I can’t give the time to write for the blog but have enjoyed every last moment of writing. I would like to thank Daryl for responding to every email I have sent him almost straight away.

I would like to use this time to ask for any Burnley fan to join up and give Daryl a buzz at daryl@theoffside.com and read this post – http://www.theoffside.com/want-to-write-for-the-offside.

I will still be milling around on the comment boards and will be helping whoever decides to become the next writer of the Burnley Offside.

Also, please help stop Accrington Stanley from going into administration. They need to raise 308k in 8 weeks. Please donate 1p to the whole 308k at http://www.saveourstanley.co.uk. No-one likes to see a club go under.

So, tomorrow In promise I will update you with all things Claret.

Stoke vs Burnley
Burnley vs Man Utd
Burnley vs Everton
Burnley vs Hartlepool

The first 5 games contain 3 of the big 4 and a home game against Everton. This is not going to be easy. The first game of the season, will be down at Stoke on the 15th August. The Potters were promoted from the championship last season so they are in the same boat as us. Next we have the champions Manchester United. United will be the first game to be played at Turf Moor. Hopefully they will be bad at the start of the season like normally.

We then have a tough home game against Everton. The toffees were due to visit the Turf on Saturday 22nd but have a EUROPA league match. If they lose, this will affect their morale and we can win. If they win they will be on a high.

Last years premiership scalp Chelsea will have nightmares when we come and visit them at Stamford Bridge. They have a new policy “NO COINS ALOUD!”. Next a trip to Anfield where we can hopefully cause an upset.

Something to look forward to is Blackburn at Ewood Park 17th October and the 27th March for the Turf. I just love local derbies. Aspecially now we can beat them 2 games in one season.

Below are the full fixture list.
Burnley FC: 2009/10 Barclays Premier League Fixtures
Sat Aug 15 Stoke City A
Tue Aug 18 Manchester United H
Sat Aug 22 Everton H
Wed Aug 26 Carling Cup 2
Sat Aug 29 Chelsea A
Sat Sep 12 Liverpool A
Sat Sep 19 Sunderland H
Wed Sep 23 Carling Cup 3
Sat Sep 26 Tottenham Hotspur A
Sat Oct 3 Birmingham City H
Sat Oct 17 Blackburn Rovers A
Sat Oct 24 Wigan Athletic H
Wed Oct 28 Carling Cup 4
Sat Oct 31 Hull City H
Sat Nov 7 Manchester City A
Sat Nov 21 Aston Villa H
Sat Nov 28 West Ham United A
Wed Dec 2 Carling Cup 5
Sat Dec 5 Portsmouth A
Sat Dec 12 Fulham H
Tue Dec 15 Arsenal H
Sat Dec 19 Wolverhampton Wanderers A
Sat Dec 26 Bolton Wanderers H
Mon Dec 28 Everton A
Sat Jan 2 F.A . Cup 3
Wed Jan 6 Carling Cup Semi-Final (1)
Sat Jan 9 Stoke City H
Sat Jan 16 Manchester United A
Wed Jan 20 Carling Cup Semi-Final (2)
Sat Jan 23 F.A. Cup 4
Tue Jan 26 Bolton Wanderers A
Sat Jan 30 Chelsea H
Sat Feb 6 West Ham United H
Tue Feb 9 Fulham A
Sat Feb 13 F.A. Cup 5
Sat Feb 20 Aston Villa A
Sat Feb 27 Portsmouth H
Sun Feb 28 Carling Cup Final
Sat Mar 6 Arsenal A F.A. Cup 6
Sat Mar 13 Wolverhampton Wanderers H
Sat Mar 20 Wigan Athletic A
Sat Mar 27 Blackburn Rovers H
Sat Apr 3 Manchester City H
Sat Apr 10 Hull City A F.A. Cup Semi-Final
Sat Apr 17 Sunderland A
Sat Apr 24 Liverpool H
Sat May 1 Birmingham City A
Sun May 9 Tottenham Hotspur H
Sat May 15 F.A. Cup Final
Copyright © and Database Right 2009 The Football Association Premier League Ltd / The Football League Ltd. All rights reserved.

People to look out for at the Turf are Fabio Capello looking to give Jay Rod a cap for England and Rhys Williams is supposed to be coming back to us to fill in the right back slot. As Burnley made it to the premiership for the first time ever, after 33 years of being relegated from the old first division, and its all down to these people.

1. Diego Penny
2. Graham Alexander
3. Christian Kalvenes
4. Michael Duff
5. Clarke Carlisle
6. Steven Caldwell
7. Kevin McDonald
8. Joey Gudjonson
9. Ade
10. Martin Paterson
11. Wade Elliot
12. Brian “Beast” Jensen
16. Chris McCann
18. Alan Mahon
19. Jay Rodriguez
20. Robbie Blake
21. Rhys Williams
23. Steven Jordan
27. Alex McDonald
30. Steven Thompson
33. Chris Eagles

And not forgetting the backroom staff
Owen Coyle, Sandy Stewart and Steve Davis. Also a big shout to the phsios and scouts of Burnley FC although their names escape me.

Full season review to follow UTC

The shirt is a simple v-neck claret shirt with blue sleeves. I really like the simple looking shirts and this one is a definate buy. The front of the shirt has Cooke our new sponsers for next season. Cooke is a gas seller who are located in Padiham near Burnley and are big Burnley fans (unlike Wigan’s new sponser). Also the kit maker Errea have moved their logo to the right sleeve so the shirt has a more 1960 look. The kit has white shorts and claret and blue hooped socks.

The away kit is white and has a claret and blue rim around the neck and sleeves. The black shorts work really well with the rest of the kit and the socks are white with 2 claret and blue rings around the top.

UTC
Matt

I have now finished all of my “work” so I now vow to keep you up-to-date with all the PREMIER news.

Wembley came after 2 legs against Reading. The first leg at the Turf was not that good except from some of the funniest hissy fit I have ever seen. Graham Alexander converted a penalty that was given when Andre Bikey pulled Tommos shirt in the area. The ref had no hesitation and pointed to the spot.
Of course, Graham “The Grandad” Alexander put the ball past Hahnemann to make it 1-0 on aggregate. Bikey was sent of at the end of the match and showed his anger by trying to rip of his shirt but got it stuck on his head.

Then down to the Madjeski. 2,200 Burnley fans made the journey to the Reading ground to see a wonder of a match. Martin Paterson made a good run and nothing looked like it could be made out of it. But never underestimate him. He struck it with not too much power and it soared to the left of Hahnermann. The Burnley fans went mad. 8 minutes later, Beast kicked the ball up field. Steven Thompson headed the ball down to his feet. Looked up and saw Hahnermann of his line. Tommo hit it, and it struck the bottom of the crossbar and went in. I thought it went over but it had so much dip. Goal number 3 game over. Wembley. Wembley. I knew when to sing that song because of the Tottenham disaster.

Anyways. GET IT!

See you in the prem!

The first of the 3 games was QPR at home. A sweet Clarke Carlisle header deflected of a waiting Chris Eagles who was marking the goal keeper from a corner. Handball, no handball. Who cares it was a good goal and no-one can take that away from him. People still can’t work out if it is Eagles or Carlisle goal.

Cardiff away was always going to be a tough game and in the end a loss was all we could take from it.
Jay Bothroyd opened the scoring in the 74min after a flick-on past the Burnley defence and struck a fierce drive into the top right that no-one could save.
The 84min brought a bad back pass that Robbie Blake could not miss. Good goal at a good time. Clarets fans were happy with the point until Ross McCormack responded seconds later with another good goal almost from the kick-off.
McCormack confirmed the win in the 93min which ended up being the last kick of the game.

Sheff Utd was the most recent match and what a game. Wade Elliot scimmed 3 players before striking the post. Martin Paterson was the goal scorer for the Clarets after he guided a superb header past Paddy Kenny after a delightful cross from Rhys Williams to score at Turf Moor for the first time since late November, against Derby County.
There should have been so many bookings, for both teams, but no bookings were given at all by Graham Laws.

Right then. One more win and were guaranteed the play-off spot spot. The last two games according to Owen Coyle are unbelievably hard. Southampton at St. Marys and Bristol City back at the Turf.

Can we do it?

I’m not sure. If we do it, can we complete the story with a happy ending?

Burnley: Jensen, Williams, Carlisle, Caldwell, Kalvenes, Alexander, McCann, Elliott, Blake, Eagles, Paterson
Subs: Penny, McDonald, Gudjonsson, Duff, Rodriguez

Derby: Bywater, Connolly, McEveley, Commons, Savage, Hulse, Nyatanga, Teale, Pearson, Albrechtsen, Bannan.
Subs: Price, Kazmierczak, Villa, Todd, Eustace.

Ref: G Hegleyz.

Steven Thompson is defiantly out with the ankle ligament injury that occurred against the 5-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest.

Rhys Williams is doubtful with a calf problem, but he has played a Wales U21 match since so not a big worry. Graham Alexander and Martin Paterson are also doubtful with hamstring problems. Paterson had been withdrawn from Northen Ireland squad and has had no training so he is almost defiantly out.

So, with Ade gone, Super Jay Rodriguez may get a first team start and show Owen Coyle what he can really do.

Predictions
——————- Jensen ——————–
— Duff — Carlisle — Caldwell — Kalvenes—
————— Joey —- McCann ————-
Elliot ————— Eagles ————– Blake
——————— J-Rod ——————–

Derby vs Burnley

Derby lie in 17th, whilst the Clarets are in 4th. Derby score first. Then Clarets score.

Derby Form
H Barnsley 0-0 | 2-1 Plymouth A Burnley win
A Sheff Utd 2-4 | 1-1 Ipswich A Burnley win
A Southampton 1-1 | 5-0 Nott Forest H Burnley win
H Bristol City 2-1 | 4-2 C. Palace H Burnley win
H Swansea 2-2 | 1-0 Blackpool A Burnley win

On recent form Burnley have won 4 of their last 5 games and 1 draw.
Derby form is not as good with 1 win in their last 5, 3 draws and a loss.
Also the last time we played Derby was a 3-0 win at home back in November.

And as a new regular part of my post, I have got my mate Reuben, who normally gets the predictions right to do predictions for all of the Burnley games.

Reuben Prediction – 3-1 to the Clarets.
My Prediction – 2-1 win for the Clarets.

Good luck lads.

The 34 year old trained with the rest of the Burnley squad for the last time on Thursday before joining the Major League Soccer outfit on a 2 year deal.

He has made a big impact on the Claret fans making over 100 appearances in a Claret and Blue shirt in his two spells at Turf Moor. His most memorable moment was probably his equalizer against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge where we went on to win 5-4 on penalties. The first giant killing of the season.

The Nigerian resigned from Sheffield United in 2007, but failed to make an impact because he was in the weights room to much at Bramall Lane. He stayed a fan favorite because of his hard effort and heart.

Ade was the top scorer for Burnley in the 2005/2006 season scoring 12 goals. He is also the second top scorer, who was still at the club at January 2009, with 26 goals in 109 games.

He has played for 14 teams in his 16 year career, making over £16million in transfer fees.

I want to wish Ade all the luck in America and I hope his career can last a few more seasons.

ADE ADE ADE!