Address:

Turf Moor

Harry Potts Way

Telephone:

0870 - 4431882

Up The Clarets.com

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Clarets Trust

By Car: 
LEAVE the M6 at Junction 29 and onto the M65 for about 15 miles, then leave the M65 at Junction 10 and follow signs Town Centre. At the first set of lights you’ll see signs to the right for “Burnley FC”, however ignore these and follow the A671 down the hill to a mini-roundabout. Turn left, then at the next roundabout go straight over (following signs for Hospital) and keeping the viaduct on your left.  

As you come up the hill, you’ll see a retail park on the left, however keep in the right hand lane and turn right at the lights and go down the hill for 400 metres, then turn left at the Sparrow Hawk Pub. Follow this road to the next junction, the fire station and plenty of street parking is opposite. The Queen Victoria PH is in the park on the left and the football ground is about ¼ mile down the hill to the right. For those who want to park at the cricket ground, head down the hill and you’ll see the entrance on the left, about 100 metres before the traffic lights.

By Rail:
THERE are two train stations that are in walking distance of Turf Moor, Burnley Central and Burnley Manchester Road. Both are around a 15 minute walk away from the ground and is mostly served by local trains. 

Manchester Road (trains from Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Blackburn & Blackpool)

Upon leaving the station cross the main road towards the cinema and the ground is clearly visible in the distance straight ahead. Turn left and walk down the dual carriageway "Centenary Way"  going downhill towards the ground. A few minutes walk down this road will bring you to a roundabout where you should turn right under the canal bridge into Yorkshire Street (A671). Continue down this road and you will reach Turf Moor on your left, with the away stand the first to be reached.

Central Station (local service from Blackburn to Colne)

Walk out of the station and across the road down towards a small retail area including Fads and Halfords Cycles. You will reach the inner ring road, where you turn left and after about 200-yards you will reach a set of traffic lights. Turn right at the lights into Church Street. Continue down Church Street, past the Sparrow Hawk & Talbot PH’s until you reach a large roundabout at which you turn left under the canal bridge into Yorkshire Street. Continue down this road and you will reach Turf Moor on your left, with the cricket ground and away stand the first to be reached.

With thanks to Ian Driscoll for his contribution.

SITUATED in a valley at the meeting of two rivers and almost completely surrounded by the South Pennine Moors, Burnley is an enigma; although it was and still is a proud industrial town, it is located amongst some of the most beautiful countryside in England and has a wealth of attractions within its borders.

Included amongst these are two historic houses, industrial heritage based around the cotton industry, a working forge, mill shops, a bird conservation centre, wonderful countryside to walk or ride through and one of the seven wonders of the British Canal system.

Pennine Moors.

The South Pennines Heritage area is a popular tourist attraction.  No longer just the ‘bit in the middle’ the South Pennines which straddles the Lancashire-Yorkshire border and includes Burnley is an officially designated HERITAGE AREA. This sweeping landscape of vast open moorland and hills was one of the birthplaces of the industrial revolution.

The moors provided a great escape for the workers who took to the hills to get some exercise and longed for fresh air. Today a network of well established footpaths give access to the countryside which has proved to be the inspiration for the Bronte sisters and the late poet laureate Ted Hughes and his doomed wife Sylvia Plath.

Keep your eyes open on your travels around the South Pennines; you will be rewarded by the sight of some very special birds, including merlins, peregrines and the rare ringed ouzel. In fact the moorlands of the South Pennines are of vital importance for the survival of upland birds and it has been recognised as a SPECIAL PROTECTION AREA marking it as one of the most important sites in Europe for bird conservation.

Another landscape you might like to visit is Pendle Hill.  Dominating the landscape for miles around is magnificent Pendle Hill, all 1,831 feet of it. Not quite a mountain, yet big enough to inspire all who see it, including George Fox, whose vision from the top of Pendle of a new way of life led to his founding of the Quaker movement.

This “brooding” hill of Robert Neill’s classic story ‘Mist Over Pendle’ is home to an abundance of wildlife, from grouse and curlew to hare and fox, and it provides endlessly fascinating walks over its springy turf and tussocks of moorland grass. For the more energetic it is the ideal place for hang-gliding where the thermals can pick you up and whisk you away like a bird in flight, or for dry-skiing on the purpose built slope.

However it is the mysterious magical tales of the Pendle Witches that attract today’s visitors.

Towneley Hall.

Another popular tourist attraction is Towneley Hall.  Dating from the early 1400’s, Towneley Hall is set in 24 acres of woodland and is surrounded by extensive grounds. A one million pound extension to the hall was opened in 2002. This has improved visitor facilities and allowed parts of the hall previously closed to the public to be opened for viewing for the first time, with lifts available to most floors and the art galleries.

For art lovers, you might want to visit the Townsend Gallery or the Mid-Pennine Gallery and train enthusiasts might want to go to East Lancs Railway.

Burnley Nightlife.

The nightlife in Burnley is excellent.  Cool and funky, fun and friendly, vibrant and varied are just a few words to describe Burnley’s pub and club circuit by day and night. With upwards of 30 pubs and bars in the town centre you will be spoilt for choice! By night the lively bars and clubs attract an evening crowd of trendy new drinkers, residents and workers all looking to relax and enjoy themselves in the modern pub chains such as Chicago Rock, Orange House, JD Wetherspoons, Walkabout and Surfers Paradise, Litten Tree and Yates Wine Lodge.

You will also find a range of traditional pubs serving real ale and home cooked food in a cosy and convivial atmosphere, together with a wide selection of restaurants and café’s providing a cosmopolitan choice of tempting meals from Indian and Chinese to Italian and French. - Tel. 01282 664421.

A comprehensive list of pubs, clubs and places to eat is available from Burnley Information Centre.

Nearby Blackpool.

Alternatively, you might want to go to nearby Blackpool, where there are endless pubs and clubs, arcades, the pleasure beach and, of course, the sea and sand!

When it comes to a pre-match beer, the town centre is to be avoided completely as a minority of the Home support are likely to take exception to any away fans drinking “on their patch”. This said, away fans are well catered for near to the ground and the “away parking area”. 

The favourite location for away fans to drink is the clubhouse at the Cricket Club, right behind the away end. There’s plenty of parking (£2) and visitors are always made welcome (even when wearing colours). During the winter months the club relies on away fans attending the football for a decent portion of their income so they give a genuine, warm welcome and have club prices. There is normally some simple food available, mainly pie and peas or the like, and they serve Theakstons. 

The other main watering hole for visitors is the Queen Victoria (from the cricket club turn right up the hill and it’s about a 10-minute walk). The away fans are always directed/encouraged to park in one location, by the side of the Burnley fire station; Pass there, away from the football ground and proceed for about 100-yards where you will find the entrance to the Queen Victoria (Brewers Fayre establishment). The ground is no more than 10-minute walk away. Away fans visit regularly wearing their colours. 

Other venues which may be suitable are 'the Sparrow Hawk Hotel, which is around five minutes walk away from the ground, serves good beer and food and is apparently fine for away supporters. Also the Talbot pub (opposite the Sparrow Hawk) which is a good sized pub with a large screen TV and plenty of sensible home fans, plus well kept real ale on tap. 

Once again, it’s worth repeating that colours are best covered up in and around the centre of town.

You can search and book hotels located right near to Burnley's Turf Moor stadium by clicking HERE.

With thanks to Ian Driscoll for his contribution.

Steve Davis.

A solid, uncompromising central defender who is always a danger from set-pieces, Steve began his career with Southampton as a teenager after signing professional forms in the 1987-88 season, and following loan spells with both Burnley and Notts County, he was transferred to Turf Moor on a permanent basis for £60,000 in 1991 after making just 6 appearances for the Saints.

He played well over 200 games for the Clarets in his four years at the club, scoring 25 goals in the process, a good return for a central defender.  He was also a member of the Burnley side that won the old Division Four in 1992.  In the summer of 1995 he signed for Luton for a tribunal set fee of £750,000, after Burnley had been relegated to the Second Division.  Bought to the club by then manager Terry Westley as a vice-captain to Gary Waddock, he became a hugely popular figure with the fans, and after Waddock had retired, he became the club's full-time captain.

Davis was unfortunate however to be relegated back to the Second Division in his first season with the Hatters, after a poor start to the season which inevitably led to the inexperienced Westley being sacked.  Lennie Lawrence joined the club as manager to replace the departed Westley during the Christmas period of that season, and Davis undoubtedly flourished with the new manager at the helm.  However, Lawrence could not prevent Luton from slipping into Second Division football.  Although the fee was more than Luton had expected, it proved to be worth every penny, as he was a colossus in an otherwise unsteady defence.  Suspended three times during the 1995-96 campaign, his value was illustrated by the fact that the club's best performances came when he was in the side, while they invariably lost when he was missing.  In his first season with the Hatters, Steve had made 36 appearances and scored two league goals, the first coming in a 3-1 home win over Portsmouth as Luton looked to avoid relegation.

Back in the Second Division for the 1997-98 season, Steve made a tame start, but went on to enjoy an outstanding campaign after relinquishing the captain's armband after losing it for a short while.  Excellent in the air, he was rock solid in defence at centre back and weighed in with nine goals, making him the club's second highest league scorer behind the prolific Tony Thorpe.  His excellent form was such that he was elected to the PFA Second Division XI by his fellow professionals.  Unfortunately, Luton were beaten by Crewe Alexandra in the play-offs and Steve faced another season in the Second Division.

After narrowly missing out on promotion straight back to the First Division the previous season, Steve, once again, emerged as one of Luton's most consistent players in the 1997-98 campaign, putting together performances that were rewarded by him winning the Players' Player of the Year award, and the highest number of Man of the Match awards.  Solid as ever in the centre of defence, despite having to play alongside several different partners, as dictated by injury and form, good in the air, and extremely sure footed, such was his importance that he was picked when not even fully fit.  Although in a struggling side, he was not able to score as many goals as in the previous season, he nevertheless netted on half a dozen occasions and was always a danger when able to move forward.  With the side plagued by injuries they endured a very disappointing season and were never able to mount a serious promotion challenge.  Once again, Steve faced another season in Division Two even though it was obvious to everyone that he could play at a much higher level.

Steve was by far and away the most consistent player in the Luton side during the first half of the 1998-99 season, never losing the ball, always giving 100% towards the cause and scoring an outstanding 10 goals in just 29 appearances from central defence.  Almost every goal scored by Steve was a header from a set piece routine, and he was a true leader of the struggling side, scoring a memorable goal in the disappointing 1-2 home defeat by Hull City in the FA Cup first round with a run that saw 5 defenders beaten as well as the goalkeeper.  However, with Luton in severe financial difficulties, Steve was transferred back to his former club Burnley for the same £750,000 transfer fee that was originally exchanged between the two clubs for the player's services.  Described by Burnley manager Stan Ternent as "A no gamble signing", he was welcomed back to Turf Moor by Burnley supporters who had never wanted to see him leave in the first instance.  It was a different story at Kenilworth Road though as supporters had not only seen their star player sold again, but an influential captain had been lost.

Steve continued his good form at Burnley netting 4 goals in 19 league appearances in the second half of the 1998-99 campaign, including a brace in a win at Millwall.  Burnley were already resigned to another season in Division Two before Steve joined though and the season ended with Burnley finishing in mid-table.

1999-00 was a different story though as Burnley stormed to the First Division, a 2-1 win at Scunthorpe on the last day of the season clinching promotion.  Steve was again magnificent, a rock at the back and a great threat when moving into the opposition's penalty area.  He played a total of 48 matches in all competitions, scoring 7 goals, which included a brace in a 2-1 win at Colchester.

Back in the First Division, Steve was again leading by example and had been handed the Burnley captaincy.

After three seasons in Division One with The Clarets, Steve was released when manager Stan Ternent decided that he needed fresh blood to spearhead an assault towards the Premiership.  Still a big favourite with the Burnley faithful, Steve signed a two-year deal with Division Two Blackpool during the 2003-04 pre-season, which meant that he would be returning to Kenilworth Road for the 2003-04 campaign.  After 29 League appearances for Blackpool, and 1 goal, Steve moved to York City in June 2004 on a free transfer to help spearhead their push for promotion from the Conference.  However, after just 15 League appearances for the Minstermen, he was released by mutual consent at the end of the 2004-05 season.

One of the best players to have pulled on a Luton shirt in the 90's, it seems staggering that he was never given a chance in the Premiership.  He will always be remembered as a great player for Luton though.