Attendances: The Burnley Attendance Myth

There are only 31 years out of 111 years when Burnley have averaged higher attendances than Blackburn Rovers.

There is something painfully small time about Burnley. Since the 2013-2014 season when Burnley thrashed the good luck Donkey over the finishing line where it promptly dropped dead of exhaustion and when Rovers, with the Venkys still owning the club, spent yet another year in the Championship, they have enjoyed reminding Rovers fans of their position relative to ours. Not any longer. Sat for most of the 2014-2015 season at the bottom of the Premier League like a putrefying unflushed piece of shit. Relegated with one of the lowest points totals of any club in the history of the Premier League. Down in disgrace. A club that betrayed a promising young manager - well thought of by Rovers fans - betrayed by a board of directors lacking the courage to support him with the money needed to build a team worthy of top flight football. Burnley were frightened of the Premier League. 

 

In response, the turd flinging monkeys that are Burnley's fans like to say that Rovers' fans "live in the past", however, there is a difference between "living in the past" and fondly remembering something that happened in your own life time and something which your bitterest rivals will never, ever emulate and something which is unlikely to be repeated again by any other club of a similar size. With each passing year, Blackburn Rovers winning the Premier League in 1995 looks looks more and more like the greatest achievement in the history of English league football. Burnley fans can only think in black 'n' white (if they're old enough) to remember the last time they witnessed their club win anything of any significance.


It always makes me smile when I read phony contrived comments posted by arrogant Burnley trolls on internet discussion forums expressing their faux dismay at the way Rovers fans have treated the Venkys. How could you treat them with such disrespect? They are excellent owners who are keeping the club afloat, if not for them Rovers would sink through the divisions to your "rightful place" in the lower leagues; how ungrateful of you.

 

Considering Rovers have never dropped as low as Division 4 let alone having spent seven seasons in Division 4 or eleven seasons in Division 3 and have spent twenty more seasons in Division 1/Premier League than Burnley, I would venture that Rovers "rightful place" is in the top league and Burnley's where they have spent the majority of their existence - in the lower leagues.

 

That aside, these guttersnipes that follow the dirty purple and blue of Burnley know full well that the Venkys are a disaster for Blackburn Rovers and terrible owners - that is why they like them, love them and appreciate everything they're doing to dismantle all that was good and proper about the club. It is why they scraped their beer 'n' fag money together to hire a plane that flew over Ewood Park trailing a banner that read, "In Venkys We Trust" or some such sad bastard tomshittery. Burnley fans are proud of their stupidity, like a toddler is proud of a turd. 

 

Of course, Rovers fans beat them to it a good twenty years earlier in 1991 with the now famous "Flying Squad", when a low flying plane buzzed Turd Morgue trailing a banner with the infamous legend, "Staying Down For Ever Luv Rovers HAHAHA"  during a Division 4 (chuckle) Play-Off game against Torquey United - which Burnley lost - consigning them to yet another season of Division 4 football and yet another year of fighting for their financial survival.

 

The rumour still persists that Simon Garner was the money behind it. No wonder they hate us. And Garner.

 

It is now common fayre of course but it is widely acknowledged that the Rovers fans were the first in the country to pull a stunt like that. Some Rovers fans were in Burnley's corrugated away end for one of the best views in Burnley's dilapidated Conference facilities ground. Good lads.

 

Almost as good as those Rovers fans that made the journey to Turf Moor to watch Burnley take on the mighty Orient on 09/05/1987 whilst in Division 4. If Burnley had lost that game they would have been relegated to non league football and almost certainly out of existence. They were already scraping by on crowds of less than 2,000. Burnley got the result they needed winning 2-1, (rumours persist that the referee was bribed). Entire swathes of fans remained seated when Burnley scored, they were Rovers fans that had gone to watch Burnley lose and dance on Burnley FC's grave. 

 

In contrast, Jack Walker really presses the Burnley 'angry button'.


The reason Burnley fans hate Jack Walker so much is precisely because he was the opposite of the Venkys. He was English, a Northerner, a Lancastrian and a Blackburnian - most of all he was a Rovers fan and a self made working-class millionaire. We didn't find him on the stock market floor or at the bottom of an oil well, we found him in the Blackburn End stood shoulder to shoulder with us. There is a good solid moral feel to that. And that is why Burnley fans hate him - and Rovers.

                                              This is an 'angry button'. 

                                           Press NOW if you are a Burnley fan.

Burnley have imaginary fans like children have imaginary friends.

Blackburn Rovers; Burnley

Blackburn Rovers' post-war decline began at the end of the 1965-1966 season when they were relegated from Division 1.

 

Burnley's post-war decline began at the end of the 1975-76 season when they were relegated from Division 1.

 

Between 1950 and 1976, a total of 26 years, Blackburn Rovers had only known 8 years in Division 1 - with 14 years in Division 2 and 4 years in Division 3: They had only enjoyed 8 years of top flight football.

 

Between 1950 and 1976, a total of 26 years, Burnley had enjoyed 24 years in Division 1 -  and just 2 years in Disvion 2: They had enjoyed 24 years of top flight football.


*121 years if we include the suspension of Football League fixtures between 1915/16-1918/19 & 1939/40-1945/46.

There are 80 years out of 110 years when Blackburn Rovers have averaged higher attendances than Burnley.

Burnley fans generally present themselves as a braying troupe of delusional neurotics. They Troll the internet with their weapon words, draining any good will and decent banter out of any Rovers related discussion topic like the psychic vampires that they are.

 

They delight in our misfortune post Venkys - but what we've been through with the Venkys is but a mere ear flick compared to the misery BRFC have heaped upon Burnley since the late 1970's.

 

The intense thought processes that clearly go into every one of their manipulated self comforting one sided arguments is truly staggering. They troll the internet looking for Blackburn Rovers discussion forums in order to do this. What is particularly hilarious is how they will often ask themselves their own questions and then answer them with the answers they want to hear in order to suite their own bitter, envious and neurotic views - all done in an attempted manipulation of public opinion as well as our understanding of history.

 

They edit their own history and perpetuate the myth that Burnley are a "big football club", they do this because they have too much emotional investment in the big lie and are too insolent to deal with reality.

 

The only club in East Lancashire that Burnley are bigger than is Accrington Stanley. Burnley are the 'sloppy seconds' of East Lanc's football. Instead of the "Dingles" perhaps we should start refering to them as the "sloppies".

 

Thinking about them makes my brain feel dirty, they lower lower the bar of inteligent football discourse everytime they open their beer and fag stinking mouths. They tunnel under and then occupy the moral high ground; immune to the evidence, immune to facts, their beliefs are delusional falsehoods that they do not have the courage to confront.

 

Most have demonstrated that they have no knowledge of anything at all, particularly Blackburn Rovers and football - but they do have one talent - the ability to ignore what they dare not acknowledge - that Blackburn Rovers are a bigger, better supported and more successful football club than Burnley. 

 

Why is it that in the information age it is almost impossible to get information into people's brains? 

 

Any attempt at trying to reason with a Burnley fan is met with a vacant expression in their simple child-like eyes; a bewildered, lonely, almost confused look, the same look a dog has when it's taking a shit on your kitchen lino.

 

Hopefully, this page will go some way towards addressing that.

Turf Moor = TURD MORGUE

One of the common Blackburn baiting totems by the Burnley myth making machine is that Burnley are a better supported club than Blackburn Rovers: This is a package of bollocks.

In the 'Stadium' section of the Burnley F.C. Wikipedia article we are informed: 

 

"Post-WWI crowds in the stadium averaged in the 30,000–40,000 range with the record attendance set in 1924 against Huddersfield Town in a FA Cup match when 54,755 attended the match."

 

Besides being badly written with no sources to back it up, this is of course complete nonsense.

 

The author also does not specify what period "post-WWI" covers so I have given the benefit of the doubt to the author and calculated Turf Moor's average attendance for the 10 years between 1918-1928. Turf Moor's average attendance was: 19.117.

 

What we have here is just another example of (1) Burnley myth making and (2) how completely unreliable Wikipedia is.

 

I have attempted to correct the 'Stadium' section of the Burnley F.C. Wikipedia article and have provided sources to back my alteration up and have also attempted to engage in discussion in order to establish my credibility but my correct alteration has simply been reverted back to the false information and my attempts at 'discussion' have been ignored or met with abuse.

 

Wikipedia, as I have pointed out in other pages on this website, is not interested in the search for truth.

UTC = Usually Talks Crap
UTC = Usually Talks Crap

It is also worth considering the following narrative when engaging with Burnley Trolls:

 

  • Burnley fans boo their team - it's passion, they cannot bare to see pampared mediocre footballers wearing their clubs colours without pride; Rovers' fans boo - it's because they're fickle.

 

  • Burnley fans fail to vocally support their team - it's an anxious silelence; Rovers' fans fail to vocally support thier team - it's because they lack passion.

 

  • Burnley fans leave Turf Moor 5-10 minutes before the end of a game - it's because the parking facilities are notoriously bad at Turf Moor; Rovers fans leave 5-10 minutes before the end of a game - they're sneered at.

 

  • Burnley fans stay away in their thousands when Burnley are relegated from the Premier League - nothing is said; Ewood Park's attendance drops when Rovers are relegated from the Premier League - it's because Rovers' fans think they're too good to watch football in a lower division.

 

  • Burnley's attendances improve when Burnley win - they're genuine fans; Rovers' attendances improve when Rovers win - they're 'plastic fans'.

 

Indeed, the Burnley accusation of fickle Rovers fans is an odd one; when did this 'glory hunting' support begin?

  • 1987 when Rovers won the Full Members Cup?
  • 1987 when Jack Walker started investing money into the club?
  • 1987 when Rovers signed Steve Archibald from Barcelona on loan?
  • 1988 when Rovers signed Osvaldo Ardiles?
  • 1988 when Rovers reached the Division 2 Play-Off's?
  • 1989 when Rovers reached the Division 2 Play-Off's?
  • 1990 when Rovers reached the Division 2 Play-Off's?
  • 1991 when Jack Walker bought the club?
  • 1991 when Kenny Dalglish became the manager of the club?
  • 1992 when Rovers won promotion to the Premier League?
  • 1992 when Rovers signed Alan Shearer for a then British transfer record?
  • 1994 when Rovers qualified for the Champions League?
  • 1995 when Rovers qualified for the Champions League?
  • 1995 when Rovers won the Premier League?
  • 1998 when Rovers qualified for the UEFA Cup?
  • 2002 when Rovers won the League Cup?
  • 2002 when Rovers qualified for the UEFA Cup?
  • 2003 when Rovers qualified for the UEFA Cup?
  • 2006 when Rovers qualified for the UEFA Cup?
  • 2007 when Rovers qualified for the Intertoto Cup?
  • 2007 when Rovers qualified for the UEFA Cup?

Opinions seem to differ. That Burnley fans are jealous is obvious.

There are many enduring myths in football, that Burnley are a bigger and better supported club than Blackburn Rovers is but one of them.

 

However, I believe in facts.

 

Rovers attendance statistics go back to 1889, 125 years. Burnley's attendance statistics go back to 1893, 121 years - and it is from that point that we can compare the attendance statistics of both clubs.

 

If we subtract the 11 seasons of football which were suspended during WWI and WWII, the actual number of years in which we can compare statistics is 110 years.

 

It may come as a shock to some, but there have only been 30 years out of 110 years when Burnley have averaged higher attendances than Blackburn Rovers - the last time being just over a quarter of a century ago in the 1980's, 31 years to be precise - 1983.

 

Below are the average attendances of both Blackburn Rovers and Burnley when they have either (a) been in the same league together or (b) when they have been in the same league at different times or (c) when Blackburn Rovers have been in a lower league but have still managed to average higher attendances.

 

It is also worth highlighting the fact that the Blackburn conurbation consists of Darwen, Bellmont and Guide; population approximately: 148,000.

 

The Burnley conurbation consists of Read, Simonstone, Paddiham, Brierfield, Briercliffe, Worsthorne, Nelson and Colne; population approximately: 155,000.

As above so below: Empty wooden seats and few fans at Burnley's medieval ground.

This is what Turd Morgue looked like the last time they beat Rovers on their own ground. 2014 - 36 years and waiting.
This is what Turd Morgue looked like the last time they beat Rovers on their own ground. 2014 - 36 years and waiting.

The 1950's were a very thin period for Blackburn Rovers. 1949-1959 were spent in Division 2 (1966-1992 spent in Division's 2 and 3) while Burnley spent the 1950's in Division 1 winning the Division 1 Championship in 1960 - in 1960 Rovers still managed to average bigger attendances than Burnley, (see below). 

 

Still, Rovers attendance figures during the 1950's compared favourably with Burnley, as can be seen below.

 

Blackburn Rovers Level

 Attendance


Burnley Level Attendance
1958 2

22.708

1958  1

22.251

1957 2 23.091 1957 1 22.493
1955 2 26.928   1955 1 25.094  

Burnley's fortunes relative to Rovers' throughout the 1950's, 1960's and the 1970's were far greater.

 

In 1960 Burnley won the Division 1 Championship.

Blackburn Rovers  Level Attendance Burnley 
Level  Attendance
1960 1 27.299 1960 1 26.978

Both clubs slowly went into decline during the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's.

Rovers’ fortunes then slowly began to improve as the 1980's progressed.

 

Rovers' decline began in 1966.

 

Burnley's decline began in 1977.


Blackburn Rovers Level

 Attendance 

 Burnley  

Level Attendance
1975 3

12.651

1985   

3 4.177
1974 3 7.432 1984 3 6.625
1973 3 9.214 1982 3 6.936
1972 3 8.256  1981 3 6.469

At the end of the 1997-1998 season, Rovers were relegated to Division 2, now renamed The Championship.

 

This allowed Rovers to renew their rivalry with Burnley with two memorable victories for Rovers - on and off the pitch.

Blackburn Rovers Level

Attendance

Burnley

 

Level Attendace
2001 2

20.740

2001

2 16.442

Burnley finally gained promotion to Division one, now renamed The Premier League.

 

This allowed them to renew their rivalry with Rovers with two memorable victories for Rovers - on and off the pitch.

Blackburn Rovers Level

Attendance

Burnley

Level Attendance
2010 1

25.428

2010
1 20.654

At the end of the 2011-2012 season, Rovers were relegated to Division 2, now renamed The Championship.

 

This allowed them to renew their rivalry with Burnley during the 2012-2013 season, resulting in two draws on the pitch but an undoubted victory off it.

 

Despite the worst owners in the clubs history; the worst board of directors in the clubs history; a string of managers widely regarded as the worst in the clubs history; relegation from the Premier League; fighting against a second successive relegation into the third level of English football; an open fan boycott of home games and Burnley finishing above Rovers for the first time in over three decades, Burnley could still not muster more support to their cause than Blackburn Rovers.

Blackburn Rovers Level Attendance Burnley   Level Attendance 
2013 2 14.997 2013 2 12.928
 

Yet again, as if proof were needed, we have more evidence of the medococre support of one of the countries most unpopular clubs.

 

At the the end of the 2013-2014 season, Rovers not only missed out on automatic promotion but failed to secure a Play-Off place.

 

Burnley on the other hand were hardly out of the top two all season and secured automatic promotion on 93 points, 8 points ahead of third placed Derby County and 23 points ahead of eighth placed Rovers.

 

Not only that but Burnley even managed to end their 35 year hoodoo at Ewood Park by beating Rovers 1-2 - although it is 36 years since Burnley beat Rovers at Turf Moor.

 

Despite all of this, Burnley's mythical support continues to be just that - a myth.

Blackburn Rovers Level Attendance Burnley Level Attendance
2014 2 14.962 2014 2 13.719
2015 2 14.912 2015 1 19.131
 
Again, what we see is that Rovers "fickle" support actually goes down slightly despite a better season than the previous season. As for Burnley, despite automatic promotion, Burnley's "fanatical" support increases by a meagre 791 spectators on the previous season - despite promotion to the Premier League.

At the end of the 2014-2015 season, Burnley failed to average more than 20,000 and only 4,219 more than Rovers, despite this being their first season a division higher than Rovers since 1980.

Away Attendances.

Derek Fazackerley goes in against Burnley's Martin Dobson at Turf Moor, 27/12/1982, 1982-1983 season. Rovers won 0-1 and completed the double over Burnley at Ewood Park.
Derek Fazackerley goes in against Burnley's Martin Dobson at Turf Moor, 27/12/1982, 1982-1983 season. Rovers won 0-1 and completed the double over Burnley at Ewood Park.

Burnley fans will inevitiably then shift the goal posts with shrieks of, "Ah! But our Away Support is better than yours!"

 

This is of course another myth.

 

During the 2012-2013 season, Burnley finished above Rovers and were above Rovers for the entirety of the season yet Rovers still managed to take more from home than them.

BRFC 2012-2013 Season Away Support: 1.175

BFC   2012-2013 Season Away Support: 1.154

 

During the 2013-2014 season, Burnley were hardly out of the top two all season and secured automatic promotion on 93 points, 8 points ahead of third placed Derby County and 23 points ahead of eighth placed Rovers. Not only that but Burnley even managed to end their 35 year hoodoo at Ewood Park by beating Rovers 1-2 - although it is 36 years since Burnley beat Rovers at Turf Moor. Burnley only managed to muster a meagre 675 more away fans than Rovers during a promotion season.

BRFC 2013-2014 Season Away Support: 1.156

BFC   2013-2014 Season Away Support: 1.831

Jordan Rhodes and Tommy Spurr at Turf Moor, 14/09/2013,  2013-2014 season. Rovers equalised 1-1 denying Burnley their first victory over Rovers in 34 years, thereby ensuring Rovers' unbeaten run would stretch to 35 years for the return fixture.
Jordan Rhodes and Tommy Spurr at Turf Moor, 14/09/2013, 2013-2014 season. Rovers equalised 1-1 denying Burnley their first victory over Rovers in 34 years, thereby ensuring Rovers' unbeaten run would stretch to 35 years for the return fixture.

In summary:

Rovers attendance statistics go back to 1889, 125 years. Burnley's attendance statistics go back to 1893, 121 years - and it is from that point that we can compare the attendance statistics of both clubs.

 

If we subtract the 11 seasons of football which were suspended during WWI and WWII, the actual number of years in which we can compare statistics is 110 years.

 

Blackburn Rovers and Burnley have only ever been in the same division together for a total of 43 seasons.

 
  • In 28 years out of the 43 years when the two clubs have been in the same Division - Blackburn Rovers have averaged higher attendances than Burnley.

 

  • In 15 years out of the 43 years when the two clubs have been in the same Division - Burnley have averaged higher attendances than Blackburn Rovers.

 

  • In total, out of the 110 years where both club's attendance figures can be compared, there are 80 years out of 110 years when Blackburn Rovers have averaged higher attendances than Burnley.

 

  • In total, out of the 110 years where both club's attendance figures can be compared, there are 31 years out of 110 years when Burnley have averaged higher attendances than Blackburn Rovers.

 

  • 64 years of the 80 years when Blackburn Rovers have averaged higher attendanced than Burnley came when Burnley were in a lower Division.

 

  • 18 years of the 31 years when Burnley have averaged higher attendances than Blackburn Rovers came when Blackburn Rovers were in a lower Division.

 

  • Blackburn Rovers have averaged higher attendances than Burnley when in a lower Division than Burnley - 1955, 1957, 1958.

 

  • Burnley have never averaged higher attendances than Blackburn Rovers when in a lower Division than Blackburn Rovers.

 

  • Blackburn Rovers were last Champions of England in 1995 and everaged higher attendances than Burnley during their title winning season - Burnley were in a lower Division.

 

  • Burnley were last Champions of England in 1960 and Blackburn Rovers still averaged higher attendances than Burnley during Burnley's title winning season -Blackburn Rovers were in the same Division.

 

Below are the 30 years out of those 110 years where both club's attendance figures can be compared during which Burnley averaged higher attendances than Blackburn Rovers. 

 

*Note the year, league level and average attendance for that season. 

Burnley Level Attendance Blackburn Level Attendance Difference
2015 1 19.131 2015 2 14.912 4.219
1983  2 9.086 1983     2 7.103 1.983
1979    10.748 1979       2 8.640 2.108
1977    12.173 1977     2  10.130 2.043
1976   18.120 1976     2  10.489 7.631
1975    19.641 1975     3 12.651 6.099
1974    20.634 1974     3 7.432 13.202
1973    14.083 1973    9.214 4.869
1972    12.893 1972      3  8.256 4.637
1971    16.156 1971     2 8.034 8.122
1970     1 16.452 1970     2 12.523 3.929
1969       1 16.073 1969     2  10.617  5.456
1968   17.435  1968     2  13.531 3.904
1967     1 20.508 1967     2 14.721 5.787
1966    19.968 1966     1  13.513 6.455
1963      1 25.180 1963       1 16.001 9.179
1962     27.125 1962       1 15.906 11.219
1961    23.827 1961     1  19.343 4.484
1956      23.397 1956    2 23.001 0.396
1954      1 28.151 1954       2  26.123 2.357
1953    28.480 1953   2 23.157 5.323
1952        1 26.624  1952       2  23.228   3.396
1951      28.296 1951       2 24.830 1.794
1950      27.631 1950       2 22.351 5.028
1949      30.290 1949      2 22.421  7.869
1948      33.621 1948       1  27.883 5.738
1927      19.422 1927       1 18.891 0.531
1926      17.857 1926       1  17.775 0.082
1922      23.640 1922       1 23.580 0.006
1921    31.535 1921     1  27.930 3.605
1920      19.530 1920       1 18.110 1.142