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 to Stoke to share in the most momentous occasion.

Town leaders and fans spoke of what a big day it was for the 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 with the elite.

Coun Gordon Birtwistle said: “The atmosphere in the town this week has been electric and it seems like everyone is going down to Stoke. Everyone is buzzing and we will all certainly be up for it come 3pm and I would not be surprised if we win.

“It is a remarkable achievement that a town the size of Burnley is in the Premier League.”

MP Kitty Ussher said: “Playing Stoke is a great way of highlighting what has been achieved after how they played last season. I wish Owen Coyle and the team all the best. It’s great to see the Clarets back where they belong.”

Among the thousands of Burnley fans travelling down to Staffordshire today former Burnley 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 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. Success has been great for the town.”

The clash with Stoke comes just four days before Premier League champions Manchester United visit Turf Moor.

Promotion prompted two-and-a-half months of 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 and you can’t get a ticket for the Manchester United game for love or money.

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

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.”

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.”

Town centre traders have sensed the excitement.

Victoria Williams, of Zodiac tattoo studio, St James’ Street, said: “People have been coming in left, right and centre, for Burnley tattoos.”

Craig Smith, landlord of the Swan Inn,St James’ Street, said: “People's attitudes have changed, everyone's buzzing. “I've never seen people like this before. I love seeing the Clarets flags everywhere.”

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