Win2Win Racing
20th August 2009, 07:46
"Welcome To Warp Factor 10" was how Burnley chairman Barry Kilby announced the return of top tier football to Turf Moor after an absence of 33 years.
Colourful stuff from lifelong fan Kilby (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/burnley/6049925/Burnley-chairman-Barry-Kilby-takes-old-fashioned-way-ahead-of-Manchester-United.html) - a successful businessman who has crossed the often hazardous divide between terrace and boardroom - but a billing that was fully justified at the end of an emotional night at Turf Moor.
Burnley's stunning triumph over Premier League champions Manchester United (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8202360.stm) was not simply an emphatic statement of intent by Owen Coyle's team, it was accompanied by an all-out assault on all the senses that made this a truly special night.
When Coyle announced "the whole place was rocking" he was not joking (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8210944.stm). The James Hargreaves Stand actually shook to sound of celebrations when Robbie Blake's volley ripped past Ben Foster for the first-half winner.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/blake_getty595.jpgThe old place (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turf_Moor), rich in football history, rocked on its foundations and it was the superstar names of Manchester United who felt the full force as Burnley swiftly banished the memory of defeat at Stoke City on Saturday.
Turf Moor's press box comes complete with glorious views, with what looks like an east Lancashire landscape painting as the backdrop to the action - and with a genuine contender for the loudest public address system in world football, you get the full package.
Such was the desire to sample every part of the Premier League experience after the long wait, match programmes became precious souvenirs. Burnley's announcer revealed - very loudly - that a new print run had been commissioned specially to satisfy the disappointed.
The football is not bad either (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1207749/Burnley-1-Manchester-United-0-United-tamed-Beast--Brian-Jensen-spot-Robbie-Blake-flays-Fergie-flops.html), with Coyle adhering strictly to the passing game that brought Burnley out of the Championship last season. And even though Sir Alex Ferguson's side predictably spent some time camped in Burnley territory, there was never a sense of siege.
And in two time-served Turf Moor veterans, Burnley had the heroes of a game that will be stamped indelibly on the memory of all the home fans who witnessed it.
Blake, at 33, showed a touch of magic with his winner while 34-year-old keeper Brian Jensen demonstrated why he is cult figure at Burnley, saving Michael Carrick's first-half penalty and cutting a commanding figure as tension mounted in the closing stages.
Wayne Rooney was taunted with chants of "You're Not Robbie Blake" when a shot flew off target, while just about every intervention by Jensen was greeted with the trademark booming cry of "Beast" from Turf Moor.
Manchester United were a desperate disappointment (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8210945.stm) (more of them later) but this was Burnley's night, a night when Coyle added another layer of polish on to his growing reputation as one of the brightest managerial talents in the game.
He delivered a rapid fire blizzard of optimism after the game, (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/burnley/8210943.stm) laced with the reality that things will not always be this good for Burnley. Dark days may come over the course of a long season, but a marker was placed down amid the tumult of Turf Moor.
Coyle will stand or fall by his passing principles and said: "What we have is belief, quality and an unbelievable work ethic. We will have to produce that in every single game."
He also paid homage to Turf Moor after attention unfairly focused on communal baths and dressing room sizes in the build-up to United's visit, saying: "At times Turf Moor gets a bad rap, with people saying it is ramshackle, and saying it is an old stadium. Well I'm old school - someone who loves that atmosphere and that sort of stadium."
Burnley played with poise when they had the opportunity, passing and moving in line with their manager's mantra, and defending with bravery as exemplified by new signing Andre Bikey's (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/burnley/8206870.stm) mountainous presence.
For the champions, this was a chastening experience and arguably the first real taste of what life will be like without Cristiano Ronaldo. The danger is that every United defeat will be blamed on Ronaldo's absence, but how United cried out for his pace, width, goalscoring - and even his penalty-taking ability.
Ferguson made six changes from the team that was not totally convincing in victory against Birmingham, giving a first start to Michael Owen.
It was to prove an unfulfilling night for the striker in front of watching England coach Fabio Capello. A few neat touches, a couple of missed chances but a performance that was neither here nor there and one that ended predictably when he was substituted by Dimitar Berbatov just after the hour.
If Owen was hoping to produce compelling evidence that he must be recalled by Capello and be part of England's World Cup plans, it will have to wait for another day.
One defeat is hardly going to send Ferguson into panic, but there was a worrying lack of thrust and cutting edge about United and Burnley were never penned in their own penalty box for sustained periods.
Some experts believe Ronaldo's greatest strength was his ability to punish the lesser teams as they tired (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8197918.stm) - and with all respect to Burnley they would fall into that category - but the tension here came from counting down the clock as opposed to any serious supremacy from United.
Ferguson insists the Old Trafford chequebook has been put away for this transfer window, but you wonder if he will be tempted to flick through his contacts book again on the evidence of the first two games of this season.
For Burnley, the emotions could not have been more contrasting. Fireworks went off in the distance beyond Turf Moor as hundreds of fans gathered on Harry Potts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potts) Way an hour after the final whistle.
Burnley's population of a little more than 73,000 (http://wapedia.mobi/en/Burnley) is smaller than the average Old Trafford attendance - but this was a night that demonstrated the wonderful unpredictability that still exists in football.
In Turf Moor, the Premier League may have an old-fashioned stage, but on this thrilling evidence it also has a fitting one.
And with this win, Burnley achieved the landmark victory that will inject them with further self-belief and confidence that they can live alongside expensive and experienced company in the Premier League.
You can follow me throughout the forthcoming season at twitter.com (http://twitter.com/philmcnulty) and join me at Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/philmcnultybbc) (requires registration)
More... (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2009/08/burnley_high_on_emotion.html)
Colourful stuff from lifelong fan Kilby (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/burnley/6049925/Burnley-chairman-Barry-Kilby-takes-old-fashioned-way-ahead-of-Manchester-United.html) - a successful businessman who has crossed the often hazardous divide between terrace and boardroom - but a billing that was fully justified at the end of an emotional night at Turf Moor.
Burnley's stunning triumph over Premier League champions Manchester United (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8202360.stm) was not simply an emphatic statement of intent by Owen Coyle's team, it was accompanied by an all-out assault on all the senses that made this a truly special night.
When Coyle announced "the whole place was rocking" he was not joking (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8210944.stm). The James Hargreaves Stand actually shook to sound of celebrations when Robbie Blake's volley ripped past Ben Foster for the first-half winner.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/blake_getty595.jpgThe old place (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turf_Moor), rich in football history, rocked on its foundations and it was the superstar names of Manchester United who felt the full force as Burnley swiftly banished the memory of defeat at Stoke City on Saturday.
Turf Moor's press box comes complete with glorious views, with what looks like an east Lancashire landscape painting as the backdrop to the action - and with a genuine contender for the loudest public address system in world football, you get the full package.
Such was the desire to sample every part of the Premier League experience after the long wait, match programmes became precious souvenirs. Burnley's announcer revealed - very loudly - that a new print run had been commissioned specially to satisfy the disappointed.
The football is not bad either (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1207749/Burnley-1-Manchester-United-0-United-tamed-Beast--Brian-Jensen-spot-Robbie-Blake-flays-Fergie-flops.html), with Coyle adhering strictly to the passing game that brought Burnley out of the Championship last season. And even though Sir Alex Ferguson's side predictably spent some time camped in Burnley territory, there was never a sense of siege.
And in two time-served Turf Moor veterans, Burnley had the heroes of a game that will be stamped indelibly on the memory of all the home fans who witnessed it.
Blake, at 33, showed a touch of magic with his winner while 34-year-old keeper Brian Jensen demonstrated why he is cult figure at Burnley, saving Michael Carrick's first-half penalty and cutting a commanding figure as tension mounted in the closing stages.
Wayne Rooney was taunted with chants of "You're Not Robbie Blake" when a shot flew off target, while just about every intervention by Jensen was greeted with the trademark booming cry of "Beast" from Turf Moor.
Manchester United were a desperate disappointment (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8210945.stm) (more of them later) but this was Burnley's night, a night when Coyle added another layer of polish on to his growing reputation as one of the brightest managerial talents in the game.
He delivered a rapid fire blizzard of optimism after the game, (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/burnley/8210943.stm) laced with the reality that things will not always be this good for Burnley. Dark days may come over the course of a long season, but a marker was placed down amid the tumult of Turf Moor.
Coyle will stand or fall by his passing principles and said: "What we have is belief, quality and an unbelievable work ethic. We will have to produce that in every single game."
He also paid homage to Turf Moor after attention unfairly focused on communal baths and dressing room sizes in the build-up to United's visit, saying: "At times Turf Moor gets a bad rap, with people saying it is ramshackle, and saying it is an old stadium. Well I'm old school - someone who loves that atmosphere and that sort of stadium."
Burnley played with poise when they had the opportunity, passing and moving in line with their manager's mantra, and defending with bravery as exemplified by new signing Andre Bikey's (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/burnley/8206870.stm) mountainous presence.
For the champions, this was a chastening experience and arguably the first real taste of what life will be like without Cristiano Ronaldo. The danger is that every United defeat will be blamed on Ronaldo's absence, but how United cried out for his pace, width, goalscoring - and even his penalty-taking ability.
Ferguson made six changes from the team that was not totally convincing in victory against Birmingham, giving a first start to Michael Owen.
It was to prove an unfulfilling night for the striker in front of watching England coach Fabio Capello. A few neat touches, a couple of missed chances but a performance that was neither here nor there and one that ended predictably when he was substituted by Dimitar Berbatov just after the hour.
If Owen was hoping to produce compelling evidence that he must be recalled by Capello and be part of England's World Cup plans, it will have to wait for another day.
One defeat is hardly going to send Ferguson into panic, but there was a worrying lack of thrust and cutting edge about United and Burnley were never penned in their own penalty box for sustained periods.
Some experts believe Ronaldo's greatest strength was his ability to punish the lesser teams as they tired (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8197918.stm) - and with all respect to Burnley they would fall into that category - but the tension here came from counting down the clock as opposed to any serious supremacy from United.
Ferguson insists the Old Trafford chequebook has been put away for this transfer window, but you wonder if he will be tempted to flick through his contacts book again on the evidence of the first two games of this season.
For Burnley, the emotions could not have been more contrasting. Fireworks went off in the distance beyond Turf Moor as hundreds of fans gathered on Harry Potts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potts) Way an hour after the final whistle.
Burnley's population of a little more than 73,000 (http://wapedia.mobi/en/Burnley) is smaller than the average Old Trafford attendance - but this was a night that demonstrated the wonderful unpredictability that still exists in football.
In Turf Moor, the Premier League may have an old-fashioned stage, but on this thrilling evidence it also has a fitting one.
And with this win, Burnley achieved the landmark victory that will inject them with further self-belief and confidence that they can live alongside expensive and experienced company in the Premier League.
You can follow me throughout the forthcoming season at twitter.com (http://twitter.com/philmcnulty) and join me at Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/philmcnultybbc) (requires registration)
More... (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2009/08/burnley_high_on_emotion.html)