Turf Beat

Fans' enthusiasm is just the ticket

BURNLEY fans have responded "magnificently" to the special ticket offer introduced just a week ago.

The Clarets 'Walk Up For Burnley' campaign is now in full swing, with discounted tickets available for the forthcoming home games against Rotherham on Saturday, November 22 and Reading four days later.

Turf Moor chiefs have acted in a positive manner after seeing the average gate hover around the 12,000 mark this season.

New chief executive Dave Edmundson has wasted little time in implementing the offer to try and generate more support and improve the atmosphere inside the ground.

And he revealed he has been delighted with the initial take up with the first game still seven days away.

Edmundson said: "The results so far show what magnificent support there is in Burnley for this football club and I am delighted with the response.

"The count first thing on Friday morning showed that we will already have an extra 500 fans at Turf Moor for the Rotherham game, with around 200 taking up the offer for Reading.

"That is terrific considering most people do not actually buy their tickets until the week of the game itself.

"It also shows we are on the right lines with the offer we put out to supporters. Hopefully, the trend will continue because this is only the start of the campaign to win back lapsed supporters and bring more families back to Turf Moor."

Burnley fans have until next Friday to take advantage of the special discounted offer for the Rotherham game, with the deadline being set at 5pm on the day prior to the match for administrative reasons.

Fans, including current season ticket holders, can purchase two adult tickets and two concession tickets for just £20.

In addition, supporters and season ticket holders will also be given 50p off the price of a matchday programme, £1 off matchday Catering (when spending £5 or more) and 10 per cent off merchandise at the Clarets Superstore.

Watch out for another piece of intriguing news coming out of the club's commercial department next week.

The battle to win back fans has already begun with the 'Walk Up For Burnley' ticket offer.

A new official club anthem is also ready to be unveiled, and my sources tell me someone in a lofty position at the club is cooking up something special next Wednesday to co-incide with the launch.

As usual we will be well ahead of the game, so don't miss Tuesday's Telegraph for full details.

Burnley employee Riding his luck

THE excitement was tangible as former Burnley defender Jamie Hoyland made the quarterly Clarets Foundation draw on Thursday afternoon to select the winner of the whopping £12,000 first prize.

But imagine the look of surprise on the face of Burnley Football Club employee Adam Riding when all his numbers came up.

However, I feel it is my duty to report everything was all above board and Adam, who coughs up his money each month along with every other member, was as stunned as anyone when the five individual draws provided that winning combination of 13287.

However, that didn't stop Clarets chief executive Dave Edmundson trying to make Adam feel guilty at his luck.

Edmundson said: "It's fantastic for Adam and I've already suggested he put it into Stan's transfer kitty!"

He added: "Some people might raise their eyebrows at the fact an employee of the club won the prize, but nothing could have been more above board.

"There were witnesses and members of the press present and it was just the same as if someone at the top table won the prize at a dinner."

The next quarterly draw for Foundation members takes place in February.

You too can be in claret and blue

LAST summer I finally achieved a lifelong aim and pulled on a claret and blue shirt to play at Turf Moor. The beneficiaries were 'Football Aid', a charity that raises funds for various voluntary and charitable organisations.

At the end of each season, the charity hosts a football match at every football ground in Britain where two teams of everyday folk can live the dream for 90 minutes.

Fans enter an auction to earn the right - mine ultimately cost me £225 with the help of sponsors Veka plc - but this year Football Aid have introduced several other alternatives.

Two places on each team are available as 'Buy Now, Play Later', for a fixed fee.

'Sponsored To Play' allows fans to pay a deposit now and then reach a minimum

targeted amount before Christmas to guarantee your position.

Finally, 'Bid To Play' starts in January, where the auction for all remaining positions starts in earnest.

To contact Football Aid for self sponsorship packs, or more details on other options and costs, e-mail info@footballaid.com or call 0131 220 5999.

Alternatively, the website at www.footballaid.com contains more details. I can thoroughly recommend the experience as I loved every single second of my game last June. Anyone who takes part this year will certainly not be disappointed.

Coaches do it for the kids

BURNLEY'S hardy bunch of Community Coaches hit the road again this week to benefit offer more 'soccer schools' to more than 1500 local children.

The Community Programme's coaches had been running soccer schools at the Turf Moor Leisure Centre over the half-term break last week, but with children now back in the classrooms, the coaches - including former Clarets stars Gerry Harrison, Vince Overson, Andy Farrell and Ashley Hoskin, held over 30 sessions this week around the area.

The popular 'Speedball' event also took place at St Theodores School in Burnley on Monday, St Joseph's in Barnoldswick on Thursday and Simonstone Primary School on Friday.

Preston party is well on the road

THE pre-Christmas cracker away to Preston North End on Saturday, December 20 is now looming large and Burnley Football Supporters Club have announced details of coach travel.

Coach 1 will depart Turf Moor 11am, Tim Bobbin 10.50am and Rawtenstall 10.30am.

Coach 2 departs from Colne bus station 10.30am, Nelson bus station 10.40am, Queensgate 10.50am, Turf Moor 11am.

All bookings can be made by calling Robinson's Tours on 01254 880305, or by calling Yvonne Hudson on 01282 696947 (evenings only).

Chaplow's blast from the pastie!

STAN Ternent might be thinking of putting his players on a unique diet if the example of Richard Chaplow, is anything to go by.

The teenage midfielder has impressed everyone this season with his sparkling form and boundless energy. One radio reporter was so curious, he used this week's press conference to quiz the Clarets boss on where that bottomless pit of energy came from. "Oddies in Accrington I think," replied Stan, quick as a flash.

Corned Beef pasties all round then!

Steve sleepless in Blackpool

CONGRATULATIONS to former Clarets stalwart Steve Davis and his wife Kerrie, who became proud parents recently for the first time following the birth of bouncing baby daughter Millie.

No news yet on whether Steve is suffering sleepless nights, but at at least the Blackpool defender in the right place when the little one starts demanding a bucket and spade!

Camara in focus

ROBBIE Blake's bout of 'flu, which dropped him to the bench at Sheffield United last weekend, was significant in that it left Mo Camara as the only outfield player left with a 100 per cent appearance record.

Camara, along with goalkeeper Brian Jensen, are now the only players to have started every game this season.

Well done, Stan!

ACCRINGTON Stanley were flooded with messages of congratulations following their terrfic FA Cup victory over Third Division Huddersfield last weekend.

And proving Lancashire spirit is alive and kicking, top of the pile was a letter from Clarets chief Stan Ternent.