PROUD football fans gathered around a mysterious sign which has appeared in Burnley.

‘Proudsville’, placed over a Towneley Hall sign in Todmorden Road, has popped up within the past few days.

People have been seen taking photos with the sign on their way into the town centre.

The name comes from a recent press conference where Burnley FC manager Sean Dyche gave a ‘funny answer to a funny question’ following a win over Stoke City earlier this month.

He responded to a question over whether he was proud of Burnley’s rise up the table after playing down their chances of qualifying for Europe.

After seeing his side go fourth in the Premier League, Dyche proclaimed he was ‘prouder than the proudest man in Proudsville’.

A google maps entry was found which listed Turf Moor, the Claret’s football ground, was renamed ‘Proudsville’.

The name was also spotted on a banner of a televised darts match on Sky Sports.

The person behind the sign is currently unknown.

Lancashire Telegraph columnist Andrew Greaves, an avid Clarets fan, said: “The sign was a nice bit of fun.

“It has made a lot of people laugh and put a smile on commuters as they come into town.

“It just goes to show how well liked Sean Dyche is and how amazing he has done this season.

“We, as Burnley fans, did not think in our wildest dreams we would be sitting within three points of a Europa League spot going into New Year’s Day.

“Dyche has done incredibly well with the small budget he has had to play with, comparing it to Manchester City’s and the like.

“Everything he is doing, and saying, right now is being praised, it’s fantastic.

“I hope we can be this positive and upbeat come the end of the season.

“I’d like to see the council put an official ‘Proudsville’ sign up, but I don’t think it would happen.”

BBC’s Match of the Day Twitter account also shared the photo to its followers.

Hundreds of people have used the #Proudsville hashtag across Twitter, praising the clubs success this season, sitting seventh on 33 points after 20 matches, five points ahead of 2016 league champions Leicester City.