ALAN Taylor doesn’t remember optimism being on tap during his Burnley days.

Struggling in the lower echelons of the bottom division, few could have imagined the dizzy heights the Clarets have now hit more than two decades on.

But Taylor is glad the club is back in what he feels is its rightful position.

“I played against Burnley for the first time in 1975, and if memory serves me right I scored two goals against them,” said the 56-year-old, who did indeed grab a brace at Upton Park to secure a 2-1 win, after Doug Collins had handed the Clarets a half-time lead.

“Both teams were in the top division, so to see Burnley back there again is brilliant.

“Burnley was a big draw alongside Liverpool when I was a child with the players they used to bring through.

“I was there at the wrong era, in the mid-80s. The football club wouldn’t want a repeat of those days.

“Although I enjoyed myself, they weren’t the best of times because unfortunately we were right at the bottom.”

But as bad as it was during his two-year stay, Taylor admitted he could not have predicted the last-day drama that the following season, when the Clarets avoided dropping out of the Football League by the skin of their teeth.

“You couldn’t see that happening, particularly because they’d always been renowned as a big club,” said the Hinckley-born forward, who confessed that today will be the first time he has seen Burnley in the flesh since he left for Bury in June 1986 and later set up home, and business, in Norwich after hanging up his boots.

“I get back to about half a dozen West Ham games a season, so I’m looking forward to today,” continued Taylor, who counts his two goals in West Ham’s 1975 FA Cup final win as a career highlight.

“I was only 21 then. When you set out to become a professional footballer it’s everyone’s dream to play at the top and in a cup final at Wembley.

“After we won the cup we played in Europe and the following season I ended up top goalscorer at the club.

“And in the little spell I had at Burnley I was top scorer in my second season too.

“I have great memories which I will always cherish. But, most of all, I just loved scoring.”

The former Rochdale and Norwich striker hit 16 in his last season at Turf Moor.

He added: “Neil Grewcock was always a good provider; get-ting past players and getting crosses in.

"I loved to be in the right place at the right time.”

Taylor is anticipating goals today, as Burnley look to build on their first away point with a first win on the road, while the Hammers are desperate to add to their solitary home win so far.

“I see Burnley trying to take the game to West Ham,” he said.

“They’ll feel it’s no good sitting back and defending.

“They need to stay in the league so they need to give 100 per cent every game.”