BURNLEY FC’S most-recognised supporter Alastair Campbell admits he enjoyed the Clarets’ first promotion to the Premier League, in 2009, more than Labour’s landslide victory under Tony Blair a decade earlier, writes Tony Dewhurst.

“Maybe it was the stress or the knowledge of what was to come starting a new job at Number 10 Downing Street the next day, but I did not enjoy the night of Labour’s first victory, at Wembley I savoured every minute, especially Wade Elliott’s wonderful goal,” said Mr Blair’s former Director of Communications who will be the star speaker at Rochdale Literature Festival on Saturday.

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“Burnley had so many lows, the Leyton Orient game when we were nearly relegated out of the Football League in 1987. I think that day changed the psyche of the club, because we could have lost what is, arguably, the community hub of Burnley.

“I’ll always remember the picture of the lady in the newspapers crying at the final whistle when we knew that we were safe. We grafted for many years in Divisions Three and Four after that, going to Hartlepool, Exeter, Darlington and York, and that’s why it feels so good to be back in the top league again.”

Campbell said he has been very impressed with Burnley’s progress under Sean Dyche this season: “We were incredibly unlucky against Arsenal and hopefully we can stay up.”

He added: “Whatever happened in my life, though, Burnley has always been a part of me.

“I lived in Keighley as a child and dad would bring me over. I think it was the claret and blue colours, but mainly the fantastic, friendly, atmosphere. Where the Bob Lord stand is now we used to go down the front there and I loved it.”

His first visit to Turf Moor was aged four, and ever since Campbell has been a loyal supporter attending both home and away games.

And when penning his newly published book of political diaries – Outside, Inside – there are descriptions of trips to Turf Moor, Upton Park and Deepdale.

“Going through the diaries, even when it was really hectic at Number 10 I got to an awful lot of games,” he said.

“I always appreciated the fact that Downing Street would leave me alone from 3pm to 5pm on match days and it was always a great release from the pressure to go to a Burnley game and shout from the terraces.”

Still active in Labour politics, he now splits his time between writing – his first passion, after starting his career in journalism – speaking, fundraising, politics and campaigns, especially raising awareness of mental illness.

But he admits that he sometimes misses being in the thick of politics.

But anyone who saw him locking horns with Labour’s Shadow Chancellor John McDonald on BBC Question Time showed that the political fires still burn bright within him. The diaries, which cover the period from 2003 to 2005, were written after Campbell had resigned over the Iraq war but still remained a confidant of Mr Blair in an unofficial capacity.

Blair won three elections for Labour in 1997, 2001 and 2005 before handing over to Gordon Brown and Campbell insists if he were to stand today, he could oust the Conservatives “I hate the way there is this constant vilification of Tony, what he did in politics was unprecedented,” said Campbell.

“Tony was a political winner who did what politicians are meant to do, have strong beliefs and use them to win power and change the country and the world.

“He was a great advocate of party unity, but Labour don’t give a clear message and the Tories are doing what the heck they want when they should be trying to bring people together. These are very challenging times for us all after Brexit - we are living in an era of great flux.”

Blair, though, remains an unpopular figure with many in the country. “There are still a lot of people who like and admire him but plenty who don’t, I accept that. Iraq is clearly part of it, but you have to remember we won our third election after the war, not before.

“Tony Blair left Parliament to a standing ovation from his peers, a unique event. I think history will judge him well.”

Alastair Campbell will speak at Rochdale Literary Festival on Saturday: rochdalelitfest@rochdale.gov.uk. His latest memoirs, Alastair Campbell: Outside, Inside, Volume 5 is in bookshops.