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We'll play no less than fourteen North West derbies this season in the Premier League but as far as Burnley fans are concerned there is, and always will be, only one derby.
Recent seasons have seen the games against Preston being considered the derby but they matter nothing compared to the games against the team in blue and white halves.
As we were leaving Wembley on that glorious day in May, our fans were telling television and radio interviewers alike which game they were looking forward to and finally nine games in to the 2009/10 season it is with us.
Just four league meetings in over thirty years to add to the cup tie of 2004/05, in itself the first meeting in a major cup competition since we were crowned Champions of England in 1960, and the first league meeting in the top flight since New Year's Day 1966.
Sadly the day has already been spoiled by the ridiculous policing that have forced us on to coaches for the journey, all of us treated as if we are criminals. Tomorrow will be a long day, leaving hours ahead of the game and returning far too late. Hopefully by the time we all get home the result will have at least made it worth the while.
Whether we like it or not, Blackburn moved away from us in the 1980s. As we slumped they managed to hold on, just about, in the old second division before Jack Walker's money elevated them and took them into the Premier League where they have been for all but two seasons since.
As much as we hated it, as much as we couldn't stomach it, they'd been taken so far away from us that has taken one magnificent effort and achievement by our club to allow us to cross swords again in this league.
Maybe, just maybe, if they had retained the services of Paul Ince a while longer last season we might have passed them as we came up, but the appointment of Sam Allardyce calmed the waters for them and it was Big Sam's former club Newcastle who headed down to Championship football.
They currently sit in sixteenth place in the Premier League but it must be noted that they have not been beaten at home since the opening day of the season when Manchester City took all three points at Ewood Park.
Vince Grella looks to be the only absentee for Blackburn. He's ruled out with a thigh injury but good news for Blackburn is that both Christian Samba and Ryan Nelsen are fit to return after missing the heavy 6-2 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates two weeks ago.
Their team that day was: Paul Robinson, Lars Jacobsen, Pascal Chimbonda, Gael Givet, Martin Olsson, Brett Emerton, Keith Andrews, Steven Nzonzi, El Hadji Diouf, David Dunn, Franco Di Santo. Subs: Jason Brown, Nicola Kalinic, Michel Salgado, Phil Jones, Morten Gamst Pederson, Benni McCarthy, David Hoilett.
The good news for Burnley is that the long term injury list hasn't increased so it is just Chris McCann, Martin Paterson and Jay Rodriguez who are ruled out with every other member of the first team squad fully fit.
I don't envisage any changes from the side that beat Birmingham two weeks ago far more convincingly than the 2-1 scoreline suggests. There could be a change on the bench with Fernando Guerrero back in contention for a place after recovering from his hamstring strain.
Expect us to line up: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Graham Alexander, Andre Bikey, Steven Fletcher, Wade Elliott, Robbie Blake, David Nugent. Subs from: Diego Penny, Michael Duff, Christian Kalvenes, Joey Gudjonsson, Kevin McDonald, Chris Eagles, Fernando Guerrero, Steven Thompson.
That last ever meeting in the top flight on New Year's Day 1966 saw the two clubs poles apart in the old first division. The win kept Burnley second, just two points behind leaders Liverpool, whilst Blackburn were only kept off the bottom of the league by Fulham's inferior goal average.
Willie Irvine gave us the lead on 19 minutes and Gordon Harris made it 2-0 to complete the scoring some 21 minutes from time. The game also saw Willie Morgan sent off and Adam Blacklaw sort out a Blackburn fan at the Darwen End.
My lasting memory is of, with the game won, Ralph Coates sitting on the ball taking the micky out of them.
The Burnley team that day was: Adam Blacklaw, John Angus, Alex Elder, Brian O'Neil, Brian Miller, Sammy Todd, Willie Morgan, Arthur Bellamy, Willie Irvine, Gordon Harris, Ralph Coates.
Previous 20 Seasons | |||||
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
2000/01 | 1 | h | 0-2 | 21,369 | . |
| . | . | a | 0-5 | 23,442 | . |
2004/05 | FAC | h | 0-0 | 21,468 | . |
. | . | a | 1-2 | 28,691 | Hyde |