Burnley

Burnley v Leicester City
Championship League
Saturday, February 5th 2011, 3pm
By Richard Bland (Leicester City fan)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I have been wanting to visit Turf Moor for some time. Previous attempts were thwarted by a game being moved to a Friday night for SKY and a postponement due to high winds. I had heard reports it was a ground you would go to once and not go back, especially as I know someone who had a very unpleasant experience after one match there. Therefore, this was a chance to tick it off the list!

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

High winds in Norfolk and then heavy rain across the Pennines led to a hazardous journey but arrived in Burnley around 12.30. Instead of heading to the cricket club car park, we parked in a pay and display next to Tesco's for £3.50. It was a 5 minute walk from here to the ground.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?

As we had heard many negative things about the pubs around the ground we headed for Burnley Cricket Club which is directly behind the away end. This was a great place to grab a drink (I was driving so cannot comment on the selection of ales!) and some food. I ordered a plate of chips but regretted my choice as the lads on the table next to me had a large Yorkshire pudding stuffed full of chips, beans and sausages…..all the for bargain price of £3.50! The food in here was good value and the atmosphere was friendly. A good place to head for away supporters, especially as most away fans seemed to park here too.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The ground appears nothing special from the outside. The rear of the away end (Jimmy Fishwick) looks uninviting and the two new stands tower above the Bob Lord stand. The away end was in fact better than I expected, although the wooden seats were cold but not uncomfortable. I also managed to sit directly below one of the many holes in the roof and got dripped on sporadically. The view of the action was good from my seat (about 10 rows from the front) but there are some supporting pillars that may impede the view of those further towards the rear of the stand. 

The concourse was more than large enough for the 1,000 odd City fans who had made the journey and the food and drink was of the normal standard with alcohol being available from the bar at the far end of the stand. One annoying part was the volume of the PA system that was pumping out goal commentary from Burnley's recent win over Burton. After 20 minutes it became really annoying as I was having to shout to speak to the person next to me. 

Turf Moor is a 50/50 split between old and New. The Bob Lord stand is an old, single tiered affair which runs the length of the pitch and was pretty much full. The other two home stands are new, two-tiered structures. Both stands top tiers seemed full, whilst the bottom tiers were half full. Obviously Burnley fans enjoy a good view of the action.

5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..

The game ended in a 2-1 defeat (the first away since Cardiff in October) however a much improved second half performance had given us the impression we would leave with all 3 points. We should have known better as Norwich have apparently only ever won twice at Turf Moor! The atmosphere was flat amongst the Norwich fans which was a shame considering the good acoustics that the Jimmy Fishwick stand can create. With a crowd of 14,500 the Burnley fans got behind their team and made a fair bit of noise. I would love to visit when one of their neighbours are in town as I can imagine the sound would be deafening. 

As you would expect of a stand with wooden seats, the facilities were basic but didn't become cramped. The stewards seemed helpful and let the majority of the Norwich fans stand throughout the game.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away from the ground was easy. We were back to the car in 5 minutes and out of Burnley in 10. Probably one of the quickest escapes in the league (unlike Cardiff or Reading!). I doubt those that parked in the Cricket club would have had such a quick escape as part of the road was closed off after the game to let the fans leave. We headed back via Halifax and I was home by 9.15pm. I would recommend parking next to Tesco's as the escape was very quick.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Even though we lost, I really enjoyed my trip to Turf Moor and would actually like to go back. However, I can imagine that it could be one of the most intimidating away games in the football league were the stakes a little higher. The area the ground is located in isn't great and some Burnley fans are pretty "passionate" about their club so I would advise caution around the ground. I'm not so sure I would feel that safe had we just had beaten them in the playoffs on a Tuesday night. Overall though, my expectations were more than exceeded.

Burnley v Bristol City
Championship League
Saturday, April 28th 2012, 12.30pm
By Will Fisher (Bristol City fan)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I had mixed feelings about my visit to Turf Moor, as I had heard from friends that the surrounding environment and the ground itself are considered to be pretty rough.  I was nonetheless keen to enjoy an "old school" away experience and a good game.  I knew that Turf Moor was considered to be an old fashioned ground and I far prefer to watch a game in a stadium that has character and history, than one of the new, soulless stadiums.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Although I am from Bristol originally, I live in Leeds with another mate from back home living in Halifax – It was just a matter of meeting him on the way and then a short drive across into Lancashire. 

Approaching Burnley from the East, you do get to drive through some snaking roads, surrounded by the ruggedly beautiful slopes of the Pennines.  There's a sign on the approach to Burnley directing you to Burnley FC, off to the right. My mate ignored this and we were there in good time, parking in a side street and then a short stroll over some park land to the ground.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?

I was mildly horrified that we didn't have time to get some lunch at the Parkview Chippy, which based on the hordes surrounding it, seemed immensely popular and smelt great.  

Fans seemed very relaxed and didn't bother us, although in fairness we exercised discretion in terms of colours, and it was also the last game of the season with neither side particularly bothered about the result. 

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

We were running a little late so went straight to the ground.  Turf Moor rises above the back to back terraces which surround it. The ground itself is wonderfully run-down  in parts. Grey brickwork and dark girders creating a superbly grim venue.  

Once through the turnstile into the David Fishwick stand, you are confronted not so much by a concourse, as a dark, dank tunnel.  The whole thing is a little post-apocalyptic, but in a good way – Away from naming rights, manufactured stadia, prawn sandwiches and glory hunters, this is what football used to be like, and should never have deviated from.

 Turf Moor Away End Undercroft

The Away End itself is on the second tier and has beautifully crafted, folding wooden seats which are quite comfy. It's not the warmest part of the world and the wind can swirl into the stand, so unless it's a summer visit, it's worth wearing a coat. The view is good and you get a decent view of the jumbo-screen in the corner.

The only thing that let Burnley down was a real lack of atmosphere. We didn't have a particularly large following that day, and I don't know how much noise we generated from the perspective of those in the home stands, but Turf Moor struck me as being a bit of a library. Our lot tried to get a bit of banter going but with no joy.

5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Standard fare in the food outlets – Lager/Bitter and "Cider" all available for about 3 quid a go.  Meat and potato (tasteless), and Balti (unpleasant) pies for those who haven't had the pleasure are available, as are some jumbo hots dogs, crisps, sweets, Bovril tea and coffee, all at the same price you'd find anywhere.

The game itself was a bit of an exhibition – emotional for us because we thought it was going to be Louis Carey's last for the club – He has been there since I started watching City in the mid-nineties and is a Bristol lad – He ended up playing brilliantly and getting a further year on his contract. Burnley had more possession but Charlie Austin was quiet and Ross Wallace, who was industrious, failed to create anything meaningful in the final third.

 Turf Moor View From The Away End

City had the best of the first half in terms of chances and should have scored early on, but Brett Pitman chose to slam his header straight down Brian Jensen's throat.  No real drama until the second half when David James, who was also making his last appearance in a City shirt, got injured.  No keeper on the City bench which encouraged Burnley to really have a go – Danny Ings tonking in a 30 yard screamer and the Clarets fans finally making themselves heard.

However Ryan Taylor came on for City – easy to pick out because of his hi-viz ginger hair, and scored a quality equaliser, curling a shot past Jensen – honours even at the final whistle.

Stewards were friendly and toilets fairly ample.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Driving westward out of Burnley was a little time consuming and parking a little way from the ground gave us a bit of a head start.  No more than 10 minutes of traffic before we were zipping back over the Pennines.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

I enjoyed Burnley a lot and look forward to going there next season.  I didn't find it particularly intimidating and it was nice to see several generations of Burnley fans all going to the game together – I just wish the atmosphere had been a bit better as it was very subdued throughout the game on the part of the Clarets fans.  For the "old school" experience, it's a pretty good day.

Burnley v Bolton Wanderers
Saturday, August 3rd 2013, 12.15pm
Championship League
Robert Melia (Bolton Wanderers fan)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): 

It was the first game of the season, a derby game so obviously it's a big game, we'd sold a couple of thousand tickets so I knew it was going to be a good atmosphere, they'd just sold Austin so I was fairly confident of getting a win!   

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? 

Travelled by train, got the train from Adlington into Preston, found a Wetherspoons nearby, had a bite to eat, then got the train to Burnley at about 11:00am. Was a 15 or so minute walk from the station to the ground and was easy to find, just followed the other football fans.   

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly? 

We went from the station straight to the ground, with it being a derby match there was a few songs being sung between the fans, Burnley fans seemed okay on the way as we passed quite a few to get to the turnstiles.  

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? 

Not a great stadium, plus the concourse and toilets were a bit grim and the tv's were ancient! However the away end was all ours, the seats were wooden but we didn't mind as we stood for all of the game. The stadium wasn't as full as I thought it might be, there were a lot of empty seats.   

5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. 

The game was a fairly even game, scrappy for the first 15 and they took the lead, which silenced us fans, Pratley equalised soon after with a good finish and we were back singing. A couple of smokebombs went of during the game and at one point one steward picked one up and didn't know what to do with it and was just stood there with the smokebomb in his hand, which amused us fans! Overall it was a fair result.   

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: 

Easy to get away, we was going to get the early train back but decided against, we found a pub, watched a bit of the QPR vs Sheffield Wednesday game, had another drink and caught the train back to Preston a little bit later!  

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: 

Overall a decent day out, not the best stadium, not the best result as I was confident going into it but overall a good day!

Burnley v Preston North End
Football Championship League
Saturday 5th December 2016, 3pm
Paul Willott (Preston North End fan)

Today was the big day. Our annual works Christmas party in Croydon.  Many of my colleagues were enjoying a leisurely lie-in, no doubt looking forward to a good pre-christmas drink-up in the evening with colleagues. I had other ideas; hence I was tipping my good lady out of bed at an ungodly hour for breakfast prior to the long drive from Kent up to East Lancashire for this eagerly awaited derby fixture.  Not since the 2010-11 had we been able to enjoy these encounters, courtesy of relegation and a 4 year stint in the third tier of English league football, and I’m sure for many a Preston North Ender, one of the real apples in our eyes come the promotion decider against Swindon back in the May was the chance to renew rivalries with, amongst others, the Clarets from Turf Moor. As long ago as summer when the fixture list came out, I checked various calendars and notified my work colleagues that this year, after 14 consecutive years of being present, I would be giving the big works Christmas party a miss.  

If you’ve read thus far, you’ll probably have gathered without me needing to elaborate any further just how much I either was or wasn’t looking forward to this fixture! However, an added excitement for me was that this was to be my partner’s first full-blooded derby game as an away fan, and I could see that she was equally excited about the atmosphere to be enjoyed.  The fact that it was bucketing down with rain during most of the journey did little to dampen our spirits; in fact the farther north we journeyed, the greater the deluge seemed to be and I did become mildly concerned as to whether the game would possibly fall foul of the weather, but fortunately this proved not to be the case.

In truth, I wasn’t holding out much hope for anything more than a draw from the actual match; the Clarets were doing very well at the upper end of the table whilst we were still finding our feet at the higher level, but as I reminded my partner, matches like these are more about the atmosphere, and sometimes, these games can throw up unexpected results. So, despite Turf Moor having become something of a fortress for the home side, I was as giddy as a schoolboy by the time we were parking the car before kick-off. A note here for those travelling by car, early birds get the pick of free on-street parking towards the upper end of Ormerod Road, and onwards onto Ridge Avenue, leaving you with a ten minute walk down to the entrance for “away” supporters in the cricket field stand. 

James Hargreaves Stand

By the time we’d walked as briskly as we could down towards the ground, we felt like windswept battered trawlermen; it really had been a case of grit the teeth and get the head down and plod on through the near horizontal rain, but having “timed it right” by waiting in the car till 13:20 approximately, I was confident we’d be among the first in through the turnstiles and out of the rain.  Unfortunately I, along with others, hadn’t bargained for a “medical emergency” already taking place within the stand, hence we had to huddle out in the rain for a good quarter of an hour or so, before we were allowed to enter the ground.

Never has a coffee and a pie been more sought after!  For connoisseurs of pies, I’d say they were okay, maybe a 6/10. Once we’d consumed our fayre and felt a little less drenched, we took ourselves up into the stand to grab seats.  A large number of the 2,500 Preston fans expected had already started to take their seats, and it appeared a little hit and miss ; some stewards were attempting to make sure supporters were in allocated seats, whereas others were saying “just sit where you like”.

Bob Lord Stand

In the event, as a quite noisy bunch of youngsters were in our ‘allocated seats’ I chose to grab two seats in front of a walkway between the blocks of seating that would perhaps afford my partner a slightly better view of the action if, everyone started to stand up.  This proved to be a wise move, as this proved to be one of those matches where everybody stood up for the entire 90 minutes.  At one point, a rather timid steward asked us to move, but I firmly yet politely declined on the grounds that a. our own seats were occupied and b) I was concerned that my missus could actually watch the match.  This despatched the steward off and we had no more issues.

The cricket field stand itself is to my mind now well past its sell-by date. There has been talk for over a decade of re-building it, but that seems to have gone quiet in recent years. Hence, for the time being, away followings of any number continue to find themselves in what is a cramped, and potentially quite off-putting environment down on the concourse.  I had advised my good lady of this, and the need to “strategically plan” toilet visits before the stand fills up, but for first time visitors, be warned:- come half-time the concourse resembles Oxford Circus Underground at peak time and is just a seething mass of humanity that can hardly move.  The seats in the stand, as this guide says are wooden, and perhaps to some quaint, but the overall experience in the cricket field stand is one that has always pointed to the need to modernise.  

Away support for us was reduced for this fixture; in years gone by we’ve been allocated the whole stand, but on this occasion it was reduced to 2,500.  Whether that’s been the case all season for visiting fans, or was done for security/police reasons, I do not know, but even on previous visits, my experience has been the same as regards the stand and its facilities. The rest of the ground boasts two modern looking stands built in the 1990’s, and the older “Bob Lord” Stand alongside the pitch.  The stadium really is a “ground of two halves!” Also worthy of comment are the two floodlight pylons alongside the old “Bob Lord” Stand although they are of the more modern variety.

Pity About That Supporting Pillar (Time for a new stand?)

As for the match itself, the build-up was perhaps a little muted due to the inclement elements; the floodlights were illuminating the driving rain, and the normally appealing view from the higher levels of the cricket field stand over towards the Pennine Moors were today obscured by low cloud.  However, once the teams came out, the atmosphere quickly ratcheted up to the fervour normally associated with this fixture.

I have to say it was a very powerful and passionate feeling in the away end as the referee was checking with his assistants prior to the big kick-off; we had been starved of such high octane derby matches for some years, it had been difficult to stomach watching some of our fiercest rivals enjoying derby matches with each other whilst we counted fixtures at Rochdale, Bury, and Carlisle as the best we could hope for in the lower leagues.

And so the match got underway; two of the oldest rivals in the history of the entire Football League locking horns once again in a famous old ground which boasts a history of league football that can only be bettered by our very own Deepdale.  It was a very special atmosphere, and worth every mile we’d driven up from Kent that morning.

The match as a spectacle defied my prediction and lived up to the reputation of a high energy clash with high tempo from both sides. Committed tackles went in from both sides that were sometimes close to the mark, but never over the top , apart from a moment from Burnley’s Joey Barton (who else) and it developed into an enthralling and highly entertaining contest.

Over the first 45 minutes, I’d have to admit that the home side had the better chances, and another day would have been a goal or two to the good: but this was not an ordinary day; it was derby day in driving rain and the ball sometimes sliding completely off a wet boo, coupled with maybe a few nerves when one of the Clarets strikers looked certain to score meant that the score-line stayed stubbornly 0-0 at half-time.

In the second half, the chances continued to come thick and fast except that there was a more even spread between the two sides and then midway through the second half, Will Keane , on loan from Manchester United scored to put Preston into the lead.  Oh the irony of it all…..pre-match much of the terrace chat had been on the subject that he couldn’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo from three yards and why was the manager still persevering with him, and he goes and sticks in the all-important first goal in a derby match.  The goal may have had an element of luck about it……..but who was complaining?

The eruption in the visitors stand was understandably perhaps immense. If the game had been passionate beforehand, now it was doubly so.  All credit to Burnley as they never gave up and pressed and pressed hard for an equaliser, but as they committed more and more men in attack, it gave us more chances to double our lead.

We’d already missed a few such chances when, with five minutes left, the hard working striker Joey Garner pushed forward into a very good position but selflessly passed the ball back towards an unmarked Daniel Johnson who smashed home our second to spark an even bigger celebration amongst the now deliriously happy travelling support. Now we really felt that the bragging rights were coming back to West Lancashire, and it showed on the pitch as now the boys in Claret and Blue were clearly deflated.

The celebrations at the final whistle will stay with me forever, as will the sight of our players and the talismanic manager Simon Grayson came over to celebrate with us, showing just how much it meant to them to deliver derby day success away from home for the club and its supporters.

Who cares about driving rain and getting soaked walking back to the car after an afternoon like that? Not us! 

A very small minority of Burnley fans did attempt to cause trouble after the match, but a combination of the harsh weather and quick intervention from the mounted Police meant that it came to nothing, thankfully.

The long drive home passed in a whisker, with the added personal glee that the skipper of my fantasy football dream team (Mahrez of Leicester City) had bagged a hat-trick, and once home after a few hours sleep I was up and off to London Gatwick to spend a week in Switzerland with the broadest grin possible.

Only derby days can deliver such magic.

Plus Points for Turf Moor
1.    Famous old ground rich in history
2.    A great atmosphere can be created in the away (cricket field) stand
3.    Floodlight pylons (well….2 ; its better than none!)
4.    Plenty of free on-street parking nearby

Minus Points for Turf Moor
1.    Away stand is badly in need of modernising
2.    Concourse becomes uncomfortably/unpleasantly congested if busy

Burnley v Middlesbrough
Football Championship League
Tuesday 19th April 2016, 7.45pm
Adam Featherstone (Middlesbrough fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Turf Moor?

This was due to be one of the biggest games of the season, as top of the league Boro travelled to second-placed Burnley. A win for Boro would be a huge step to automatic promotion to the Premier League. I was looking forward to going to the ground as it is one of the few old and traditional grounds in the division. I had heard that the atmosphere for big games at Turf Moor was also fantastic and night games also seem to generate something extra in this regard.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I travelled from my home in Leeds by car and enjoyed a pretty straightforward journey across the M62 and then up the M66 into Burnley. I noticed a few car parks dotted around as I drove in charging £5 to park. Being the cheapskate I am however I opted for free on-street parking a little further out around Queens Park which is north of the ground. A lot of home fans were leaving cars there so I thought it safe to assume it was a safe spot.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Given that I only got to Burnley half an hour before the game started there was little time to do a lot pre kick-off. However I noticed that the Cricket Club next to the ground was a popular choice for both sets of supporters. A lot of fans choosing to have a few outside in the mild spring evening.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Turf Moor?

Turf Moor was how I expected it to be with its two old smaller stands, one of which houses the away fans, and two newer looking constructions at the other end. In the away stand there are two supporting pillars that may slightly obscure your view in certain seats but fortunately I was sat bang on line with the penalty spot so had no such issue.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The atmosphere was as good as you would expect it to be in such an important game. The noisiest home fans are situated next to the away section in the David Fishwick Stand which aided the chanting between the two sets of supporters. The game itself was a very decent standard. Two sides at the top of the division with two different playing styles made for an entertaining game. Jordan Rhodes (ex-Blackburn Rovers of course) poked the Boro ahead around the hour mark sparking pandemonium in the away end. However in stoppage time Burnley's Michael Keane bundled in an equaliser from a corner which in fairness to Burnley was what they deserved. All in all it was a fair result between two of the best in the league.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Coming out of the ground there was a heavy police presence separating the two fans. Sadly a number of the Burnley fans felt it necessary to goad the Boro fans who responded and it did threaten to kick off. The Police however managed the situation and I didn't witness too much other than verbals between the two sets of supporters. After getting back to the car I was lucky to be exiting in the opposite direction to most of the other traffic heading over the Pennines back to Yorkshire.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A good ground to visit and one I would recommend although I would be slightly wary as some of the home fans seemed keen on causing bother after the game. Result was disappointing due to the timing of the equalising goal but was still a decent point to keep us top of the league.

Burnley v West Bromwich Albion
Premier League
Saturday 6th May 2017, 3pm
Steven Roper (West Bromwich Albion fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Turf Moor?

This was going to be my first visit to Turf Moor. I'd heard many things about the ground being a traditional type so it had added interest for me.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I travelled by coach from the Hawthorns. The coaches were met by the Police on leaving the M65 motorway, and escorted all the way to the ground.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Some of the fans went in search of the pubs but most of us went straight into the ground and had our food and drink there. The Burnley fans are fiercely loyal and with the two sets sharing the David Fishwick Stand it made for a good atmosphere. There was plenty of banter between the two sets of fans from start to finish.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Turf Moor?

For the traditionalists among us Turf Moor is a 'real' ground. Four stands, open corners, wooden seats, I wish I had gone before they made it all-seater. There is a single gangway separating the two sets of fans, though this is fenced off and manned by stewards and Police. My only gripe is the the small concourse under the away fans section. Only two toilets blocks (one each for ladies and gents) means queues can be quite lengthy. The standing area around the food bars is narrow and can be difficult to get through.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Burnley and Albion both play a similar style of football and the 2-2 draw was a fair result. The atmosphere was excellent. The stewards were okay. They didn't say anything about the fans standing, though they didn't seem to be particularly friendly either. Food was fairly cheap, and a meal deal offer is any hot food, a drink, and a snack for £5……or two lots for £9. Its a pity other clubs don't follow suit. Individual food and drink prices were also cheaper than most other grounds.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

The coaches were lined up outside the ground and we were given a Police escort back to the M65 motorway.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

I loved the Turf Moor ground. It is compact and full of character. The home fans create a good atmosphere, and it's not as intimidating that I was led to believe. All in all a good day out.

Burnley v Newcastle United
Premier League
Monday 30th October 2017, 8pm
Barbara Jefferson (Newcastle United fan)

Burnley v Bournemouth
Premier League
Sunday 13th May 2018, 3pm
Richard Symonds (Doing the 92)

Burnley v Chelsea
Premier League
Sunday 28th October 2018, 1.30pm
Steve Allen (Chelsea)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Turf Moor?

As we are unbeaten so far this season, I was looking forward to this match because I felt it was a good chance to keep our run going. As I had never been to Turf Moor before, I was also looking forward to adding another ground to my list.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I opted to travel on an official train arranged by the club, we had to transfer onto buses at Preston, but the journey was extremely hassle free. Didn't need to find the ground as the buses stopped directly outside the away turnstiles.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

As the journey to Turf Moor was so smooth, I had a couple of hours to kill. A policeman recommended going around the corner to Burnley Cricket Club for a pint and a bite to eat. I highly recommend the cricket club. Although busy, they had two or three different bar areas, all well staffed, so there was never a long wait. They also had a good range of hot food and snacks, all food and drink were reasonably priced. There were plenty of home fans about to chat with and they were all very friendly.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Turf Moor?

The away end was fine. The seats were wooden, which I'm not used to these days, and a lot wider than I'm used to as well (which for a big guy like me is a nice bonus). I was sat right at the back of the stand to the right of the goal. The view was fine and there was a big concrete step behind the seats which I was able to stand in throughout the match for an even better view. I like the old style grounds with four distinctly different stands, so for me, Turf Moor looked pretty impressive.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The concourse was extremely cramped and using the toilet was nigh in impossible at half time. There was a marquee near the entrance that I believe sold beer and pies, the marquee eased the congestion somewhat. I had a lovely meat and potato pie and a bottle of Pepsi, cost me a fiver which I think is reasonable. The stewards were friendly, which seems to be the case at most grounds these days, they were extremely helpful too. The game was a routine 4-0 win for Chelsea. All the atmosphere came from the away end, the Burnley fans were even quiet at the start of the match when their team were playing well. I haven't seen home fans so quiet for a very long time, if ever.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away was just as hassle free as getting there. I was surprised at how little traffic there was and I was back in Preston with plenty of time to spare before the train departed.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Obviously winning 4-0 helped, but I really enjoyed the day. It's a shame the Burnley fans were so quiet but I still think Turf Moor is a lovely ground and I'm definitely looking forward to returning in the future.

Burnley v West Ham United
Premier League
Saturday 30th December 2018, 2.15pm
Tony Stock (West Ham United)

Burnley v Southampton
Premier League
Saturday 2nd February 2019, 3pm
Eric Spreng (Southampton)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Turf Moor?

Never having been to Turf Moor nor indeed the town of Burnley previously I was looking forward to visiting a new ground and place.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We left Dunfermline at 8.30am, stopped for half an hour for breakfast on the way. We arrived in Burnley at about 12.15pm. The town of Burnley itself was pretty busy but we made our way through and parked up at the cricket club for £7 just before 12.45pm.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Burnley Cricket Club is a fantastic venue for away fans. We could not have felt more welcome from the minute we arrived and chatted to the car park attendants. Initially, we sat down in the James Anderson Suite on the first floor (which to be honest was a little bit cold and soulless) but then we realised that there was another bar up another flight of stairs. It was fantastic. Very busy with probably more Southampton fans than Burnley fans, but well staffed up, pleasantly warm, nice views over the cricket ground (not that there was any cricket on!) and a balcony area if you wanted fresh air. We did not have any food but plenty of people did and it looked excellent. The home and away fans mixed well in a very relaxed atmosphere.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Turf Moor?

What I would call a more traditional ground with four separate stands. The away end is slightly dated but had a nice concourse with big TVs screens. Southampton had one half of it and the Burnley 'choir' the other half which made for a good atmosphere. The stand which runs down what I would say was the south side of the ground to our right also looked a bit older, with two fairly new looking stands at the far end and along the touchline to our left.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The first half was relatively quiet apart from Burnley being denied a stonewall penalty which certainly did not ingratiate the referee to the home fans! Southampton took a better grip of things after the break and deservedly took the lead. Burnley pressed hard for an equaliser and eventually got one from a penalty with virtually the last kick of the ball. I was gutted at the time, but 1-1 was probably a fair result, The stewards were very friendly and welcoming.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

There was a bit of a queue waiting to leave the cricket club so we decided to go back into the bar for an hour to let things clear. Again it was very busy. There were more Burnley fans than Saints fans by this time but again a very pleasant atmosphere. We headed off just before 6pm, stopped for a quick burger half way up the M6 and got home to Dunfermline just after 10pm.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

We had a great day. I would strongly recommend any away fan to go to the cricket club before or after the game. They really have got it right and it is immediately beside the away stand (although you do have to walk right around the cricket ground to get in but it only took just over five minutes. Also, Turf Moor itself was a very welcoming ground to go to. I would definitely plan to return.

Burnley v Norwich City
FA Cup 4th Round
Saturday 25th January 2020, 3pm
Tim Scales (Norwich City)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Turf Moor?

I had never been to Turf Moor before and with Norwich looking doomed in the league, the FA Cup was a good respite. I've always wanted to go to Wembley for an FA Cup Final so I wanted us to put on a show here.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We parked at Burnley Cricket Club which cost £7 but is right next to the ground. Also, it's where the legend that is Jimmy Anderson learned his trade and as an avid cricket fan, I was excited about that! No hassles en route other than the endless roadworks on the M6 and our SatNav guided us nicely to the Club.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

After parking there, we visited the Cricket Club for a couple of pre-match pints and a burger. It was a decent warm-up for the big game. The home fans outside the ground were friendly.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Turf Moor Stadium?

Turf Moor is a brilliant ground – a dying breed in English football. The away end is built like a shed with a triangular roof, perfect for pumping up the atmosphere, made even better by being within spitting distance of the home fans. The view of the moors peering over the top of the Bob Lord Stand is brilliant, too.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Norwich looked desperate to forget about their struggles in the league, while Burnley looked eager to get back to their bread and butter. Norwich could have scored twice through Josip Drmic in the opening three minutes. In fact, it could've been 1-0 inside ten seconds as the Swiss burst clean through on goal but he could only drag his shot wide before hitting the crossbar with another big chance. Burnley then had a good chance to lead themselves through Jay Rodriguez but Ralf Fahrmann did a superb job at keeping out the former West Bromwich Albion striker from point-blank range. Norwich continued to create the better chances, however, and took the lead when Mario Vrancic's beautiful free-kick was headed home by former Blackburn man Grant Hanley. 

Norwich doubled their lead four minutes later and Vrancic was involved again. This time, he sprayed a gorgeous pass over the top for Lukas Rupp and Joe Hart could only parry Rupp's effort straight into the path of Drmic. Drmic made no mistake from 3 yards out and doubled City's lead. 

Erik Pieters pulled one back with a sweet volley with 20 minutes remaining but the Burnley onslaught never materialised. Teemu Pukki almost made it three in added time but Joe Hart made a smart save to deny the Finn. A great win for Norwich and a place in the fifth round for the first time in 8 years – magic! 

The atmosphere at Turf Moor is great and those home fans were right next to me as I was right up to the barrier separating the two sets of supporters. The banter flowed and hilarity ensued when Grant Hanley opened the scoring. Proper football.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

With a crowd of just over 8000, there was little trouble getting away from the ground after the game.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Norwich in the hat for the fifth round, we love to see it. I loved Turf Moor and hope we're playing them again next season…