That a town of 82,000 population can maintain a team in the First Division of the Football League is a constant source of surprise to, and the secret envy of, many enthusiasts from other towns. To say Burnley's success is a matter of tradition is not enough; nor is it sufficient to point out that success can come in cycles, illustrating this by recalling that the club has had to fight its way back into top-grade football on three occasions after experiencing relegation.

Maybe it is the struggle for existence which has toughened and confirmed the independent outlook emanating from the club headquarters at Turf Moor and its environs, and caused Burnley folk to reply with some astonishment to the outside wonderers, "First Division? Of course. Why not?"

The club has been nurtured on a background of struggle, with 'recessions' in the local cotton industry having a subtle effect on attendances in the 'bad years' when a loyal crowd of 7,000 is remembered with some affection. That was during the troublesome economic times of the late 'twenties and early 'thirties, and old players looking back in reminiscent mood can be heard to say, "Burnley were a happy club even if they had no money!"

However, new industries have come to Burnley, and as there is a new town , so there is a new Turf Moor. The post-World War II era has brought a transformation in the internal appearance of the ground and its amenities, together with a revival of old glories from a playing point of view. A blend of shrewd business associations and behind-the-scenes organisation have both prompted and generated a fierce pride in the club, and with it goes an ever-present necessity for achievement. Maybe it is the realisation that, compared with many other leading football towns, Burnley is a small place; but despite its size, it occupies an important position in the competition for football honour.

Since World War II there has evolved a tradition of seasonal planning for the advancement of the club. Gradually there has developed an all-round ambition among those associated with Turf Moor not only to serve the club to the best of their ability but to make the name of Burnley great in the football world. Club loyalty has been the root from which this praiseworthy sentiment has grown. It has made a lasting impression on many and has manifested itself in unexpected ways.

Experience has proved that many players who have left the club sooner or later wanted to return. Former players usually continue to live in the borough after they have ended their careers at Turf Moor. Some who had moved away later returned to the town and obtained employment. The lure of 'the Turf'? Maybe, for it is a fact that the people who 'make' the town spend part of their lives looking for their entertainment at Turf Moor. For example, the ground attendance record is 54,800 - not a bad proportion of the overall population.

The post-war revival was 'founded' by Cliff Britton, who was later reluctantly allowed to move to his native Liverpool to manage Everton and is now in charge of Preston North End. Burnley was former England wing-half Britton's first managerial appointment. At his first annual meeting, the new chief, having had time to assess the potential of his players, make a few additions to the depleted strength and prepare a plan for the future, said that he expected Burnley to return to the First Division in three years, and if they could also reach the Cup Final, so much the better. This startled shareholders and officials alike. Despite hope and striving, they had become almost used to the Second Division. They soon learned that Cliff Britton was no idle dreamer, nor was he in the habit of making irresponsible statements.

He accomplished his ambition, not in three years but in one season: 1946-7. Promotion was realised when the team finished runners-up to Second Division champions Manchester City, and Burnley reached the Cup Final, only to be beaten at Wembley by Charlton Athletic. It was a wonderful year: the club had returned from the 'wilderness.' Two of that team were to leave Turf Moor on transfer and later return as managers. One was Alan Brown, who succeeeded Cliff Britton's popular successor, Mr Frank Hill (the former Arsenal player and Blackpool skipper), now with Notts County:; the other is the present Burnley 'boss' Harry Potts.

Potts was born ar Hetton le Hole, Co. Durham, and joined the Turf Moor groundstaff straight from school. Playing in the junior teams, he had the benefit of the coaching of experts - ex-Welsh international and former Manchester United wing-half Ray Bennion and ex-Scottish inter-league player Billy Dougall. Both Bennion and Dougall are still at Turf Moor, with over 30 years service each. Theirs has been a most important contribution to the history of football at Burnley. Bennion is now chief coach, after being player and assistant-trainer. Dougall has in turn been assistant-trainer, chief trainer, team-manager, and is now the club physiotherapist. Two of the 1946-7 team were appointed coaches to the Turf Moor juniors when they retired from active playing - George Bray (brother of Jack, the former England and Manchester City player) and Billy Morris, who recently returned to his native Wales as manager of Wrexham.

So since the re-start of League football after World War II, there has been a 'parade' of personalities at Turf Moor, and each has contributed something to enhance Burnley's reputation in the game. Cliff Britton supplied playing material, fitted their capabilities with his design for victory, and offered the initial incentive. Frank Hill infused a more adventerous type of attacking play and persevered in the search for promising juniors. Alan Brown endorsed the youth policy, helped in the establishing of a modern training ground, away from the headquarters, and also emphasised the imperative need of complete physical fitness. Billy Dougall, appointed chief when Brown joined Sunderland, was continuing the schemes which were proving so beneficial when he had to resign from the team-managership on medical advice, and was succeeded by Harry Potts, his former pupil.

Potts insisted on loyalty, introduced the creed of utmost dedication, and last year crowned a season of triumph with the winning of the First Division championship for the first time since 1921, and only the second in the club's 79-years history, thus proving that with devotion to the game, results will follow. His idea went further than mere 'team spirit': it means the development of an acute club-consciousness and with it practice, physical fitness and a belief in the finer arts of football. Harry Potts believes in making his young recruits not only useful individuals players of a great game, but, particularly while they are serving their apprenticeship, part of the Turf Moor fraternity which binds together all those connected with the club - from the boardroom to the most humble member of the groundstaff. This 'one-ness' has had a great deal to do with the club's success.

Comparing Burnley's style of play as it is now with when he was an inside-forward, Mr. Potts said:
"Whatever style you adopt has to be within the ability of your players. I consider that the style of the 1946-7 side was the best the manager could have devised for us at the time. Our style may be different today, but in my view it is the most suitable for our boys."

Of the European Cup prospects, Mr.Potts said that Burnley were hoping to maintain their good record achieved on tours against continental sides, and pointed out that most of these matches had been played away from home:
"We have given a good account of ourselves and more than held our own. Remember, in Spain we sprang a big surprise by beating Bilbao 5-1 and this summer we beat Nice 4-0."

The players come from all parts of the country: and if those from North-east England predominate, that cannot be regarded as remarkable in view of the long association of the club with the 'football nurseries' of Durham and Northumberland and the fact that, of the present senior team, five come from between the Wear and the Scottish border. Seniors are glad to greet youngsters from their own county - they may have recommended them - and thus once more is emphasised the family spirit of help and co-operation which is such a feature of the life of Turf Moor. For instance, when Alex Elder made his first appearance in the reserve team in an away match, his fellow countryman, Jimmy McIlroy made a special journey to the club headquarters to give young Alex a few final words of advice, and to extend his best wishes. It did the boy a power of good, and it was not long before he had joined his ex-Glentoran comrade in the first team.

Jimmy Adamson, the club captain, is a shrewd, canny Northumbrian with a flair for absorbing all there is to know about the various moves of a game and in trying to exploit the weaknesses of the oppoition. He is a firm believer in coaching and a qualified tutor who is in demand in the Burnley district, where his sense of humour has enlivened many a 'Football Quiz'. When the club last gained promotion and reached a Cup Final, Adamson was the office boy! Another long-playing senior is Tommy Cummings, who has fought a long, lone battle to fitness - a battle which has recently been emulated by Colin McDonald, the former England goalkeeper, who broke a leg in March, 1959, but at the time of writing has reached the reserves-side stage of his come-back.

Of last season's championship-winning XI, nine were products of the Burnley youth policy, and the only two for whom a fee was paid were the Glentoran Irishmen Jimmy McIlroy and Alex Elder. Most of the young players learned the finer arts of the game at the club's training ground, a converted farm.

The spirit of sturdy and forthright independence which is a characteristic of Burnley as a town and the people of North-east Lancashire as a whole, has led to players sometimes wondering if the 'supporters' are as loyal to the club as they themselves have been taught. An older generation remembers the famous record of 30 successive League matches withiout defeat which contributed to the championship of 1920-1, and are inclined to judge all succeeding Burnley teams by that high standard. One thinks that the players must be tired of hearing of these ancient glories. That is a feature of a 'small' town. The players 'live' with the people; everyone knows them. Yet 'the boys' are happy enough - which is a tribute to the town and its people - and there are few requests for transfers. The supporters take some pleasing, perhaps, but it must be emphasised that many come in from outlying areas on match days and are inclined to pretend to a disinterested attitude as far as results are concerned - an attitude which is belied by the demand for tickets for an important Cup-tie!

These supporters were included in those who, when it was decided to return to the claret and blue strip in 1946 and an appeal for the necessary clothing coupons was made, supplied over 200 in a short time. The origin of the claret and blue is said to go back to the 1910-11 season when the club were having a poor time. It was suggested that the colours of a First Division club be adopted to change the luck, so they took those of Aston Villa, and gained promotion two seasons later. And the person who suggested the change was a lady member!

Another aspect of the 'family club'!

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