Oakes), Ball (Mellon), Cook
(Johnrose), Cooke (Lee), Gray (Branch). See our match report for
details. However, all the squad avoid injury. Eagle eyed observers note that Paul
Crichton's name is spelt wrong on his shirt. The plan to erect Vodafone masts on two
stands at Turf Moor annoys some Burnley councillors, who claim they will "microwave
kid's heads."
5/8 Accrington Stanley 1 Burnley Reserves 3.
Scorers: Lee, Oakes, Williamson. Team: Mawson, West (Scott), Heywood, Williamson,
Boardman, Smith, Harrison, Oakes, Wharton (Devenney), Lee (Kevan), Shandran.
6/8 We are rumoured to have made an
offer for Liam George, a young striker at Luton. He's 21 and scored 13 goals last season.
We're said to have offered £750,000, but Luton might want £1,000,000.
7/8 Chris Duckworth is about to join
the board. Duckworth, 46, is a local businessman and long time Burnley season ticket
holder who made his fortune in the IT / internet industry, having experience of floating
IT and new media companies. It's thought he would therefore take particular responsibility
for the internet side of club business, including the new NTL deal. Darwen 2
Burnley Youth 4. Matt O'Neill and Chris Clarke score one each, while Andrew Waine
gets two.
8/8 Penrith 0 Burnley Reserves
3. Glen Little plays, and Heywood, Shandran and Lee score. Before the start of
the season, Andy Payton once again sets out his targets: another 20 goals for the 3rd
season running, towards his eventual target of 100 Burnley goals (38 to go).
9/8 Chris Duckworth is officially
voted onto the board. Barry Kilby reveals he made two attempts to get him involved,
eventually persuading him on a train to London. Duckworth makes what is described as a
"substantial investment" in the club. He goes on to comment, "I regard
myself as just one of the custodians of the club… I thought long and hard about it.
There are all sorts of ways of putting smiles on people's faces and I know how much the
football club means to the town. I thought if I was to put some of the money somewhere,
doing this wouldn't just be an indulgence; it would be a genuine attempt to help Barry get
the club funded properly. This season is a very big one in terms of the television money
that's coming in next season, so if ever there was a time to get off my backside it was
now." Andrew Watson is no longer the General Manager of Burnley. He becomes the
club's Chief Executive, the first such. Andy Cooke says he's expecting to start talks on a
new contract soon. His current deal expires next summer. Scott Oakes, however, isn't
offered a contract.
10/8 West Brom sign Derek McInnes. He
implies that he considered an offer from Burnley.
11/8 Ahead of the opening game, Brass,
Johnrose, Payton and West are out of the squad with injuries. Jimmy Mullen is appointed
manager of Little Drayton Rangers, a Shropshire club in the Banks's Premier League.
12/8 Not a bad start. Bolton 1
Burnley 1. Scorers: Gray (55) / Frandsen (pen 26). Team: Crichton, Cox, Davis,
Thomas, Briscoe, Weller, Ball, Cook, Mullin (Little 46), Cooke (Branch 56), Gray. SNU:
Armstrong, Jepson, Mellon. Att: 20,662. See our match report for
details. Mullin picks up a groin strain, but Little comes through unscathed. After the
match, Ternent says, "It's a 46-game season but we have no intention of going
down… I have a squad I'm very happy with. They are cracking lads with a very high
fitness level and a commitment, I've got a fantastic chairman and board of directors and
probably the best supporters in the country, so what more could you want? If you can't
play for them, you're in the wrong game." Sam Allardyce concedes that they just
couldn't cope with Little.
14/8 The club decide not to offer
Harrison a contract.
15/8 Phil Gray pulls out of the
Northern Ireland squad with a knee injury. Although it's declared legit by the Northern
Ireland physio, it's still thought he'll be fit to play on Saturday. Burnley are revealed
to have the division's third highest season ticket sales (11,700), after Wolves (12,400)
and onetime Premier League outfit Blackburn (12,000).
16/8 The club officially unveil their
plans for the redevelopment of the Cricket Field Stand and Burnley Cricket Club. They plan
to buy Burnley CC's current ground and build them a new ground at Fulledge Recreation
Ground, with all costs borne by Burnley FC. Burnley Council currently own Fulledge, so
will need to agree to sell and give planning permission. It's thought that the project
could cost £10 million, incorporating complete redevelopment of the Cricket Field Stand
from 4,000 to 7,000 capacity, raising ground capacity to 27,000, with retail and leisure
facilities built behind. It's also thought that the new end would house both home and away
fans. As well as increasing capacity for big games, the redevelopment plan aims to bring
revenue in to the club on non-matchdays. It is stressed that this is a long term plan
which will take years to complete, and will depend on a lot of obstacles being overcome.
The eventual target is to increase ground capacity to 30,000, which would entail
enlargement or replacement of the South (Bob Lord) Stand at some stage. In one of Stan's
behind closed door friendlies, it's Huddersfield XI 0 Burnley Reserves 1.
Shandran scores. We are 'linked' with a move for Scott Gemmill, currently at Everton.
Ticket prices for the Hartlepool home match are set at £10 adults, £5 concessions, for
anywhere in the ground, except the Jimmy McIlroy Beehole, which will be closed.
17/8 A Burnley councillor objects to
the planned Fulledge redevelopment, voicing his concern about Burnley's fair, which is
traditionally held there annually. Apart from that, it is used for matchday parking and
Bonfire Night.
18/8 Jack Walker dies. Burnley are
quick to pay tribute. Barry Kilby says, "You can't help but admire what he did for
Blackburn Rovers and for smaller town clubs in general… I hope that our supporters
treat his death with the respect it deserves."
19/8 Burnley 1 Wimbledon 0.
Scorer: Weller (27) with a brilliant individual goal. Team (3-5-2): Crichton, Davis,
Thomas, Cox, Weller, Little (Mullin 72), Ball, Cook, Briscoe, Cooke (Payton 81), Gray
(Branch 57). SNU: Jepson and Mellon. Att: 15,124. See our match
report for details. Burnley Youth 3 Wigan Youth 4. Scorers: Earl
Davis, Leeson, Shandran.
21/8 Greek goalkeeper Nicos
Michopolous comes on trial from PAOK Salonika. He is 30 years old and has European and
Greek international experience, but Salonika's new manager doesn't rate him. Ternent says
we won't be signing Alun Armstrong from B R Middlesbrough, despite persistent rumours.
According to Wigan fans, we are interested in their striker Simon Haworth.
22/8 Burnley 4 Hartlepool 1.
Team (3-5-2 / 4-4-2): Crichton, Thomas, Cox, Davis, Weller, Briscoe, Cook (Mullin 59),
Ball, Little, Cooke (Payton 46), Gray (Branch 46). SNU: Armstrong and Heywood. Scorers:
Payton (pen 63, 69, 90), Davis (87) / Miller (37). Att: 3,319. See
our match report for details. Kevin Henderson plays for Hartlepool. Our home game
against Crewe, scheduled for 2 September, is postponed due to their international
call-ups. Mark Robertson joins Swindon for an initial fee of £50,000, with perhaps more
linked to appearances and a sell-on clause.
23/8 Gerry Harrison joins Halifax.
Phil Gray is called up again for the Northern Ireland squad, who play Malta at home in a
World Cup group match on 2 September
24/8 Another 'behind closed doors'
match finishes Burnley XI 2 Oldham XI 1. Scorers are Lee and Maylett.
Burnley Cricket Club put the redevelopment plans to their members, stressing that the move
should ensure the long term sustainability of their club. Without it, they may go out of
business. It's understood that local residents are less keen, and want the club to move to
another site. Wayne Russell is part of the Bohemians side that puts Aberdeen out of the
UEFA Cup.
25/8 The new format meeting between
Burnley FC and supporters club representatives takes place. One announcement at the
meeting is that the club supports the idea of renaming the part of Brunshaw Road on which
the ground stands 'Harry Potts Way'. This was, of course, first suggested at this summer's
AGM by London Clarets member Phil Whalley. Shirt sponsorship, ground redevelopment, club
finances and racism are also discussed. Nicos Michopolous signs a month's contract and is
given squad number 34. Brad Maylett has the cast removed from his injured wrist. We are
once again supposed to be signing Andy Morrison from Man City on a month's loan. chris
waddle is confirmed as manager of non-league Worksop. We wish them luck.
26/8 Wolves 1 Burnley 0.
Scorer: Sedgley (74). Team (3-5-2): Crichton, Davis, Thomas, Cox, Weller (Payton 76),
Briscoe, Cook, Ball, Little, Cooke (Mullin 71), Gray (Branch 57). SNU: Armstrong and
Smith. Att: 20,156. See our match report for details. Ternent
says we should have had a penalty, but adds, "You don't get those decisions away from
home. I don't want to add fuel to the fire about these referees. I thought he gave a
fantastic home performance." Ex-Burnley Assistant Manager John Ward, now doing the
same job at Wolves, praises Stan's achievements and our support.
28/8 Burnley 1 Gillingham 1.
Scorers: Ashby (og 70) / Asaba (66).Team (3-5-2): Crichton, Thomas, Davis, Cox, Weller
(Mullin 52), Briscoe, Ball, Cook, Little, Cooke (Branch 52), Gray (Payton 52). SNU:
Armstrong and Mellon. Att: 15,611. See our match report for details.
Speaking of Gillingham's defensiveness, Ternent says, "It takes two to tango and
obviously Gillingham didn't want to tango," but adds, "half a loaf is better
than none."
29/8 Huddersfield Reserves 3 Burnley Reserves 4
in our first 'Avon Insurance League' match. We were 3-1 down. Scorers: Lee (2, 1 a
penalty), Leeson, Heywood. Team: Mawson, Scott (Leeson), Heywood, Armstrong, Boardman,
Smith, Maylett, Mellon, Kevan (Devenney), Shandran, Lee. SNU: Davis (Earl Davis!),
Salisbury and Williamson. Paperwork isn't completed in time to enable Michopolous to play.
30/8 There's speculation (oh, here we
go) that we are to sign striker Wayne Allison from Tranmere for £250,000. Allison is 31,
and we have been linked with him before, when he was at Bristol City, but instead of
signing the large, powerful and aggressive front man, we signed… Liam Robinson. Andy
Morrison isn't coming on loan. He goes half a league below us, to Blackpool.
31/8 Michopolous gets his
international clearance.
