BURNLEY fans are today ready for a date with destiny as the Clarets play their first top flight game for more than three decades.

Thousands of fans will make the trip down to Stoke to share in one of the most momentous days in Burnley’s history.

And as Clarets players get their first taste of Premier League action, town leaders and fans spoke of what a big day it was for the whole town.

It is 33 years since Burnley last played a top flight league game, meaning a whole generation of supporters have never seen the team compete in English football’s elite tier.

Burnley Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said: “The atmosphere in the town this week has been electric and it seems like everyone is going down to Stoke today.

“Everyone is buzzing and we will all certainly be up for it come 3pm and I would not be surprised at all if we came away with a win.

“It is a remarkable achievement that a town the size of Burnley have made it to the Premier League.”

Among the thousands of Burnley fans travelling down to Staffordshire today will be former MP and Clarets Trust chairman Peter Pike.

Mr Pike, who has followed the Clarets since 1946, said: “Today is just absolutely incredible. Although I have always believed we would get there, I had almost begun to fear we wouldn’t.

“There has been a tremendous atmosphere in the town since we got promoted and that euphoria is still going strong.

“People are still pinching themselves and it will not hit home until we kick off today.”

His sentiments were also echoed by the Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Rev John Goddard, who said: “I certainly support Burnley and I wish them all the best today.

“Their success has been great for the town.”

The clash with Stoke comes just four days before Premier League champions Manchester United visit Turf Moor in Burnley’s first highly anticipated home game of the season.

The club’s promotion prompted two-and-a-half months of frantic discussions between Burnley FC bosses and police, with thousands more fans expected at each home game.

Chief Insp Jeff Brown, match commander at Turf Moor for 11 years, said: “There’s so much excitement around the town and you can’t get a ticket for the Manchester United game for love or money.

“Today is the biggest game of Burnley’s recent history and then a few days later we get the champions visiting us at the Turf. You could not have scripted it better.”

And fans groups have also spoken of their emotion at the start of the landmark season.

Tony Scholes, who runs the ClaretsMad website, said: “It’s been a fantastic 11 weeks and the promotion is still only just sinking in even now. I was beginning to think we’d never get promoted.”

Alan Beecroft, of Colne Clarets supporters club, said: “The whole town has been lifted, tremendously so, and there’s now a real buzz about the place.”

Meanwhile, in the town centre, traders say they are still enjoying a bounce after the Clarets secured promotion in May’s dramatic play-off final win against Sheffield United.

Victoria Williams, of Zodiac body piercing and tattoo studio in St James’ Street, said: “It's really good for the town. Everyone is excited about it and seem to have a spring in their step.

"People have been coming in left, right and centre, for Burnley tattoos. Hopefully they'll get off to a winning start.”

Craig Smith, landlord of the Swan Inn, also in St James’ Street, said: “It's brilliant for the town. It's the biggest thing to happen to Burnley since I have been alive. People's attitudes have changed, everyone's buzzing.

“I've never seen people like this before. I love seeing the Clarets flags everywhere. I think everyone will be up for it."

And Ken Cocker, of Cocker's Sports, a family run business in Keirby Walk, said: "There's definitely a buzz in the town.

“I think they will have four points after the first two games.

“A lot of people are saying we'll finish 20th but I think we'll be trying to prove the critics wrong. It is a massive day for the whole town.”

Barry Sager, 65, from Fulledge, said: “It effects everybody when the club does well. It helps people to feel pride in the place and in themselves individually and not just as a body of supporters. It’s going to be a massive day. I think they will beat Stoke and I’d love them to beat Manchester United. They’re well capable of it on their day.”

What the fans on the street think James Worthington, 15, from Harle Syke, said: “It’s going to be nice to see them back in action and it should be a good start. Hopefully it will be a lot better than pre-season. There’s a bit of pressure, but I think they can get a good win at Stoke.”

Patrick Willoughby, 15, Harle Syke, said: “I’m really looking forward to it. It hasn’t kicked in yet that we’re in the Premier League, it probably won’t properly until I see Rooney and Berbatov lining up against us. A good start to the season will put us in a good position to put up a challenge.”

Mavis Hancock, of Ightenhill, said: “When we were away on holiday recently and people asked us where we were from and we said Burnley, they would immediately mention the football team after last season’s success. It has put Burnley on the map. It gives fans a bit prestige.”

Roger Hancock, Ightenhill, (Mavis’s husband) said: “I’m glad we’re playing Stoke in the first game as it will help break us in easily. Owen Coyle has got his head screwed on and will make sure the players know what they have to do. He will bring them back down to Earth if he has to. I think we’ll do well.”

Maureen Houghton, of Nelson, said: “I was watching Burnley in 1958. My son’s house is like a shrine. It’s absolutely wonderful and everybody is excited. I’m an old woman, but I’m sure they’ll beat United in the week. It’s magic.”

Francesca Marsden, 30, of Clitheroe, said: “Down here today there’s a real buzz. You can sense the anticipation. The build up to Wembley was brilliant and we proved everybody wrong. Hopefully we can do it again. I think it will be difficult, but we proved last season that we can step up to the challenge.”

Layton Marsden, Francesca’s seven-year-old son, said he had been a Clarets supporter all his life. He said: “I’m really excited. It’s going to be 3-0 to Burnley against Stoke and then they’re going to do really well for the rest of the season.”