BURNLEY
Premier League, Turf Moor, Saturday 25 November 2023, 3pm GMT
West Ham United make the 500-mile round trip to Lancashire to take on Burnley to celebrate the end of the November international break.
The Clarets are back in the Premier League for a fourth spell, having won the EFL Championship title under the management of former Manchester City and Belgium centre-back and captain Vincent Kompany.
Burnley, for whom Academy of Football graduate Josh Cullen has become an integral member of the team, have started the 2023/24 season in a manner which suggests they could struggle to stay up.
Kompany’s commitment to possession football and building from the back has been admirable, but also led to his team conceded goals after losing the ball inside their own third of the pitch.
That is a trait that Burnley and their American owners will hope to change if they are to avoid a third immediate relegation in four attempts as a Premier League club.
How to get there…
Burnley may be 250 miles away, but getting there is fairly simple.
If you take the train, you can travel by one of multiple routes – from London Euston via Manchester or Preston, or London Kings Cross via Halifax. From Burnley’s railway stations, Manchester Road and Central, you can walk to Turf Moor in between 15-20 minutes.
If you drive, take the northbound M1, then northbound M6 to Junction 29. From there, head east on the M65 past Blackburn and Accrington to Junction 10, then follow the A671, Finsley Gate, Parliament St and Todmorden Rd/A671 to Harry Potts Way, where Turf Moor will appear on your left!
Bookable parking is available at a number of locations near Turf Moor from burnleyfcparking.co.uk, priced between £1-£7.
Alternatively, book on one of the Club’s official coaches!
Where to stay…
You could opt to stay in Manchester, which is around 40 minutes south by train.
If you would rather stay in Burnley itself, the town has a relatively small number of accommodation options available, including well-known budget hotels.
What to do…
Obviously, if you stay in Manchester, there are plenty of options when it comes to attractions, bars, restaurants, pubs and other cultural pursuits.
If you travel to Burnley direct, then The Weavers' Triangle Visitor Centre and Queen Street Mill Textile Museum give plenty of information about the town’s proud history in the cotton industry.
Towneley Hall (pictured) historic house, art gallery and museum is located in 400 acres of beautiful parkland, while Gawthorpe Hall is an Elizabethan mansion surrounded by landscaped gardens and woodland managed by the National Trust.
Of course, Burnley is also well-stocked with pubs, bars and restaurants serving a wide variety of drinks and cuisines!
What’s happened there before…
Visits to Turf Moor have produced mixed results for West Ham United in the Premier League era.
The Hammers were beaten 2-1 at Burnley’s home of 140 years in February 2010. Since then, the Irons have won three, drawn two and lost two others in their seven other games there.
Sam Allardyce also secured a 2-0 League Cup win at Turf Moor in October 2013, when Burnley were in the Championship.
Prior to the Premier League era, West Ham’s biggest win at Turf Moor was a 5-3 First Division victory in 1974, and the Hammers’ heaviest defeat there was a 6-0 First Division reverse in March 1962.
