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{{Short description|Association football club in England}}
{{About|the men's football club|the women's football club|Burnley F.C. Women|the youth teams|Burnley F.C. Academy}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname    = Burnley
| image       = Burnley FC Logo.svg
| upright     = 0.8
| alt         = The crest of Burnley F.C.
| fullname    = Burnley Football Club
| nickname    = The Clarets
| founded     = {{start date and age|1882|5|18|df=yes}}
| ground      = [[Turf Moor]]
| capacity    = 21,944
| owner       = ALK Capital [[LLC]]
| chairman    = [[Alan Pace]]
| mgrtitle    = Head coach
| manager     = [[Scott Parker]]
| league      = {{English football updater|Burnley}}
| season      = {{English football updater|Burnley2}}
| position    = {{English football updater|Burnley3}}
| current     = 2025–26 Burnley F.C. season
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}}

'''Burnley Football Club''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɜr|n|l|i}}) is a professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Burnley]], [[Lancashire]], England. The team compete in the [[Premier League]], the top tier of the [[English football league system]]. Founded in 1882, Burnley were one of the first to become [[Professionalism in association football|professional]] (in 1883) and subsequently put pressure on [[the Football Association]] to permit payments to players. They entered the [[FA Cup]] for the first time in [[1885–86 FA Cup|1885–86]] and were one of the 12 founder members of the [[English Football League|Football League]] in [[1888–89 Football League|1888–89]], the world's first league football competition.

Burnley are one of only five sides to have won [[English football league system|all four professional divisions of English football]], and have twice been crowned [[List of English football champions|champions of England]], in [[1920–21 Burnley F.C. season|1920–21]] and [[1959–60 Burnley F.C. season|1959–60]]. They have won the FA Cup once, in [[1913–14 FA Cup|1913–14]], and have won the [[FA Community Shield|FA Charity Shield]] twice, in [[1960 FA Charity Shield|1960]] and [[1973 FA Charity Shield|1973]]. The team have also finished as runners-up in both the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] and FA Cup on two occasions. During the 1920–21 campaign, Burnley embarked on a 30-match unbeaten league run, setting an English record.{{efn|It stood as the longest stretch without defeat in a single English professional league season until [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] bettered it in [[2003–04 Arsenal F.C. season|2003–04]].<ref name=RememberingRecord/>}} From the 1950s until the 1970s, under chairman [[Bob Lord (football chairman)|Bob Lord]], Burnley were renowned for their youth policy and [[Scout (association football)|scouting system]], and were one of the first to set up a purpose-built [[Training ground (association football)|training ground]]. The majority of the team that won the 1959–60 league title had progressed through the [[Burnley F.C. Academy|club's youth academy]]. At the time, Burnley—with a population of 80,000—became one of the smallest towns to produce an English first-tier champion.{{efn|name=Population}}

The team have played home games at [[Turf Moor]] since 1883, after they had moved from their original premises at Calder Vale. Nicknamed "the Clarets", the club colours of [[Wine (color)#Claret|claret]] and blue were adopted in 1910. The club's current emblem is based on the town of Burnley's coat of arms. The side have a long-standing rivalry with nearby club [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], with whom they contest the [[East Lancashire derby|East Lancashire Derby]]. Burnley's record appearance holder is [[Jerry Dawson (footballer, born 1888)|Jerry Dawson]], who made 569 appearances in a 22-year playing spell with the team, and their record goalscorer is [[George Beel]] with 188 goals.

== History ==
{{Main|History of Burnley F.C.}}
{{About||a statistical breakdown by season|List of Burnley F.C. seasons|the club's record in international football|Burnley F.C. in European football}}

=== Beginnings and the first major honours (1882–1946) ===
[[File:Burnley FC 1890.png|thumb|One of the earliest photographed Burnley sides, with the [[Lancashire Senior Cup|Lancashire Cup]] in the middle of the photo|alt=A black and white image of the Burnley team with the Lancashire Cup trophy in the middle]]
The club was founded on 18 May 1882 by members of [[Rugby football|rugby]] team Burnley Rovers,{{efn|The ''Burnley Advertiser'' reported on 26 September 1874 that a [[rugby football]] team named "The Burnley Rovers Football Club" had "just been formed", already having 35 members.<ref>"Local News". ''Burnley Advertiser''. 26 September 1874. p. 2.</ref>}} who voted for a shift to [[association football]] as the sport was gaining prominence in the area.<ref name=Simp12>Simpson (2007), p. 12</ref> The suffix "Rovers" was dropped a few days later.<ref name=Simp12 /> The side won their first silverware in 1883: the Dr Dean's Cup, a [[Single-elimination tournament|knockout competition]] between amateur clubs in the Burnley area.<ref name=DrDean>{{Cite web|last=Simpson|first=Ray|date=5 December 2017|title=The Story Of The Dr Dean Trophy|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/2017/december/the-story-of-the-dr-dean-trophy/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806100407/https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/2017/december/the-story-of-the-dr-dean-trophy/|archive-date=6 August 2020|access-date=4 September 2019|publisher=Burnley F.C.}}</ref> By the end of the year, the club turned [[Professionalism in association football|professional]] and signed many Scottish players, who were regarded as the best footballers by the Burnley committee. As a result, Burnley refused to join the [[The Football Association|Football Association]] (FA) and its [[FA Cup]] because the association barred professional players.<ref name=Simp2024>Simpson (2007), pp. 20–24</ref> In 1884, Burnley led a group of 35 other clubs in the formation of the breakaway [[British Football Association]] (BFA) to challenge the FA's supremacy. The FA changed its rule in 1885, allowing professionalism, and Burnley made their first appearance in the FA Cup in [[1885–86 FA Cup|1885–86]].<ref name=Simp2024 /><ref>Butler (1991), p. 30</ref> In October 1886, Burnley's [[Turf Moor]] became the first professional ground to be visited by a member of the [[British royal family|royal family]], when [[Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale|Prince Albert Victor]] attended a [[Exhibition game|friendly]] between Burnley and [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]].<ref name=DrDean /> The club was among the twelve founders of the [[English Football League|Football League]] in [[1888–89 Burnley F.C. season|1888–89]], the world's first league football competition, and one of the six based in [[Lancashire]].<ref name=Simp2830>Simpson (2007), pp. 28–30</ref> In the second match, [[William Tait (footballer)|William Tait]] became the first player in history to score a league [[hat-trick]], with his three goals against Bolton Wanderers securing Burnley's inaugural win in the competition.<ref name=Simp2830 /> In [[1889–90 Burnley F.C. season|1889–90]], they claimed their first [[Lancashire Senior Cup|Lancashire Cup]], after beating local rivals [[Blackburn Rovers]] in the final.<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 35–36</ref>

Burnley were [[Promotion and relegation|relegated]] to the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] for the first time in [[1896–97 Football League|1896–97]].<ref name=Rundle /> The team won the division the [[1897–98 Football League|next season]]; they lost only two of thirty matches before gaining promotion through a four-team [[Playoffs|play-off]] series called [[Football League test matches|test matches]], although the last game against [[Football League First Division|First Division]] club [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke]] was controversial. It finished 0–0 as both needed only a [[Tie (draw)|draw]] for a top flight place, and it was later named "[t]he match without a shot at goal".<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 67–68</ref> Burnley were relegated again in [[1899–1900 Football League|1899–1900]] and became embroiled in controversy when [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] [[Jack Hillman]] attempted to bribe opponents [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] during the final match of the season, which resulted in his suspension for the entire following campaign.<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 75–76</ref> It is possibly the earliest recorded case of [[match fixing]] in football.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/aug/09/theknowledge.sport|title=The earliest recorded case of match-fixing|last1=Dart|first1=James|last2=Bandini|first2=Nicky|date=9 August 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727052854/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/aug/09/theknowledge.sport|archive-date=27 July 2020|website=The Guardian|access-date=25 January 2018}}</ref> The side continued to play in the Second Division and even finished in bottom place in [[1902–03 Football League|1902–03]]—but were [[Re-election (Football League)|re-elected]]—as the club got into financial difficulties.<ref name=Simp529 /><ref>Simpson (2007), p. 83</ref>

[[File:Burnley F.C. 1920-21.jpg|thumb|right|Team photograph of the Championship-winning side of the [[1920–21 Burnley F.C. season|1920–21 season]]|alt=A black and white picture of Burnley posing behind a football trophy]]
Harry Windle was named chairman in 1909, after which the club's finances turned around.<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 6, 119, 186, 222</ref> In 1910, the Burnley directors changed the club's colours from green to [[Wine (color)#Claret|claret]] and blue, and appointed [[John Haworth]] as the team's new [[Manager (association football)|manager]].<ref name=Simp540542>Simpson (2007), pp. 540–542</ref> In [[1912–13 in English football|1912–13]], the side won promotion to the first tier, and the following season, Burnley won their first major honour, beating [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in the [[1914 FA Cup final]].<ref name=Rundle /> [[Bert Freeman]] scored the only goal as Burnley became the first club to defeat five top tier sides in one cup season. [[Tommy Boyle (footballer, born 1886)|Tommy Boyle]] became the first [[Captain (association football)|captain]] to receive the trophy from a reigning monarch, King [[George V]].<ref name=Simp130132>Simpson (2007), pp. 130–132</ref> The team finished second to [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] in [[1919–20 Football League|1919–20]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=England 1919–20|url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1919-20.html|last1=Felton|first1=Paul|last2=Spencer|first2=Barry|date=31 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727052915/http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1919-20.html|archive-date=27 July 2020|publisher=RSSSF|access-date=26 May 2020}}</ref> before winning their first ever First Division championship in [[1920–21 Burnley F.C. season|1920–21]].<ref name=Rundle /> Burnley lost the opening three games but went unbeaten in the following 30 league matches, setting an English record.<ref name=RememberingRecord>{{Cite web|date=26 March 2021|title=Remembering The Record Breakers|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/remembering-the-record-breakers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421084053/https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/remembering-the-record-breakers|archive-date=21 April 2021|access-date=21 April 2021|publisher=Burnley F.C.}}</ref> Nine seasons later, the team were relegated to the Second Division. They struggled in the second tier and avoided a further relegation in [[1931–32 Football League|1931–32]] by two points.<ref name=Simp529>Simpson (2007), p. 529</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=England 1931–32|url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1931-32.html|last1=Edwards|first1=Gareth|last2=Felton|first2=Paul|date=21 September 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727081324/http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1931-32.html|archive-date=27 July 2020|publisher=RSSSF|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref> The years through to the outbreak of the [[World War II|Second World War]] were characterised by mid-table league finishes.<ref name=Simp529 />

=== Progressive and golden era (1946–1976) ===
In [[1946–47 in English football|1946–47]], the first season of post-war League football, Burnley won promotion to the First Division and reached the [[1947 FA Cup final|FA Cup final]], in which they were defeated by [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] after [[Overtime (sports)|extra time]]. The team's defence was nicknamed "The Iron Curtain", since they conceded only 29 goals in 42 league matches.<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 240–242</ref> [[Alan Brown (footballer, born 1914)|Alan Brown]], captain of Burnley's 1946–47 side,<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 545–546</ref> was appointed the club's manager in 1954,<ref>Quelch (2015), pp. 207–208</ref> with [[Bob Lord (football chairman)|Bob Lord]] becoming chairman a year later.<ref name=FootballTimes /> The club became one of the most progressive around under their tenures.<ref name=Quelch199206>Quelch (2015), pp. 199–206</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=York|first=Gary|date=24 May 2007|title=John Connelly life story: Part 1|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/burnley_fc/news/1422640.John_Connelly_life_story__Part_1/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222222233/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/1422640.john-connelly-life-story-part-1/|archive-date=22 December 2020|access-date=25 January 2018|website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> Burnley were one of the first to set up a purpose-built [[Training ground (association football)|training ground]], at [[Gawthorpe Hall|Gawthorpe]],<ref name=FootballTimes /><ref name=Marshall2017>{{Cite web|last=Marshall|first=Tyrone|date=24 March 2017|title=Training ground move a sign of our ambition, says Burnley captain Tom Heaton as Clarets move into their new home|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/15174299.training-ground-move-sign-ambition-says-burnley-captain-tom-heaton-clarets-move-new-home/|access-date=15 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222222247/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/15174299.training-ground-move-sign-ambition-says-burnley-captain-tom-heaton-clarets-move-new-home/|archive-date=22 December 2020|website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> and they became renowned for their youth policy and [[Scout (association football)|scouting system]], which yielded many young talents.<ref name=Quelch199206 /> In 1958, former Burnley player [[Harry Potts]] was appointed manager.<ref name=Ponting1996 /> His squad mainly revolved around the duo of captain [[Jimmy Adamson]] and [[Jimmy McIlroy]], the team's [[playmaker]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Glanville|first=Brian|date=20 August 2018|title=Jimmy McIlroy obituary|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/20/jimmy-mcilroy-obituary|access-date=26 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222005113/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/20/jimmy-mcilroy-obituary|archive-date=22 December 2020}}</ref> Potts often employed the then unfashionable [[4-4-2 formation|4–4–2 formation]] and he implemented a [[Total Football]] playing style.<ref name=FootballTimes>{{Cite news|url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/02/27/burnley-total-football-and-the-pioneering-title-win-of-1959-60/|title=Burnley, Total Football and the pioneering title win of 1959/60|last=McParlan|first=Paul|date=27 February 2018|work=These Football Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222222230/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/02/27/burnley-total-football-and-the-pioneering-title-win-of-1959-60/|archive-date=22 December 2020|access-date=10 June 2018}}</ref><ref name=Ponting1996>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-harry-potts-1325268.html|title=Obituary: Harry Potts|last=Ponting|first=Ivan|date=22 January 1996|work=The Independent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223101709/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-harry-potts-1325268.html|archive-date=23 December 2020|access-date=10 June 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Gawthorpe Training Ground.jpg|thumb|left|[[Gawthorpe Hall|Gawthorpe]] ''(2017 photograph)'' was one of the first purpose-built [[Training ground (association football)|training grounds]].|alt=Burnley's training ground at Gawthorpe]]
Burnley clinched a second First Division title in [[1959–60 Burnley F.C. season|1959–60]].<ref name=Rundle /> They had not topped the table until the last match was played out.<ref>Quelch (2015), p. 197</ref>{{efn|Burnley topped the league table between 25 and 26 August 1959 after their second game but fell down to third place after the other teams completed their second fixtures.<ref>Quelch (2015), pp. 72–76</ref>}} The squad cost only [[Pound sign|£]]13,000 ({{Inflation|UK|13000|1959|r=-4|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}{{Inflation-fn|UK|group=lower-alpha}}) in [[Transfer (association football)|transfer]] fees—£8,000 on McIlroy in 1950 and £5,000 on [[Full back (association football)|left-back]] [[Alex Elder]] in 1959. The other Burnley players had progressed through the [[Burnley F.C. Academy|club's youth academy]].<ref name=Quelch199206 /> With 80,000 inhabitants, the town of Burnley became one of the smallest to have an English first tier champion.<ref name=Quelch199206 />{{efn|name=Population|[[Burnley]]'s population had reduced by around 20 per cent since the club last [[1920–21 Burnley F.C. season|won the First Division in 1921]].<ref name=Quelch199206 />}} The side travelled to the United States after the season ended to represent England in the [[International Soccer League]], the first modern international American soccer tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Litterer|first=David A.|date=15 December 1999|title=USA – International Soccer League II|url=https://www.rsssf.org/usadave/islii.html|access-date=21 July 2020|publisher=RSSSF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727081521/http://www.rsssf.com/usadave/islii.html|archive-date=27 July 2020}}</ref> The following season, Burnley played in [[UEFA competitions|European competition]] for the first time in the [[1960–61 European Cup]]. They defeated former [[List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals|finalists]] [[Stade de Reims|Reims]] in the first round, but went out against [[Hamburger SV]] in the quarter-finals.<ref name=Simp296297>Simpson (2007), pp. 296–297</ref> The team finished the [[1961–62 Football League#First Division|1961–62 First Division]] as runners-up to newcomers [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] after winning only one of the last ten matches, and had a run to the [[1962 FA Cup final]] but lost against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. Adamson was named [[FWA Footballer of the Year]], however, with McIlroy as runner-up.<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 301–303</ref>

The [[Maximum wage#Association football|maximum wage]] in the Football League was abolished in 1961, which meant that clubs from small towns like Burnley could no longer compete financially with sides from larger settlements.<ref name=FootballTimes /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Shaw|first=Phil|date=18 January 2016|title=EFL Official Website Fifty-five years to the day: £20 maximum wage cap abolished by Football League clubs|publisher=English Football League|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2016/january/fifty-five-years-to-the-day-20-maximum-wage-cap-abolished-by-football-league-clubs/|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223101654/https://www.efl.com/news/2016/january/fifty-five-years-to-the-day-20-maximum-wage-cap-abolished-by-football-league-clubs/|archive-date=23 December 2020}}</ref> The controversial departure of McIlroy to Stoke City in 1963{{efn|McIlroy was sold to [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] during the [[1962–63 Football League|1962–63 campaign]] for a fee of £25,000, after he was placed on the transfer list. This caused outrage among the Burnley fans, and some never returned to Turf Moor.<ref name=Simp304311 /> In 1999, McIlroy stated that his friendship with Reg Cooke, a director at Burnley and rival of chairman [[Bob Lord (football chairman)|Bob Lord]], might have led to his sale by Lord.<ref>{{Cite news|date=7 December 1999|title=Why Bob Lord sold me, by Jimmy McIlroy|website=Lancashire Telegraph|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6100467.bob-lord-sold-jimmy-mcilroy/|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726172212/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6100467.bob-lord-sold-jimmy-mcilroy/|archive-date=26 July 2021}}</ref>}} and Adamson's retirement in 1964 also damaged the club's fortunes.<ref name=Simp304311>Simpson (2007), pp. 304–311</ref> Burnley retained their place in the First Division throughout the decade, however, finishing third in both the [[1962–63 in English football|1962–63]] and [[1965–66 in English football|1965–66]] seasons, and qualifying for the [[1966–67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]].<ref name=Rundle>{{Cite web|last=Rundle|first=Richard|title=Burnley|url=https://www.fchd.info/BURNLEY.HTM|access-date=3 May 2025|publisher=Football Club History Database}}</ref> Potts was replaced by Adamson as manager in 1970. Adamson hailed his squad as the "Team of the Seventies", but he was unable to halt the slide as relegation followed in [[1970–71 Football League|1970–71]].<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 546–549</ref> Burnley won the Second Division title in [[1972–73 Football League|1972–73]], and were invited to play in the [[1973 FA Charity Shield]],{{efn|name=FACS1973|The [[1972–73 Football League First Division|1972–73 First Division]] champions [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] and the [[1972–73 FA Cup]] winners [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] declined to compete in the [[1973 FA Charity Shield]], so [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]—the reigning holders of the Shield—and Second Division champions Burnley played instead.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manchester City v Burnley, 18 August 1973|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-city-v-burnley-18-august-1973-367023/|access-date=22 January 2022|website=11v11|publisher=AFS Enterprises|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225085325/https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-city-v-burnley-18-august-1973-367023/|archive-date=25 December 2022}}</ref>}} where they emerged as winners against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]].<ref name=CityCharity>{{Cite web|last=Clayton|first=David|date=2 August 2018|title=City and the FA Community Shield: Complete record|url=https://www.mancity.com/news/first-team/first-team-news/2018/august/manchester-city-fa-community-shield-complete-story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727055757/https://www.mancity.com/news/first-team/first-team-news/2018/august/manchester-city-fa-community-shield-complete-story|archive-date=27 July 2020|access-date=21 July 2020|publisher=Manchester City F.C.}}</ref> In 1975, the team were victims of one of the great FA Cup shocks of all time when [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]], then in the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]], won 1–0 at Turf Moor.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 February 2017|title=The biggest FA Cup shocks in the history of the game|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/lincoln-burnley-quarter-finals-history-goal-fa-cup-shocks-history-a7587436.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117073137/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/lincoln-burnley-quarter-finals-history-goal-fa-cup-shocks-history-a7587436.html|archive-date=17 November 2020|access-date=21 July 2020|work=The Independent}}</ref> Adamson left the club in January 1976, and relegation from the First Division followed later that year.<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 357–358</ref> During this period, a drop in home attendances combined with an enlarged debt forced Burnley to sell star players such as [[Martin Dobson]] and [[Leighton James]], which caused a rapid decline.<ref>Quelch (2017), pp. 17–20</ref>

=== Near oblivion and recovery (1976–2020) ===
[[File:Burnley FC League Performance.svg|thumb|upright=2.0|Graph showing Burnley's performance from the inaugural season of the [[The Football League|Football League]] in [[The Football League 1888–89|1888–89]] to the present|alt=Refer to caption]]
The team were relegated to the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] for the first time in [[1979–80 Burnley F.C. season|1979–80]].<ref name=Rundle /> Under the management of former Burnley player [[Brian Miller (footballer)|Brian Miller]],<ref name=Simp550554>Simpson (2007), pp. 550–554</ref> they returned to the second tier as champions in [[1981–82 Burnley F.C. season|1981–82]]. However, this return was short-lived and lasted only one year.<ref name=Rundle /> Managerial changes continued to be made in a search for success; Miller was replaced by [[Frank Casper]] in early 1983, he by [[John Bond (footballer)|John Bond]] before the [[1983–84 Burnley F.C. season|1983–84]] season and Bond himself by [[John Benson (footballer, born 1942)|John Benson]] a season later.<ref name=Simp550554 /> Bond was the first manager since [[Frank Hill]] (1948–1954) without a previous playing career at the club. He was criticised by the fans for signing expensive players increasing Burnley's debt, and for selling the young talents [[Lee Dixon]], [[Brian Laws]] and [[Trevor Steven]].<ref>Quelch (2017), pp. 24–39</ref> Benson was in charge when Burnley were relegated to the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] for the first time at the end of the [[1984–85 Burnley F.C. season|1984–85]] season.<ref name=Simp550554 /> The team avoided relegation to the [[National League (division)|Football Conference]], the highest level of [[non-League football]], on the last day in [[1986–87 Burnley F.C. season|1986–87]], after they won against [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Orient]] and their rivals drew or lost.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Davies|first=Tom|date=26 April 2018|title=Golden Goal: Neil Grewcock saves Burnley v Orient (1987)|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/apr/26/golden-goal-neil-grewcock-saves-burnley-v-orient-1987|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222203323/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/apr/26/golden-goal-neil-grewcock-saves-burnley-v-orient-1987|archive-date=22 December 2020|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Wade Elliott's 2009 Championship play-off Final Goal.jpg|thumb|right|[[Wade Elliott]]'s goal earned Burnley a 1–0 victory over [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] in the [[2009 Football League Championship play-off final|2009 Championship play-off final]].|alt=A football player in a red and white shirt and a football player in a light blue shirt are watching the ball approaching the goal, while the goalkeeper is diving to his right-hand side]]
In 1988, Burnley played [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] in the [[1988 Associate Members' Cup final|final]] of the [[EFL Trophy|Associate Members' Cup]] but lost 2–0. The match was attended by 80,000 people, a record for a match between two sides from the fourth tier.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/4804537.Sherpa_final_a_turning_point_in_Burnley_s_history/|title=Sherpa final a turning point in Burnley's history|last=Donlan|first=Matt|date=18 December 2009|website=Lancashire Telegraph|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222214147/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/4804537.sherpa-final-turning-point-burnleys-history/|archive-date=22 December 2020|access-date=26 January 2018}}</ref> The team won the Fourth Division in [[1991–92 Burnley F.C. season|1991–92]] under manager [[Jimmy Mullen (footballer, born 1952)|Jimmy Mullen]]. He had succeeded Casper in October 1991 and won his first nine league matches as manager.<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 420–423</ref> By winning the fourth tier, Burnley became only the second club to win [[English football league system|all four professional divisions of English football]], after Wolverhampton Wanderers.<ref name=Tyler2017>{{Cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12038/10868826/martin-tylers-stats-most-own-goals-fewest-different-scorers-in-a-season|title=Martin Tyler's stats: Most own goals, fewest different scorers in a season|last=Tyler|first=Martin|date=9 May 2017|publisher=Sky Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414134011/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12038/10868826/martin-tylers-stats-most-own-goals-fewest-different-scorers-in-a-season|archive-date=14 April 2020|access-date=15 August 2018}}</ref><ref name=WolvesHonours>{{Cite web|title=Club Honours & Records|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/club/history/club-records/|access-date=21 July 2020|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112023938/https://www.wolves.co.uk/club/history/club-records/|archive-date=12 November 2020}}</ref> Burnley won the [[EFL League One play-offs|Second Division play-offs]] in [[1993–94 Burnley F.C. season|1993–94]] and gained promotion to the second tier.<ref name=Rundle /> Relegation followed after one season,<ref name=Rundle /> and in [[1997–98 Burnley F.C. season|1997–98]] only a last-day victory over [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]] prevented relegation back into the fourth tier.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A turning point in Burnley's history – story of dramatic 1998 last day drama by the man who saved the Clarets|url=https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/turning-point-burnleys-history-story-18190254|last=James|first=Alex|date=3 May 2020|website=Lancs Live|access-date=26 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924052320/https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/turning-point-burnleys-history-story-18190254|archive-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> Under manager [[Stan Ternent]], Burnley finished second in [[1999–2000 Burnley F.C. season|1999–2000]] and won promotion to the second tier.<ref>Simpson (2007), p. 454</ref> In early 2002, financial problems caused by the collapse of [[ITV Digital]] brought the club close to [[Administration (British football)|administration]].<ref>Quelch (2017), pp. 197–202</ref> Ternent was sacked in 2004, after he avoided relegation with a squad composed of several [[Loan (sports)|loaned players]] and some players who were not entirely fit.<ref>Quelch (2017), pp. 204–213</ref> The [[2008–09 Burnley F.C. season|2008–09]] campaign, with [[Owen Coyle]] in charge, ended with promotion to the [[Premier League]]. [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] were defeated in the [[2009 Football League Championship play-off final|Championship play-off final]], which meant a return to the top flight after 33 years.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fletcher|first=Paul|date=25 May 2009|title=Burnley 1–0 Sheff Utd|publisher=BBC Sport|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8060970.stm|access-date=26 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122132642/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8060970.stm|archive-date=22 November 2020}}</ref> Burnley also reached the semi-final of the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] for the first time in over 25 years but were beaten on [[Two-legged tie|aggregate]] by Tottenham in the last minutes of the second leg.<ref name=Rundle /><ref>{{Cite web|title=England League Cup 2008/09|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engleagcup09.html|last=King|first=Ian|date=6 March 2009|access-date=26 May 2020|publisher=RSSSF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727053402/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engleagcup09.html|archive-date=27 July 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Sean Dyche.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Manager [[Sean Dyche]] guided Burnley to two promotions to the [[Premier League]].|alt=Sean Dyche during an interview]]
Promotion made the town of Burnley one of the smallest to host a Premier League club.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/sports/soccer/premier-league-huddersfield-town.html|title=When the Premier League Puts Your Town on the Map|last=Smith|first=Rory|date=9 August 2017|work=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034424/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/sports/soccer/premier-league-huddersfield-town.html|archive-date=12 November 2020|access-date=23 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/32417417|title=Bournemouth: The minnows who made the Premier League|date=28 April 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=23 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714064250/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/32417417|archive-date=14 July 2019}}</ref> The team started the season well and became the first newly promoted side in the competition to win their first four home games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/TheGaffer/0,,10413~1816946,00.html|title=Coyle Hails Best Win Yet|date=6 October 2009|publisher=Burnley F.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006031823/http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/TheGaffer/0,,10413~1816946,00.html|archive-date=6 October 2009|access-date=24 July 2018}}</ref> However, Coyle left the club in January 2010 to manage local rivals Bolton Wanderers. He was replaced by former Burnley player Brian Laws, but the team's form plummeted and they were relegated after a single season.<ref>Quelch (2017), pp. 282–291</ref> [[Sean Dyche]] was appointed manager in October 2012.<ref name=DycheManager>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/20138319|title=Burnley: Sean Dyche named as new manager at Turf Moor|date=30 October 2012|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807161459/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/20138319|archive-date=7 August 2020}}</ref> In his first full season in charge, Dyche guided Burnley back to the Premier League in [[2013–14 Burnley F.C. season|2013–14]] on a tight budget and with a small squad.<ref>Quelch (2017), pp. 318–332</ref> The team went down after one season but won the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] title on their return in [[2015–16 Burnley F.C. season|2015–16]], ending the season with a run of 23 league games undefeated.<ref name=Rundle /><ref name=Marshall2016>{{Cite web|last=Marshall|first=Tyrone|date=7 May 2016|title='It means a lot' – Sean Dyche hails Burnley's title triumph after Charlton victory|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14478023.it-means-lot---sean-dyche-hails-burnleys-title-triumph-charlton-victory/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022232814/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14478023.it-means-lot---sean-dyche-hails-burnleys-title-triumph-charlton-victory/|archive-date=22 October 2020|access-date=11 April 2020|website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> In 2017, the club completed construction of Barnfield Training Centre—the replacement of Gawthorpe—with Dyche being involved in the training ground's design.<ref name=Marshall2017 /> Burnley finished seventh in the [[2017–18 Burnley F.C. season|2017–18 Premier League]], which meant qualification for the [[2018–19 UEFA Europa League]] and a return to European football after 51 years.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sutcliffe|first=Steve|date=13 May 2018|title=Burnley 1–2 Bournemouth|publisher=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44020161|access-date=26 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223101655/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44020161|archive-date=23 December 2020}}</ref> The team failed to reach the group stage, as they were eliminated in the play-off round by Greek club [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Johnston|first=Neil|date=30 August 2018|title=Burnley 1–1 Olympiakos (2–4 on agg)|publisher=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45350947|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831125418/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45350947|archive-date=31 August 2019|access-date=31 August 2018}}</ref>

=== Foreign owners (2020–present) ===
In December 2020, American investment company ALK Capital acquired an 84% stake in Burnley for £170 million.<ref name=Wood2021>{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=Liam|date=1 February 2021|title=Burnley chairman Alan Pace reported to be in market for takeover at Serie A club Spezia|url=https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/burnley-spezia-takeover-alan-pace-19748557|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307143422/https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/burnley-spezia-takeover-alan-pace-19748557|archive-date=7 March 2021|access-date=1 September 2021|website=Lancs Live}}</ref> It was the first time the club was run by anyone other than local businessmen and Burnley supporters.<ref name=Geldard2020>{{Cite web|last=Geldard|first=Suzanne|date=31 December 2020|title=Burnley's takeover by American company ALK Capital complete|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18978107.burnleys-takeover-american-company-alk-capital-complete/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231010830/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18978107.burnleys-takeover-american-company-alk-capital-complete/|archive-date=31 December 2020|access-date=31 December 2020|website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> In [[2021–22 Burnley F.C. season|2021–22]], Burnley were relegated back to the Championship after they lost on the final matchday and finished in 18th place.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ostlere|first=Lawrence|date=22 May 2022|title=Burnley relegated from Premier League after defeat by Newcastle as Leeds survive on final day|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/burnley-relegated-leeds-newcastle-wilson-raphinha-b2084653.html|access-date=23 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728144136/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/burnley-relegated-leeds-newcastle-wilson-raphinha-b2084653.html|archive-date=28 July 2022}}</ref> In June 2022, the Belgian [[Vincent Kompany]] was appointed Burnley's manager, becoming the first person from outside the [[British Isles]] to manage the club.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kotasthane |first=Kalash |date=16 June 2022 |title=Getting to Know: Burnley |url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2022/june/getting-to-know-burnley/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616150058/https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2022/june/getting-to-know-burnley/ |archive-date=16 June 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022 |publisher=Coventry City F.C.}}</ref> During his first months in charge, he rebuilt the squad on a budget, signing mostly young and foreign players. Kompany also implemented a possession-based, attacking style of play.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ducker |first=James |date=11 November 2022 |title=How Vincent Kompany turned Burnley from route one merchants to entertainers |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/11/11/how-vincent-kompany-turned-burnley-route-one-merchants-entertainers/ |access-date=28 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111134751/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/11/11/how-vincent-kompany-turned-burnley-route-one-merchants-entertainers/ |archive-date=11 November 2022}}</ref> Burnley secured promotion back to the Premier League in [[2022–23 Burnley F.C. season|2022–23]] with seven matches remaining—a Championship record—before winning the Championship title following a 1–0 victory at local rivals Blackburn Rovers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodlad |first=Nat |date=8 April 2023 |title=Famous faces react after Burnley win promotion to the Premier League |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/23443666.famous-faces-react-burnley-win-promotion-premier-league/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408103823/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/23443666.famous-faces-react-burnley-win-promotion-premier-league/ |archive-date=8 April 2023 |access-date=9 May 2023 |website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref><ref name=Hurcom2023>{{Cite web |last=Hurcom |first=Sophie |date=25 April 2023 |title=Burnley beat Blackburn to win Championship title |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65307371 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502220221/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65307371 |archive-date=2 May 2023 |access-date=9 May 2023 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> The [[2023–24 Burnley F.C. season|following season]], Burnley were relegated again from the Premier League, finishing 19th with a club record low tally of 24 points.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tables |url=https://www.premierleague.com/tables |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519223400/https://www.premierleague.com/tables |archive-date=19 May 2024 |access-date=20 May 2024 |publisher=Premier League}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2024 |title=Burnley 1–2 Nottingham Forest: Key stats |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ce445w7dd07o |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520132506/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ce445w7dd07o |archive-date=20 May 2024 |access-date=20 May 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, however, Kompany went to [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] for a fee of £10.2 million, which made him [[List of most expensive association football transfers#Managers|one of the most expensive managers in history]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 May 2024 |title=Vincent Kompany: Bayern Munich appoint Burnley boss as new head coach to replace Thomas Tuchel |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11890/13141664/vincent-kompany-bayern-munich-appoint-burnley-boss-as-new-head-coach-to-replace-thomas-tuchel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529173941/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11890/13141664/vincent-kompany-bayern-munich-appoint-burnley-boss-as-new-head-coach-to-replace-thomas-tuchel |archive-date=29 May 2024 |access-date=29 May 2024 |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Scrafton |first=Matt |date=29 May 2024 |title=Burnley boss Vincent Kompany lands in Munich ahead of unveiling as new Bayern manager |url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/burnley-boss-vincent-kompany-lands-in-munich-ahead-of-unveiling-as-new-bayern-manager-4646218 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529174810/https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/burnley-boss-vincent-kompany-lands-in-munich-ahead-of-unveiling-as-new-bayern-manager-4646218 |archive-date=29 May 2024 |access-date=29 May 2024 |website=Burnley Express}}</ref>

Burnley won promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt under [[Scott Parker]], ending the [[2024–25 Burnley F.C. season|2024–25]] season with a club record 33-match unbeaten run.<ref name=BBCSport210425>{{Cite web |last=Brennan |first=Stuart |date=21 April 2025 |title=Burnley 2–1 Sheffield United: Clarets promoted along with Leeds |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cvg70ljnn2gt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428212341/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cvg70ljnn2gt |archive-date=28 April 2025 |access-date=21 April 2025 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref name=LancsTelegraph030525>{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Ian |date=3 May 2025 |title=Record-breaking Clarets win, but miss out on title |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25136819.record-breaking-clarets-win-miss-title/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505082910/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25136819.record-breaking-clarets-win-miss-title/ |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025 |website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> The team conceded just 16 goals in 46 matches—an average of 0.35 per game—setting the best defensive record in English league history.<ref name=LancsTelegraph030525 /><ref name=Telegraph170125>{{Cite web |last=Ducker |first=James |date=17 January 2025 |title=Burnley have England's meanest defence with these talented youngsters |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/01/17/burnley-england-meanest-defence-talented-kids/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250117082307/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/01/17/burnley-england-meanest-defence-talented-kids/ |archive-date=17 January 2025 |access-date=17 January 2025 |website=The Telegraph}}</ref> They also kept a record 30 [[Shutout|clean sheets]], never conceded more than one goal in any fixture, and became the first side to reach a three-figure points total in the same division on two occasions (101 points in 2022–23 and 100 in 2024–25).<ref name=BurnleyExp040525>{{Cite web |last=Scrafton |first=Matt |date=4 May 2025 |title=Verdict: Burnley's record-breaking, promotion-winning season doesn't get the fairytale ending it deserved |url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/verdict-burnleys-record-breaking-promotion-winning-season-doesnt-get-the-fairytale-ending-it-deserved-5112375 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505091506/https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/verdict-burnleys-record-breaking-promotion-winning-season-doesnt-get-the-fairytale-ending-it-deserved-5112375 |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025 |website=Burnley Express}}</ref><ref name=EFL030525>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2025 |title=Sky Bet Championship: Post-match stat pack |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2025/may/03/sky-bet-championship--post-match-stat-pack/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505091952/https://www.efl.com/news/2025/may/03/sky-bet-championship--post-match-stat-pack/ |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025 |publisher=English Football League}}</ref> Despite these accomplishments, they finished second behind [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] on [[goal difference]], becoming the first team in English football history to earn 100 points without winning the title.<ref name=LancsTelegraph030525 /><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2025 |title=Burnley 3–1 Millwall: Burnley miss Championship title on goal difference despite plundering 100 points |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/burnley-vs-millwall/report/509884 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505093342/https://www.skysports.com/football/burnley-vs-millwall/report/509884 |archive-date=5 May 2025 |access-date=5 May 2025 |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref>

== Kits and colours ==
{{Commons|Burnley F.C. kits}}
{{Football kit box
|align=right
|pattern_la=_white_stripes
|pattern_b=_burnley_88_89
|pattern_ra=_white_stripes
|leftarm=003366
|body=00366
|rightarm=003366
|shorts=003366
|socks=003366
|title=Burnley's strip in the inaugural season of the Football League (1888–89). The actual kit had long sleeves.
}}
In the early decades, Burnley used a variety of home [[Kit (association football)|kit]] designs and colours.<ref name=Simp586>Simpson (2007), p. 586</ref> During the first eight years, they used various permutations of blue and white, the colours of their forerunners Burnley Rovers.<ref name=Simp586 /> Before the start of the [[1890–91 Burnley F.C. season|1890–91]] season, the club adopted an all-blue shirt, but changed it to all-white mid-season.<ref name=Simp586 /> After spells in [[Amber (color)|amber]] and black, and amber and [[Wine (color)#Claret|claret]], Burnley wore pink and white striped shirts during 1894–95, before reverting to amber and black.<ref name=Simp586 /><ref name=historicalkits>{{Cite web|last=Moor|first=Dave|title=Burnley|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Burnley/Burnley.htm|access-date=31 May 2025|publisher=Historical Football Kits|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031114141/http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Burnley/Burnley.htm|archive-date=31 October 2022}}</ref> In the late 1890s, the club used an all-red shirt and from 1900 until 1910 it wore an all-green jersey.<ref name=Simp586 /> In 1910, Burnley changed their colours to claret and blue, which they have had for most of their history, save for a spell in white shirts during the second half of the 1930s and the Second World War.<ref name=Simp586 /> The club re-registered its colours as claret and blue in 1946, following a successful appeal in the ''[[Burnley Express]]'' that brought in enough [[Rationing in the United Kingdom#Clothing|donated coupons]] from supporters to obtain a new kit.<ref>"The Clarets are back!" ''Burnley Express''. 17 July 1946. p. 4.</ref> The change in colours also contributed to the emergence of Burnley's nickname, "the Clarets".<ref name=Simp586 /> In earlier decades, the side had been referred to by monikers such as "the Turfites", "the Moorites", "the Royalites" and "the Brunsiders".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geldard |first=Suzanne |date=2 June 2007 |title=No 10: The meeting that gave birth to Clarets |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/1469176.no-10-meeting-gave-birth-clarets/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727055157/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/1469176.no-10-meeting-gave-birth-clarets/ |archive-date=27 July 2020 |access-date=27 July 2020 |website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref><ref>"Burnley v. Chesterfield". ''Northern Daily Telegraph''. 5 September 1903. p. 4.</ref>

Burnley's kits have been supplied by various manufacturers since 1975, when [[Umbro]] produced the club's jerseys, and have featured [[English football sponsorship|shirt sponsors]] since 1982.<ref name=historicalkits />{{efn|At the start of the [[2000–01 Burnley F.C. season|2000–01]] season, a planned sponsorship deal with [[Granville Technology Group|Time Computers]] fell through, leaving Burnley without a shirt sponsor for the entire campaign. During the final few matches of the season, the team wore shirts displaying the club's website address.<ref>"Clarets in record deal". ''Lancashire Telegraph''. 12 June 2001. p. 39.</ref>}} The first sponsor's name to appear on Burnley shirts was that of Poco Homes, a [[Manchester]]-based building firm, which featured from 1982 to 1983.<ref name=historicalkits /><ref>"Poco put their shirt on Clarets". ''Burnley Express''. 24 September 1982. p. 31.</ref> The club's longest-running shirt sponsorship was with [[Endsleigh Insurance]], lasting from 1988 to 1998.<ref name=historicalkits /> In 2017, the club secured its first sleeve sponsorship deal, with the logo of the mobile game ''Golf Clash''—a title developed by [[TT Games#Playdemic|Playdemic]]—appearing on the left sleeve of the Burnley shirts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carp |first=Sam |date=2 October 2017 |title=Burnley score first ever sleeve sponsor |url=https://www.sportspro.com/news/burnley-score-first-ever-sleeve-sponsor/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516110840/https://www.sportspro.com/news/burnley-score-first-ever-sleeve-sponsor/ |archive-date=16 May 2025 |access-date=16 May 2025 |website=SportsPro}}</ref>

== Crest ==
[[File:Burnley Crest, The Mall Shopping Centre - geograph.org.uk - 849925 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|The town of Burnley's coat of arms formed the foundation for the club's current crest.|alt=The coat of arms of Burnley with an inscription on the bottom reading "Pretiumque et causa laboris"]]
Burnley's jerseys first sported a [[club crest|crest]] in December 1887, when the team wore white shirts with a blue sash featuring the [[coat of arms of the Prince of Wales]], commemorating Prince Albert Victor's visit to Turf Moor the previous year—the first by a member of the royal family to a professional football ground.<ref name=DrDean /><ref name=historicalkits /> The royal arms were worn regularly until the 1894–95 season, but reappeared for the 1914 FA Cup final, attended by King George V.<ref name=Simp130132 /><ref name=historicalkits /> During the [[1934–35 FA Cup#Semi-Finals|1934–35 FA Cup semi-final]], the town of Burnley's coat of arms featured on the club's shirts for the first time.<ref name=historicalkits /> It returned for the 1947 FA Cup final,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moor|first=Dave|title=English FA Cup Finalists 1946 – 1949|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/English_Football_League/FA_Cup_Finals/1946-1949.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727075109/http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/English_Football_League/FA_Cup_Finals/1946-1949.html|archive-date=27 July 2020|access-date=26 May 2020|publisher=Historical Football Kits}}</ref> and the town's arms became a permanent feature on Burnley's jerseys for nearly a decade following their 1959–60 First Division title win. From 1969 to 1979 on home kits, and until 1976 on [[Away colours|away shirts]], the team wore a stylised "BFC" [[Monogram|cypher]].<ref name=historicalkits />

In 1972, Burnley's commercial manager [[Jack Butterfield (footballer)|Jack Butterfield]] announced the club's intention to introduce a badge that could be [[copyright]]ed, prompting a public [[design competition]], which was won by Mr Jolleys of [[Ashton-on-Ribble]]. His design featured two lions, two [[Red Rose of Lancaster|red roses]], a bee, a [[Shuttle (weaving)|shuttle]], a knight's helmet and a hand.<ref>Simpson (2007), p. 341</ref> The resulting crest was officially adopted by the club in 1973, and first appeared on Burnley's away kits at the start of the [[1976–77 Burnley F.C. season|1976–77]] season, before being introduced on the home shirts in 1979.<ref name=historicalkits /> It was replaced on the jerseys in 1983 by a simple white "B.F.C." cypher, but reinstated in 1987.<ref name=historicalkits />

In 2009, to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1959–60 title, the club reintroduced the town's arms used during the 1960s, replacing its Latin motto "''Pretiumque et Causa Laboris''" ({{lit|The prize and the cause of [our] labour}}) with the inscription "Burnley Football Club" the following year.<ref name=historicalkits /><ref name=sbnation>{{Cite news|last=Thomas|first=Andi|date=16 January 2015|title=Why Burnley's badge is the best in the Premier League|work=SB Nation|url=https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2015/1/16/7557207/burnley-badge-premier-league|access-date=19 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727055912/https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2015/1/16/7557207/burnley-badge-premier-league|archive-date=27 July 2020}}</ref> In 2023, the crest's elements were rendered in white and placed on a claret shield,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Glenn |date=15 June 2023 |title=Burnley FC Update Crest Ahead of Premier League Return |url=https://news.sportslogos.net/2023/06/15/burnley-fc-update-crest-ahead-of-premier-league-return/soccer/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617141634/https://news.sportslogos.net/2023/06/15/burnley-fc-update-crest-ahead-of-premier-league-return/soccer/ |archive-date=17 June 2023 |access-date=17 June 2023 |website=SportsLogos.net}}</ref> appearing on the home kit from the 2024–25 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scrafton |first=Matt |date=10 July 2024 |title=Burnley unveil new Longside Stand-inspired home kit for 2024/25 Championship campaign |url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/burnley-unveil-new-longside-stand-inspired-home-kit-for-202425-championship-campaign-4698097 |access-date=24 August 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240826175410/https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/burnley-unveil-new-longside-stand-inspired-home-kit-for-202425-championship-campaign-4698097 |archive-date=26 August 2024 |website=Burnley Express}}</ref>

The club's current badge is based on the town of Burnley's coat of arms.<ref name=BeautiHist>{{Cite web|last=Eijden|first=Han van|date=27 September 2010|title=Burnley|url=https://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/burnley/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817181216/https://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/burnley/|archive-date=17 August 2020|access-date=10 September 2019|publisher=The Beautiful History}}</ref> The stork at the top of the crest refers to the Starkie family, who were prominent in the Burnley area. In its mouth it holds a [[Lacy knot]] of the [[de Lacy]] family, who held Burnley in the Middle Ages. The stork stands on a hill and cotton plants, which represents the town's cotton heritage. The hand below symbolises the town's motto "Hold to the Truth", derived from the [[Towneley family]]. The two bees reflect the town's hard work ethic, the lion represents royalty, and the [[Chevron (insignia)|chevron]] symbolises the [[River Brun]], which runs through Burnley.<ref name=sbnation /><ref name=BeautiHist />

== Stadium ==
{{Main|Turf Moor}}
The team have played their home games at Turf Moor since February 1883, which replaced their original premises at Calder Vale.<ref name=TMStory>{{Cite web|title=The Turf Moor Story|url=http://www.burnleyfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10413~1031447,00.html|date=3 July 2007|publisher=Burnley F.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309101845/http://www.burnleyfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10413~1031447,00.html|archive-date=9 March 2008|access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref> The Turf Moor site has been used for sport since at least 1843, when [[Burnley Cricket Club]] moved to the area.<ref name=Simp574>Simpson (2007), p. 574</ref><ref>Bennett (1948), pp. 258–259</ref> In 1883, they invited Burnley to a field adjacent to the cricket pitch.<ref name=TMStory /> Both clubs have remained there since, and only Lancashire rivals [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] have continuously occupied their stadium—[[Deepdale]]—for longer.<ref name=TMStory />

The ground originally consisted of only a pitch and the initial grandstand was not built until 1885.<ref name=Simp574 /> In 1888, the first league match at Turf Moor saw Burnley emerge as 4–1 winners over Bolton Wanderers, [[Fred Poland]] netting the first league goal at the stadium.<ref name=Simp2830 /> Turf Moor's capacity was increased to 50,000 under the chairman Harry Windle during the 1910s.<ref name=Simp130132 /> The ground hosted its only [[FA Cup semi-finals|FA Cup semi-final]] in 1922, between [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] and [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]], and five years later it hosted its only full international match, between [[England national football team|England]] and [[Wales national football team|Wales]] for the [[1927–28 British Home Championship|British Home Championship]].<ref>Simpson (2007), p. 575</ref> From the mid-1940s until the mid-1960s, crowds in the stadium averaged in the 20,000–35,000 range, and Burnley averaged a club-record attendance of 33,621 in the 1947–48 First Division.<ref>Wiseman (2009), pp. 17–18</ref> The attendance record for a single match was already set in 1924 against Huddersfield Town in an FA Cup third round tie, when 54,775 spectators attended.<ref name=Wiseman15>Wiseman (2009), p. 15</ref> In 1960, in an FA Cup fifth round [[Replay (sports)|replay]] game against [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]], there was an official attendance of 52,850. Some of the gates were broken down, however, and many uncounted fans poured into the ground.<ref>Quelch (2015), p. 158</ref>

Turf Moor's field had a slope until 1974, when the pitch was raised to minimise it.<ref name=TMStory /> During the mid-1990s, the ground underwent further refurbishment when the Longside and Bee Hole End terraces were replaced by [[All-seater stadium|all-seater stands]] following the recommendations of the [[Taylor Report]].<ref>Quelch (2017), pp. 149–151</ref> In 2019, the club built two corner stands for disabled home supporters between the Jimmy McIlroy and both the North and Bob Lord Stands to meet the Accessible Stadium Guide regulations.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 December 2017|title=Disabled Fans To Get New Facilities In Turf Moor Facelift|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/2017/december/disabled-to-get-new-facilities-in-turf-moor-facelift/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705220826/https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/2017/december/disabled-to-get-new-facilities-in-turf-moor-facelift/|archive-date=5 July 2020|access-date=5 July 2020|publisher=Burnley F.C.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=9 August 2019|title=Supporter Information: Accessible Stands and VAR|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/2019/august/supporter-information-accessible-stands-and-var/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809160709/https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/2019/august/supporter-information-accessible-stands-and-var/|archive-date=9 August 2019|access-date=5 July 2020|publisher=Burnley F.C.}}</ref> Turf Moor currently has a capacity of 21,944 and consists of four stands: the North Stand (formerly the Longside), the Jimmy McIlroy Stand (formerly the Bee Hole End), the Bob Lord Stand, and the Cricket Field Stand for home and away fans.<ref name=TMStory /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Burnley FC Stadium |url=https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/43/Burnley/stadium |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731092240/https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/43/Burnley/stadium |archive-date=31 July 2024 |access-date=31 July 2024 |publisher=Premier League}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to Turf Moor – Visiting Supporters Guide|url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/media/27596/burnley-visitors-guide.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731121957/https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/media/27596/burnley-visitors-guide.pdf|archive-date=31 July 2024|access-date=31 July 2024|publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|format=PDF}}</ref>

During a pre-season friendly against Italian side [[SS Lazio|Lazio]] at Turf Moor in August 2025, Burnley became the first football club in history to [[Live streaming|live stream]] a game in [[Immersion (virtual reality)|immersive virtual reality]].<ref name=BroadcastNow>{{Cite web |last=Bickerton |first=Jake |date=30 July 2025 |title=Burnley FC unveils first-ever VR matchday broadcast |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/tech-innovation/burnley-fc-unveils-first-ever-vr-matchday-broadcast/5207440.article |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250810170925/https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/tech-innovation/burnley-fc-unveils-first-ever-vr-matchday-broadcast/5207440.article |archive-date=10 August 2025 |access-date=10 August 2025 |website=Broadcast}}</ref><ref name=IlMessaggero>{{Cite web |last=Faccini |first=Niccolò |date=9 August 2025 |title=Burnley-Lazio 0–1: Cancellieri decide l'amichevole delle traverse. Zaccagni sbaglia dal dischetto, centrocampo in enorme difficoltà |trans-title=Burnley–Lazio 0–1: Cancellieri decides the friendly of the crossbars. Zaccagni misses from the spot, midfield in huge trouble |url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/sport/ss_lazio/burnley_lazio_risultato_cancellieri_amichevole_zaccagni_centrocampo_cosa_e_successo-9004730.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250810144556/https://www.ilmessaggero.it/sport/ss_lazio/burnley_lazio_risultato_cancellieri_amichevole_zaccagni_centrocampo_cosa_e_successo-9004730.html |archive-date=10 August 2025 |access-date=10 August 2025 |website=Il Messaggero |language=it}}</ref>{{efn|The broadcast, developed by club partner Rezzil, offered viewers a virtual seat inside the ground with a [[Panorama|panoramic view]] of the pitch, live commentary, ambient crowd noise, and real-time visuals including club branding and player kits.<ref name=BroadcastNow /><ref name=IlMessaggero />}}

{{wide image|Turf Moor panorama.jpg|1000px|align-cap=center|Panorama of Turf Moor (2011), looking north from the Bob Lord Stand, with the Cricket Field Stand to the left, the North Stand opposite and the Jimmy McIlroy Stand to the right|alt=Refer to caption}}

== Supporters and rivalries ==
=== Supporters ===
Burnley's supporters are mainly drawn from East Lancashire and [[West Yorkshire]].<ref>Taylor (2013), p. 196</ref> The club is one of the best supported in English football [[per capita]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Johnson|first=William|date=27 December 2001|title=Burnley's head for heights|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/3019410/Burnleys-head-for-heights.html|access-date=25 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222203317/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/3019410/Burnleys-head-for-heights.html|archive-date=22 December 2020}}</ref> with average attendances of around 21,000 in the Premier League in a town of approximately 78,000 inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Burnley Performance Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/team/stats/_/id/379/league/ENG.1/view/performance|access-date=13 February 2021|publisher=ESPN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731201425/https://www.espn.com/soccer/team/stats/_/id/379/league/ENG.1/season/2023/view/performance|archive-date=31 July 2024}} Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2024 |title=Burnley – local data profile |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6602fc9065ca2f8e6b7da865/Burnley.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804082932/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6602fc9065ca2f8e6b7da865/Burnley.pdf |archive-date=4 August 2024 |access-date=26 August 2024 |website=gov.uk |publisher=Government Digital Service}}</ref> Burnley's first [[Supporters' group|supporters' club]] was formed in early 1932,<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 194–195</ref> and since then, numerous supporters' groups have been established across the United Kingdom and overseas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Supporters Clubs, Groups, Associations and Trusts|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/more/more-fans/supporters-clubs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818114952/https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/more/more-fans/supporters-clubs|archive-date=18 August 2021|access-date=24 September 2020|publisher=Burnley F.C.}}</ref> The club's fans have had a long-standing friendship with supporters of the Dutch team [[Helmond Sport]] since the 1990s, and several Burnley and Helmond fans regularly make an overseas journey to visit each other's matches.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Marshall|first=Jack|date=17 April 2018|title=Clarets across borders: Turf Moor's Dutch tribute to Burnley expat|url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/clarets-across-borders-turf-moor-s-dutch-tribute-to-burnley-expat-1-9121264|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009123439/https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/clarets-across-borders-turf-moors-dutch-tribute-burnley-expat-1037736|archive-date=9 October 2020|access-date=24 April 2019|website=Burnley Express}}</ref> For 2022–23 and 2023–24, Helmond Sport adopted a claret and blue away kit in tribute to Burnley.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pichel |first=Dominique |date=11 November 2022 |title=Bijzondere vriendschap met Engelse club geëerd op uitshirt van Helmond Sport |trans-title=Special friendship with English club honoured on Helmond Sport away shirt |url=https://www.ed.nl/helmond/bijzondere-vriendschap-met-engelse-club-geeerd-op-uitshirt-van-helmond-sport~a7db2348/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240731091215/https://www.ed.nl/helmond/bijzondere-vriendschap-met-engelse-club-geeerd-op-uitshirt-van-helmond-sport~a7db2348/ |archive-date=31 July 2024 |url-access=subscription |access-date=31 July 2024 |website=Eindhovens Dagblad |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 July 2023 |title=Helmond Sport / 24 juli 2023 |trans-title=Helmond Sport / 24 July 2023 |url=https://www.helmondsport.nl/nieuws/tenues-2023-2024-onze-club-onze-stad |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730121300/https://www.helmondsport.nl/nieuws/tenues-2023-2024-onze-club-onze-stad |archive-date=30 July 2023 |access-date=13 August 2023 |publisher=Helmond Sport |language=nl}}</ref>

A frequently sung [[Football chant|chant]] since the early 1970s is "No Nay Never", an adaptation of the song "[[The Wild Rover]]", which has lyrics to offend main rivals Blackburn Rovers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barnes|first=Paulinus|date=21 October 1992|title=Football: Fan's Eye view No. 10: Beating Clarets' blues: Burnley|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-fans-eye-view-no-10-beating-clarets-blues-burnley-1558635.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224124028/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-fan-s-eye-view-no-10-beating-clarets-blues-burnley-1558635.html|archive-date=24 December 2020|access-date=11 April 2020|work=The Independent}}</ref> In the early 1980s, a [[Football hooliganism|hooligan firm]] known as the [[Suicide Squad (hooligan firm)|Suicide Squad]] emerged from within Burnley's fanbase.<ref>{{Cite news|date=16 December 2000|title=Turf war fear for Turf Moor|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/dec/16/newsstory.sport1|access-date=5 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010074734/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/dec/16/newsstory.sport1|archive-date=10 October 2020}}</ref> The group later featured on the 2006 hooligan documentary series ''[[The Real Football Factories]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Plunkett|first=Susan|date=9 April 2019|title=Former Burnley pub that featured in football hooligan documentary up for sale|url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/former-burnley-pub-that-featured-in-football-hooligan-documentary-up-for-sale-1-9700659|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014190700/https://www.burnleyexpress.net/lifestyle/eating-out/former-burnley-pub-featured-football-hooligan-documentary-sale-987088|archive-date=14 October 2020|access-date=25 December 2019|website=Burnley Express}}</ref> In 2011, 12 members were sentenced to jail for a total of 32 years, after a high-profile incident with Blackburn Rovers supporters in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chadderton|first=Sam|date=19 January 2011|title=Burnley 'Suicide Squad' hooligans jailed for 32 years over East Lancs derby clash|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/8797259.burnley-suicide-squad-hooligans-jailed-32-years-east-lancs-derby-clash/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009032532/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/8797259.burnley-suicide-squad-hooligans-jailed-32-years-east-lancs-derby-clash/|archive-date=9 October 2020|access-date=2 January 2020|website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> The firm disbanded after the verdict.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brewin|first=John|date=4 February 2015|title=Hooliganism in England: The enduring cultural legacy of football violence|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/blog/name/68/post/2193850/headline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727072917/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/blog/name/68/post/2193850/headline|archive-date=27 July 2020|access-date=5 July 2020|publisher=ESPN}}</ref>

Notable Burnley fans have included football pioneer [[Jimmy Hogan]], who was a regular attendee at Turf Moor;<ref>Smith (1963), p. 34</ref> journalist [[Alastair Campbell]], who has been regularly involved in events with the club;<ref>Simpson (2007), p. 572</ref> and cricketer [[James Anderson (cricketer)|James Anderson]], who also worked in Burnley's ticket office on a part-time basis.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Famous Fans|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FamousFans/0,,10413,00.html|date=31 May 2007|publisher=Burnley F.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821202124/https://www.burnleyfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FamousFans/0,,10413,00.html|archive-date=21 August 2008|access-date=28 May 2020}}</ref> [[Charles III|King Charles III]] is also a supporter of the club,<ref>{{cite news |date=15 February 2012 |title=Prince of Wales supports Burnley Football Club |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/9085234/Prince-of-Wales-supports-Burnley-football-club.html |access-date=29 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406123947/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/9085234/Prince-of-Wales-supports-Burnley-football-club.html |archive-date=6 April 2012}}</ref> as is the South African [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] [[Wilfrid Napier]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 April 2014 |title=Pope hears of Claret's Premier League promotion joy |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/11175845.pope-hears-clarets-premier-league-promotion-joy/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422154332/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/11175845.pope-hears-clarets-premier-league-promotion-joy/ |archive-date=22 April 2022 |access-date=26 July 2024 |website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> In 2019, Burnley fan Scott Cunliffe was honoured by the [[UEFA]] with the #EqualGame award "for his work as a role model highlighting diversity, inclusion and accessibility in football"; he ran to every away Premier League ground during Burnley's [[2018–19 Burnley F.C. season|2018–19]] campaign and raised more than £55,000 for Premier League clubs' community trusts and community projects in Burnley.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 August 2019|title=UEFA's 2019 #EqualGame Award winners – Borussia Dortmund and Burnley FC fan|url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=2619143.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107235006/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/social-responsibility/news/0254-0f8e6e9c593f-2fff654f798c-1000--uefa-s-2019-equalgame-award-winners-borussia-dortmund-and-burnl/?referrer=%2finsideuefa%2fnews%2fnewsid%3d2619143|archive-date=7 November 2020|access-date=28 August 2019|publisher=UEFA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lomas|first=Jon|date=17 December 2019|title=Burnley fan Scott Cunliffe discusses what's next following the completion of his 'RunAway' challenge earlier this year|url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/burnley-fan-scott-cunliffe-discusses-whats-next-following-completion-his-runaway-challenge-earlier-year-1343028|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223171936/https://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/burnley-fan-scott-cunliffe-discusses-whats-next-following-completion-his-runaway-challenge-earlier-year-1343028|archive-date=23 December 2020|access-date=24 September 2020|website=Burnley Express}}</ref>

A popular drink served at home matches since the First World War is "Béné & Hot"—the French liqueur [[Bénédictine]] topped up with hot water. The [[East Lancashire Regiment]] soldiers acquired a taste for the drink while stationed at the birthplace of the beverage in [[Fécamp]], [[Normandy]], during the war. They drank it with hot water to keep warm in the trenches, and the surviving soldiers later returned to the East Lancashire area with the liqueur. In excess of 30 bottles are sold at each home game, which makes the club one of the world's biggest sellers of Bénédictine; Turf Moor is the only British football ground to sell it.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 August 2019|title=Benedictine Man of the Match|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/2019/august/benedictine-man-of-the-match/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727055349/https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/2019/august/benedictine-man-of-the-match/|archive-date=27 July 2020|access-date=3 September 2019|publisher=Burnley F.C.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=25 September 2018|title=Turf Moor only football ground in the UK to serve Bénédictine|url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/turf-moor-only-football-ground-uk-serve-bacnacdictine-574272|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214150507/https://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/turf-moor-only-football-ground-uk-serve-bacnacdictine-574272|archive-date=14 February 2021|access-date=14 February 2021|website=Burnley Express}}</ref>

=== Rivalries ===
Association football was first played in Burnley in the early 1880s,<ref name=Ben226227>Bennett (1951), pp. 226–227</ref> and by 1883 the town already had more than 20 teams.<ref>"Annual meeting of the Burnley Football Club". ''Burnley Express''. 30 June 1883. p. 7.</ref> One of Burnley's earliest rivals were [[Burnley Union Star F.C.|Burnley Union Star]],<ref name=Simp574 /> based in the north of the town.<ref name=Ben226227 /> While Burnley drew support from across the area and were described as the town's "premier club",<ref name=Simp2024 /><ref>"The Burnley Football Charity Cup". ''Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser''. 30 June 1883. p. 7.</ref><ref>"Lancashire Cup competition – first round". ''Blackburn Standard''. 16 October 1886. p. 2.</ref> Union Star were regarded as one of the most prominent local teams.<ref>Simpson (2007), p. 31</ref> Their rivalry peaked during the 1886–87 Lancashire Cup, when a first-round fixture between the two sides ended 2–2.<ref>Simpson (2007), p. 27</ref> Before a replay could be arranged, the Stars were expelled from the competition for fielding an unregistered player, and were suspended for a month.<ref>"Lancashire Senior Challenge Cup". ''The Manchester Guardian''. 25 October 1886. p. 7.</ref><ref>"Football". ''Liverpool Mercury''. 23 October 1886. p. 7.</ref> The incident deepened tensions, with the ''Football Field'' newspaper writing that "a certain section of the Union Star supporters seem to be possessed of the very essence of rudeness when viewing matches at Turf Moor".<ref>"Nuggets". ''Football Field''. 16 April 1887. p. 6.</ref> Union Star disbanded in 1891, and Burnley soon bought the "Stars Stand" from their ground, relocating it to Turf Moor.<ref name=Simp574 /> Burnley remained unbeaten in ten meetings with the side, winning eight.<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 18–29</ref> Another early rival were [[Padiham F.C. (1878)|Padiham]], with one fixture in 1884 attracting a then record crowd of 12,000 at Turf Moor.<ref name=Simp2024 /><ref name=Simp574 />

Burnley's main rivals are Blackburn Rovers, with whom they contest the [[East Lancashire derby]], named after the region both clubs hail from. Games between these sides from [[mill town]]s are also known under the name "Cotton Mills derby".<ref name=Mitten2005>{{Cite news|last=Mitten|first=Andy|date=1 May 2005|title=More Than A Game: Blackburn vs Burnley|work=FourFourTwo|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/more-game-blackburn-vs-burnley|access-date=23 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028053028/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/more-game-blackburn-vs-burnley|archive-date=28 October 2020}}</ref><ref name=Croydon2012>{{Cite web|last=Croydon|first=Emily|date=30 November 2012|title=Burnley v Blackburn Rovers: Is this football's most passionate derby?|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/20554401|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716205416/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/20554401|archive-date=16 July 2020|access-date=9 September 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Both are founder members of the Football League and have won the First Division and the FA Cup.<ref name=Mitten2005 /> The two clubs are separated by only {{convert|14|mi}} and besides the geographical proximity,<ref name=Croydon2012 /> they also have a long-standing history of rivalry; the earliest competitive clash was a Football League match in 1888.<ref name=11v11BURBLB>{{Cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/burnley/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Blackburn%20Rovers/|title=Burnley football club: record v Blackburn Rovers|website=11v11|publisher=AFS Enterprises|access-date=16 August 2018}}</ref> Four years earlier, however, they had met for the first time in a friendly,<ref name=Simp2024 /> "with considerable pride at stake".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Matthews|first=Martin|date=7 October 2009|title=History of the Blackburn Rovers v Burnley derby: part one|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/4668181.History_of_the_Blackburn_Rovers_v_Burnley_derby__part_one/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802100207/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/4668181.history-blackburn-rovers-v-burnley-derby-part-one/|archive-date=2 August 2020|access-date=16 August 2018|website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> Burnley hold the better head-to-head record, as the side have won 45 games to Blackburn's 41.<ref name=11v11BURBLB /> Burnley's closest geographic rivals are actually [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]], but as they have never competed at the same level—although defunct club [[Accrington F.C.|Accrington]] did—there is no significant rivalry between them.<ref>Wiseman (2009), p. 9</ref>

Other rivalries include those with nearby clubs [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]], [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] and [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]].<ref name=Wiseman137138>Wiseman (2009), pp. 137–138</ref> Burnley also share a [[Roses rivalry]] with West Yorkshire sides [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] and [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]].<ref name=FFCensus>{{Cite web|title=Rivalry Uncovered!|url=http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf|date=3 February 2004|publisher=Football Fans Census|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040203154108/http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf|archive-date=3 February 2004|access-date=25 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Flanagan|first=Chris|date=6 December 2010|title=Leighton James: Leeds United rivalry makes it huge for Burnley|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/burnley_fc/news/8721282.leighton-james-leeds-united-rivalry-makes-it-huge-for-burnley/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125030722/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/8721282.leighton-james-leeds-united-rivalry-makes-huge-burnley/|archive-date=25 November 2020|access-date=24 October 2019|website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> The team contested heated matches with [[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]], [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]], [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]] and [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]] in the 1980s and 1990s during their time in the lower leagues, although feelings of animosity were mainly one-sided; according to the 2003 [[Football Fans Census]], both Halifax and Stockport supporters regarded Burnley as their main rival, whereas Burnley fans did not include either club among their top three rivals.<ref name=Wiseman137138 /><ref name=FFCensus />

== Players ==
{{About||a list of players with 100 or more appearances for Burnley|List of Burnley F.C. players|all (former) Burnley players with a Wikipedia article|Category:Burnley F.C. players}}

=== First-team squad ===
{{updated|2 September 2025}}<ref name=FirstTeam>{{cite web |url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/teams/first-team/squad-list |title=Men |publisher=Burnley F.C. |access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://burnleyfootballclub.com/content/202526-squad-numbers-confirmed |title=2025/26 Squad numbers confirmed |publisher=Burnley F.C. |date=30 July 2025 |access-date=30 July 2025}}</ref>
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=1|nat=SVK|pos=GK|name=[[Martin Dúbravka]]}}
{{fs player|no=2|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Kyle Walker]]}}
{{fs player|no=3|nat=NED|pos=DF|name=[[Quilindschy Hartman]]}}
{{fs player|no=4|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Joe Worrall (footballer)|Joe Worrall]]}}
{{fs player|no=5|nat=FRA|pos=DF|name=[[Maxime Estève]]}}
{{fs player|no=6|nat=COD|pos=DF|name=[[Axel Tuanzebe]]}}
{{fs player|no=7|nat=DEN|pos=FW|name=[[Jacob Bruun Larsen]]}}
{{fs player|no=8|nat=FRA|pos=MF|name=[[Lesley Ugochukwu]]}}
{{fs player|no=9|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=[[Lyle Foster]]}}
{{fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Marcus Edwards]]}}
{{fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Jaidon Anthony]]}}
{{fs player|no=12|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Bashir Humphreys]]}}
{{fs player|no=13|nat=GER|pos=GK|name=[[Max Weiß (footballer)|Max Weiß]]}}
{{fs player|no=14|nat=WAL|pos=DF|name=[[Connor Roberts (footballer, born 1995)|Connor Roberts]]}}
{{fs player|no=16|nat=POR|pos=MF|name=[[Florentino Luís]]|other=on loan from [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]}}
{{fs player|no=17|nat=FRA|pos=FW|name=[[Loum Tchaouna]]}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=18|nat=SWE|pos=DF|name=[[Hjalmar Ekdal]]}}
{{fs player|no=19|nat=NED|pos=FW|name=[[Zian Flemming]]}}
{{fs player|no=22|nat=PER|pos=DF|name=[[Oliver Sonne]]}}
{{fs player|no=23|nat=BRA|pos=DF|name=[[Lucas Pires (footballer)|Lucas Pires]]}}
{{fs player|no=24|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=[[Josh Cullen (footballer)|Josh Cullen]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{fs player|no=25|nat=SUI|pos=FW|name=[[Zeki Amdouni]]}}
{{fs player|no=27|nat=ALB|pos=FW|name=[[Armando Broja]]}}
{{fs player|no=28|nat=TUN|pos=MF|name=[[Hannibal Mejbri]]}}
{{fs player|no=29|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Josh Laurent]]}}
{{fs player|no=31|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=[[Mike Trésor]]}}
{{fs player|no=32|nat=CZE|pos=GK|name=[[Václav Hladký]]}}
{{fs player|no=34|nat=NED|pos=FW|name=[[Jaydon Banel]]}}
{{fs player|no=35|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Ashley Barnes]]}}
{{fs player|no=36|nat=GER|pos=DF|name=[[Jordan Beyer]]}}
{{fs player|no=44|nat=HAI|pos=DF|name=[[Hannes Delcroix]]}}
{{fs player|no=48|nat=BEL|pos=FW|name=[[Enock Agyei]]}}
{{fs end}}

=== Out on loan ===
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=21|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Aaron Ramsey (English footballer)|Aaron Ramsey]]|other=at [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{fs player|no=26|nat=ANG|pos=FW|name=[[Manuel Benson]]|other=at [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{fs player|no=30|nat=ITA|pos=FW|name=[[Luca Koleosho]]|other=at [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{fs player|no=37|nat=BEN|pos=FW|name=[[Andréas Hountondji]]|other=at [[FC St. Pauli|St. Pauli]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=43|nat=CUW|pos=DF|name=[[Shurandy Sambo]]|other=at [[Sparta Rotterdam]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Owen Dodgson]]|other=at [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=[[Michael Obafemi]]|other=at [[VfL Bochum]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{fs end}}

=== Academy ===
{{Further|topic=the academy squads|Burnley F.C. Academy}}

== Management ==
=== Football management ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Position
! Name
|-
|Head coach
|[[Scott Parker]]
|-
|Assistant coach
|[[Henrik Jensen (football manager, born 1985)|Henrik Jensen]]
|-
|Coaching staff
|[[Jack Cork]]<br />[[Pål Fjelde]]<br />Jonathan Hill<br />[[Mike Jackson (footballer, born 1973)|Mike Jackson]]<br />[[Connor King]]<br />Kersten Kuhl
|}
Source:<ref name=FirstTeam />

=== Managers ===
{{Main|List of Burnley F.C. managers}}
Burnley-born [[Harry Bradshaw (football manager)|Harry Bradshaw]] was Burnley's first manager—he was appointed in August 1894—and was the first to win a league title with the club, taking them to the top of the Second Division at the end of the [[1897–98 Football League#Second Division|1897–98]] season.<ref name=Simp540542/> John Haworth was the first manager in the club's history to win a major honour, the [[1913–14 FA Cup|FA Cup in 1914]]; under Haworth, Burnley also became [[List of English football champions|champions of England]] for the first time in [[1920–21 Football League|1920–21]].<ref name=Simp540542/> Harry Potts led the club to its second First Division title during the [[1959–60 Football League|1959–60]] campaign.<ref name=FootballTimes /> Jimmy Adamson ([[1972–73 Football League#Second Division|1972–73 Second Division]]), Brian Miller ([[1981–82 Football League#Third Division|1981–82 Third Division]]), Jimmy Mullen ([[1991–92 Football League#Fourth Division|1991–92 Fourth Division]]), Sean Dyche ([[2015–16 Football League Championship|2015–16 Championship]]), and Vincent Kompany ([[2022–23 EFL Championship|2022–23 Championship]]) also led Burnley to league titles.<ref name=Marshall2016 /><ref name=Hurcom2023 /><ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 548–556</ref>

=== Owners ===
In 1897, the club incorporated as a [[Private company limited by shares|limited company]].<ref>Peskett & Williams (1970), p. 57</ref> From their establishment until 2020, Burnley were run by local businessmen and supporters.<ref name=Geldard2020 /> In December 2020, Velocity Sports Partners, the sports investment arm of American management firm ALK Capital, acquired an 84% stake in Burnley for £170 million.<ref name=Wood2021 /><ref name=Geldard2020 /> [[Alan Pace]], [[Partner (business rank)|managing partner]] of ALK Capital, subsequently replaced Mike Garlick as the club's chairman.<ref name=Geldard2020 /> ALK borrowed much of the takeover money, and the loan debts were transferred to the club. As a result of this [[Leveraged buyout|leveraged takeover]], Burnley went from being debt-free to being saddled with debts of around £100 million, at [[interest rate]]s of about eight per cent.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Conn|first=David|date=2 February 2021|title=Burnley's US takeover has left club £90m worse off and loaded with debt|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/02/burnley-us-takeover-has-left-club-90m-worse-off-and-loaded-with-debt|access-date=6 May 2022|website=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615172753/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/02/burnley-us-takeover-has-left-club-90m-worse-off-and-loaded-with-debt|archive-date=15 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Stone|first=Simon|date=4 May 2022|title=Burnley face 'significant' loan repayment if relegated, accounts show|publisher=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61317194|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815014745/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61317194|archive-date=15 August 2022}}</ref>

In May 2023, [[J. J. Watt]], a retired [[defensive end]] in [[American football]]'s [[National Football League]], and his wife, former [[United States women's national soccer team]] international [[Kealia Watt]], were announced as new minority investors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Dan |date=2 May 2023 |title=US sporting superstars JJ Watt and Kealia Watt on becoming part of a 'special club with incredible supporters' in Burnley |url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/us-sporting-superstars-jj-watt-and-kealia-watt-on-becoming-part-of-a-special-club-with-incredible-supporters-in-burnley-4126236 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502115830/https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/us-sporting-superstars-jj-watt-and-kealia-watt-on-becoming-part-of-a-special-club-with-incredible-supporters-in-burnley-4126236 |archive-date=2 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=Burnley Express}}</ref> [[YouTube]] group [[Dude Perfect]] also became minority investors in the club later that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scrafton |first=Matt |date=8 August 2023 |title=YouTube group Dude Perfect join JJ Watt in taking minority stake in Burnley FC |url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/youtube-group-dude-perfect-join-jj-watt-in-taking-minority-stake-in-burnley-fc-4248142 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523022558/https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/youtube-group-dude-perfect-join-jj-watt-in-taking-minority-stake-in-burnley-fc-4248142 |archive-date=23 May 2024 |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=Burnley Express}}</ref> In July 2025, ALK Capital, through investment arm Velocity Sport Limited, acquired a majority stake in Spanish side [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]], bringing Burnley into a multi-club ownership model.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scrafton |first=Matt |date=14 July 2025 |title=Alan Pace agrees takeover of Spanish side Espanyol as Burnley joins multi-club model |url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/alan-pace-agrees-takeover-of-spanish-side-espanyol-as-burnley-joins-multi-club-model-5223184 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250714130912/https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/alan-pace-agrees-takeover-of-spanish-side-espanyol-as-burnley-joins-multi-club-model-5223184 |archive-date=14 July 2025 |access-date=14 July 2025 |website=Burnley Express}}</ref>

=== Board of directors ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Position
! Name
|-
|Chairman
|[[Alan Pace]]
|-
|Members
|[[Dave Checketts]]<br />Antonio Dávila<br />Stuart Hunt<br />Mike Smith<br />Vlad Torgovnik
|}
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Burnley FC Key Personnel & Club Information |url=https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/43/Burnley/directory |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514194744/https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/43/Burnley/directory |archive-date=14 May 2024 |access-date=26 June 2024 |publisher=Premier League}}</ref>

=== Chairmen ===
The following have been chairman of the club's board of directors:<ref>Simpson (2007), p. 6</ref>
{|
|valign="top" width="0%"|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Period
!Name
|-
|1882–83
|Albert Jobling
|-
|1883–1885
|John Rawcliffe
|-
|1885–1887
|John Bradley
|-
|1887–1896
|Wyatt Granger
|-
|1896–1899
|[[Charles Sutcliffe]]
|-
|1899–1909
|Edwin Whitehead
|-
|1909–1930
|Harry Windle
|-
|1930–1932
|William Bracewell
|-
|1932–1934
|Edward Tate
|-
|1934–1948
|Tom Clegg
|}
|valign="top" width="0%"|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!Period
!Name
|-
|1948–1952
|Ernest Kay
|-
|1952–1955
|Wilfred Hopkinson
|-
|1955–1981
|[[Bob Lord (football chairman)|Bob Lord]]
|-
|1981–1985
|John Jackson
|-
|1985–1998
|Frank Teasdale
|-
|1998–2012
|[[Barry Kilby]]
|-
|2012–2015
|John Banaszkiewicz<br />Mike Garlick<ref>{{Cite news|date=26 May 2012|title=Garlick and Banaszkiewicz replace Kilby as Burnley co-chairmen|publisher=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/18219503|access-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207082758/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/18219503|archive-date=7 December 2020}}</ref>
|-
|2015–2020
|Mike Garlick<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 May 2015|title=Mike Garlick becomes sole Burnley chairman|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9867404/mike-garlick-has-become-burnley-chairman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009041357/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9867404/mike-garlick-has-become-burnley-chairman|archive-date=9 October 2020|access-date=5 October 2020|publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref>
|-
|2020–
|[[Alan Pace]]<ref name=Geldard2020 />
|}
|}

== Honours ==
{{Further|List of Burnley F.C. records and statistics#Honours and achievements}}
{{For|honours won by Reserves and Academy teams|Burnley F.C. Academy#Honours}}
Burnley were the second, and are one of only five teams to have won all four professional divisions of English football, along with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Preston North End, Sheffield United and [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]].<ref name=Tyler2017 /><ref name=WolvesHonours /> The club's honours include the following:<ref name=Rundle /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Burnley Football Club honours|url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/burnley/tab/honours/|website=11v11|publisher=AFS Enterprises|access-date=26 January 2018}}</ref>

'''League'''
*[[Football League First Division|First Division]] (level 1){{efn|name=Tiers|Upon its formation in 1992, the [[Premier League]] became the top tier of [[Football in England|English football]]; the [[English Football League|Football League]] [[Football League First Division|First]], [[Football League Second Division|Second]] and [[Football League Third Division|Third]] Divisions then became the second, third and fourth tiers, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/History/HistoryDetail/0,,10794~1357277,00.html|title=History Of The Football League|publisher=The Football League|date=22 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202161656/http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/History/HistoryDetail/0%2C%2C10794~1357277%2C00.html|archive-date=2 February 2013}}</ref> From 2004, the First Division became the [[EFL Championship|Championship]], the Second Division became [[EFL League One|League One]] and the Third Division became [[EFL League Two|League Two]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3795239.stm|title=League gets revamp|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 June 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729210603/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3795239.stm|archive-date=29 July 2020|access-date=18 June 2020}}</ref>}}
**Champions: [[1920–21 Football League|1920–21]], [[1959–60 Football League|1959–60]]
**Runners-up: [[1919–20 Football League|1919–20]], [[1961–62 Football League|1961–62]]
*[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] / [[Football League Championship|Championship]] (level 2){{efn|name=Tiers}}
**Champions: [[1897–98 Football League|1897–98]], [[1972–73 Football League|1972–73]], [[2015–16 Football League Championship|2015–16]], [[2022–23 EFL Championship|2022–23]]
**Promoted: [[1912–13 Football League|1912–13]], [[1946–47 Football League|1946–47]], [[2013–14 Football League Championship|2013–14]], [[2024–25 EFL Championship|2024–25]]
**[[EFL Championship play-offs|Play-off]] winners: [[2009 Football League play-offs#Championship|2009]]
*[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] / [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] (level 3){{efn|name=Tiers}}
**Champions: [[1981–82 Football League|1981–82]]
**Promoted: [[1999–2000 Football League|1999–2000]]
**[[EFL League One play-offs|Play-off]] winners: [[1994 Football League play-offs#Second Division|1994]]
*[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] (level 4){{efn|name=Tiers}}
**Champions: [[1991–92 Football League|1991–92]]

'''Cup'''
*[[FA Cup]]
**Winners: [[1913–14 FA Cup|1913–14]]
**Runners-up: [[1946–47 FA Cup|1946–47]], [[1961–62 FA Cup|1961–62]]
*[[FA Charity Shield]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ross|first=James M.|date=1 September 2020|title=England – List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engsupcuphist.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115125550/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engsupcuphist.html|archive-date=15 November 2020|publisher=RSSSF|access-date=15 November 2020}}</ref>
**Winners: [[1960 FA Charity Shield|1960]] (''shared''),{{efn|Until 1993, in the event of a [[Tie (draw)|draw]], the [[FA Community Shield|FA Charity Shield]] would be shared between the two competing teams, with each side having possession of the trophy for six months. Burnley and [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] drew 2–2.<ref name=Simp296297 /><ref>{{Cite web|title=The FA Community Shield history|url=http://www.thefa.com/fa-community-shield/more/history|publisher=The Football Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609184712/http://www.thefa.com/fa-community-shield/more/history|archive-date=9 June 2013|access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref>}} [[1973 FA Charity Shield|1973]]{{efn|name=FACS1973}}
**Runners-up: [[1921 FA Charity Shield|1921]]
*[[Texaco Cup]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lewis|first=Tom|date=20 December 2007|title=Anglo-Scottish Cup & Texaco Cup – Full Results|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/texacohist.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017210849/http://www.rsssf.com/tablest/texacohist.html|archive-date=17 October 2020|publisher=RSSSF|access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref>
**Runners-up: [[1973–74 Texaco Cup|1973–74]]
*[[Anglo-Scottish Cup]]
**Winners: [[1978–79 Anglo-Scottish Cup|1978–79]]
*[[Associate Members' Cup]]
**Runners-up: [[1987–88 Associate Members' Cup|1987–88]]

'''Regional'''
*[[Lancashire Senior Cup|Lancashire Cup]]<ref>The winning years are sourced from Ray Simpson's book ''The Clarets Chronicles'' (2007). Winning years from 2007 onwards are sourced from other references.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitaker |first=Alec |date=31 August 2023 |title=Barrow AFC suffer agonising penalty defeat in Senior Cup Final |url=https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/23756361.barrow-afc-suffer-agonising-penalty-defeat-senior-cup-final/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412135420/https://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/23756361.barrow-afc-suffer-agonising-penalty-defeat-senior-cup-final/ |archive-date=12 April 2024 |access-date=12 April 2024 |website=The Mail}}</ref>{{efn|The club has fielded its [[reserve team]] in the competition since the mid-1990s.<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 509–510</ref>}}
**Winners (13): 1889–90, 1914–15, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1992–93, 2022–23

== Records and statistics ==
{{Main|List of Burnley F.C. records and statistics}}
[[File:Jerry Dawson.jpg|thumb|[[Jerry Dawson (footballer, born 1888)|Jerry Dawson]] holds the record for most Burnley appearances, with 569.|alt=A black and white image of Jerry Dawson posing and staring in front of him]]
The record for the most first team appearances in all competitions for Burnley is held by goalkeeper [[Jerry Dawson (footballer, born 1888)|Jerry Dawson]], who played 569 games between 1907 and 1929.<ref name=Simp492539>Simpson (2007), pp. 492, 539</ref> The club's top goal scorer is [[George Beel]], who scored 188 goals from 1923 to 1932.<ref name=Simp492539 /> In 1962, Jimmy Adamson won the [[FWA Footballer of the Year]] award, the first and to date only time a Burnley player achieved this.<ref>Wiseman (2009), p. 88</ref> [[Willie Irvine]] became [[List of English football first tier top scorers|top goal scorer in the first tier]] in [[1965–66 Football League|1965–66]] with 29 goals, also a unique feat in the club's history.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ross|first=James M.|date=30 July 2020|title=English League Leading Goalscorers|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engtops.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103192855/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engtops.html|archive-date=3 November 2020|publisher=RSSSF|access-date=3 November 2020}}</ref>

Jimmy McIlroy is the most [[Cap (sport)|capped]] player while at the club, making 51 appearances for [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] between 1951 and 1962.<ref>Simpson (2007), pp. 532–538</ref> The first Burnley player to play in a full international match was [[Jack Yates (footballer, born 1861)|John Yates]], who took to the field for England against [[Ireland national football team (1882–1950)|Ireland]] in March 1889. He scored a hat-trick but was never called up again.<ref>Simpson (2007), p. 13</ref> In January 1957, 17-year-old [[Ian Lawson (footballer, born 1939)|Ian Lawson]] netted a record four goals on his debut for Burnley against [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] in the FA Cup third round.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Turner|first=Georgina|date=25 September 2013|title=Was Jesse Lingard's debut for Birmingham the most prolific ever?|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/25/jesse-lingard-debut-birmingham-prolific|access-date=19 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727053450/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/25/jesse-lingard-debut-birmingham-prolific|archive-date=27 July 2020}}</ref> The youngest player to play for the club is [[Tommy Lawton]], who was aged 16 years and 174 days on his debut against [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] in the Second Division on 28 March 1936.<ref>Simpson (2007), p. 210</ref> His debut made him the then youngest [[Forward (association football)|centre-forward]] ever to play in the Football League.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sawyer|first=Rob|date=5 October 2019|title=Remembering Tommy Lawton|url=https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1368533/remembering-tommy-lawton|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412085028/https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1368533/remembering-tommy-lawton|archive-date=12 April 2021|access-date=12 April 2021|publisher=Everton F.C.}}</ref> The oldest player is [[Len Smelt]], who played his last match aged 41 years and 132 days against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the First Division on 18 April 1925.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Simpson|first=Ray|date=11 December 2013|title=History Re-Written|url=https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/2013/december/history-re-written/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804021915/https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/2013/december/history-re-written/|archive-date=4 August 2020|access-date=10 April 2021|publisher=Burnley F.C.}}</ref>

The club's largest win in league football was a 9–0 victory against [[Darwen F.C. (1870)|Darwen]] in the [[1891–92 Football League]] season.<ref name=Statto>{{Cite web|title=Burnley scoring and sequence records|url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/burnley/records|publisher=Statto|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315184511/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/burnley/records|archive-date=15 March 2017|access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref> Burnley's largest victories in the FA Cup have been 9–0 wins over [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] ([[1908–09 FA Cup|1908–09]]), [[New Brighton A.F.C.|New Brighton]] ([[1956–57 FA Cup|1956–57]]) and [[Penrith F.C.|Penrith]] ([[1984–85 FA Cup|1984–85]]).<ref name=Statto /> The largest defeat is an 11–0 loss to [[Darwen Old Wanderers F.C.|Darwen Old Wanderers]] in the 1885–86 FA Cup first round, when Burnley fielded their [[Reserve team|reserve side]], as most professionals were still prohibited entry due to rules of the FA{{efn|name=Professionals|Professionals could only play in the [[FA Cup]] and [[County football association|County FA]] competitions if they had been born or had resided within {{Convert|6|miles|km|abbr=out|spell=in}} of their club's ground for a minimum of two years.<ref name=Simp2024 />}} that period.<ref name=Simp2024 /><ref name=Statto />

The team's longest unbeaten run in the top tier was between 6 September 1920 and 25 March 1921, to which they remained unbeaten for 30 games on their way to the First Division title. It stood as the longest stretch without defeat in a single English professional league season until Arsenal bettered it in [[2003–04 Arsenal F.C. season|2003–04]].<ref name=RememberingRecord /><ref name=Statto /> Burnley set their longest unbeaten run in any division during the [[2024–25 EFL Championship|2024–25 Championship]] season,<ref name=BBCSport210425 /> going without defeat in the final 33 matches.<ref name=LancsTelegraph030525 /> They also matched or broke several [[Football records and statistics in England|English league records]] that season, including the lowest goals conceded-per-game average (0.35; 16 goals in 46 matches),<ref name=LancsTelegraph030525 /><ref name=Telegraph170125 /> the joint-most clean sheets (30, equalling [[1953–54 Port Vale F.C. season|Port Vale's 1953–54]] side),<ref name=BurnleyExp040525 /> becoming the first team to avoid conceding more than one goal in any league fixture, and the first to gain at least 100 points in a specific division (Championship) on two separate occasions (101 in 2022–23 and 100 in 2024–25).<ref name=EFL030525 />

The club's highest home attendance is 54,775, for an FA Cup third round match against Huddersfield Town on 23 February 1924; Burnley's record home attendance in the league is 52,869, for a First Division game against Blackpool on 11 October 1947.<ref name=Wiseman15 /> The highest transfer fee received is the £31 million (plus add-ons and a sell-on clause) paid by Manchester City for [[James Trafford]] in 2025, which also made him the most expensive British goalkeeper in history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scrafton |first=Matt |date=29 July 2025 |title=James Trafford completes Man City switch – becoming Burnley's record sale |url=https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/james-trafford-completes-man-city-switch-becoming-burnleys-record-sale-5248077 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250729185057/https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/james-trafford-completes-man-city-switch-becoming-burnleys-record-sale-5248077 |archive-date=29 July 2025 |access-date=29 July 2025 |website=Burnley Express}}</ref> The highest transfer fee paid by Burnley is the circa £23 million paid to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] for midfielder [[Lesley Ugochukwu]] in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 August 2025 |title=Burnley sign midfielder Ugochukwu from Chelsea |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/crm43mzz4zro |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250807071424/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/crm43mzz4zro |archive-date=7 August 2025 |access-date=7 August 2025 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cgergn4qjpxo|title=A big risk for a record fee?|last=Hobbs|first=Matthew|publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 August 2025|access-date=9 August 2025|archive-date=9 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250809211520/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cgergn4qjpxo}}</ref> [[Bob Kelly (footballer)|Bob Kelly]] broke the [[List of most expensive association football transfers|world transfer record]] in 1925, when he moved for a fee of £6,500 ({{Inflation|UK|6500|1925|r=-4|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}{{Inflation-fn|UK|group=lower-alpha}}) from Burnley to [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=O'Brien|first=John|date=9 August 2016|title=Evolution of world record transfers since 1893|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-transfers/evolution-of-world-record-transfers-since-1893-idUSKCN10K031|access-date=11 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222211349/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-transfers/evolution-of-world-record-transfers-since-1893-idUSKCN10K031|archive-date=22 December 2020}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
'''Specific'''
{{Reflist}}

'''Works cited'''
* {{cite book |last=Bennett |first=Walter |title=The History of Burnley 1650–1850 |year=1948 |publisher=Burnley Corporation |asin=B0032OO3MM |ref=none }}
* {{cite book |last=Bennett |first=Walter |title=The History of Burnley from 1850 |year=1951 |publisher=Burnley Corporation |asin=B001HBTW7S |ref=none }}
* {{Cite book |last=Butler |first=Bryon |title=The Official History of The Football Association |year=1991 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |isbn=0-356-19145-1 |ref=none }}
* {{cite book |last1=Peskett |first1=Roy |last2=Williams |first2=Tony |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1970–71 |year=1970 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |isbn=0-362-00071-9 |ref=none }}
* {{cite book |last=Quelch |first=Tim |title=Never Had It So Good: Burnley's Incredible 1959/60 League Title Triumph |year=2015 |publisher=Pitch Publishing Ltd |isbn=978-1-909626-54-6 |ref=none }}
* {{cite book |last=Quelch |first=Tim |title=From Orient to the Emirates: The Plucky Rise of Burnley FC |year=2017 |publisher=Pitch Publishing Ltd |isbn=978-1-78531-312-7 |ref=none }}
* {{cite book |last=Simpson |first=Ray |title=The Clarets Chronicles: The Definitive History of Burnley Football Club 1882–2007 |year=2007 |publisher=Burnley F.C. |isbn=978-0-9557468-0-2 |ref=none }}
* {{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Stratton |title=The International Football Book for Boys No. 5 |year=1963 |publisher=Souvenir Press |asin=B000KHKII2 |ref=none }}
* {{cite book |last=Taylor |first=Matthew |title=The Association Game: A History of British Football |year=2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-87008-1 |ref=none }}
* {{cite book |last=Wiseman |first=David |title=The Burnley FC Miscellany |year=2009 |publisher=DB Publishing |isbn=978-1-85983-717-7 |ref=none }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal bar|English football|Lancashire}}
* {{Official website}}
* Burnley on [[BBC Sport]]: [https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/teams/burnley Club news] – [https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/teams/burnley/scores-fixtures Recent results and fixtures]
* [https://www.skysports.com/burnley Burnley] at [[Sky Sports]]
* [https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/43/Burnley/overview Burnley] at Premier League
* [https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/53354--burnley/ Burnley] at [[UEFA]]
* [http://www.claretsmad.co.uk/ Clarets Mad]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140508145942/http://www.thelongside.info/ The Longside – Your Online Clarets Encyclopedia] (archived)
* [http://www.claretstrust.co.uk/ Clarets Trust]

{{Burnley F.C.}}
{{Original Football League clubs}}
{{FA Premier League}}
{{EFL Championship}}
{{Borough of Burnley culture}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Burnley F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Sport in Burnley]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1882]]
[[Category:1882 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Premier League clubs]]
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:The Football League founder members]]
[[Category:FA Cup winners]]
[[Category:Professional football clubs in England]]