1. Footymad
  2. Clarets Mad
  3. Clarets Latest
  4. Match Previews

And it all starts again

Last updated : 07 July 2006 By Tony Scholes
Steve Jones - set for his first game for the Clarets
The first time I reported on a pre-season game between these two clubs for Clarets Mad was five years ago, and things were somewhat different then. We'd just failed to reach the play offs and were just about to embark on a new season that until Christmas was to be beyond our wildest dreams whilst Accy were preparing for a second season in the Unibond Premier League after they too had won promotion in 2000.

Such was the gulf between the two clubs then, it was always a reserve team that Burnley fielded and it was no exception that night with just fringe players John Mullin, Lenny Johnrose and Mark McGregor included alongside a team of youngsters and South African trialist Gareth Orratt. We won 6-1 on that occasion with both Mullin and Johnrose on the score sheet.

Now just two divisions apart, this will be a tougher game for the first team than it was for the reserves back then and John Coleman has strengthened his squad for their return to the Football League.

His first signing was Sean Doherty, a 21 year old midfielder from Port Vale who started his career with Fulham and made his Football League debut during a loan spell with Blackpool. He was followed by Andy Todd who was with them last season and he has now made his move from Burton Albion a permanent one.

The third signing is Ivory Coast Under-21 international defender Julien N'Da who spent last season playing his football in the French League with Rouen.

What can we expect from Burnley? Although the temperatures are expected to be lower than of late it is still going to be a warm day and with only a week of pre-season training gone it is likely to be played at a slow pace and there are likely to be a number of substitutions. It has even been suggested that we could play one side in the first half and a different eleven in the second half, yes we have enough players for that.

One thing for certain is that the Burnley fans who travel to the Fraser Eagle Stadium will get a first chance to see new signings Steve Jones and Stephen Foster in action whilst Andy Gray and Alan Mahon will line up for the first time since signing their three year contracts. We will select from:

Goalkeepers: Danny Coyne, Brian Jensen
Defenders: Duane Courtney, Michael Duff, Stephen Foster, Jon Harley, Danny Karbassiyoon, John McGreal, Frank Sinclair, Wayne Thomas
Midfielders: Graham Branch, Wade Elliott, Micah Hyde, Alan Mahon, Chris McCann, Garreth O'Connor, James O'Connor, John Spicer
Forwards: Andy Gray, Steve Jones, Kyle Lafferty, Gifton Noel-Williams

Trending on the boards