Burnley's American Dream

Last updated : 02 June 2008 By Tony Scholes
Minnesota Thunder player in action
Senior Burnley Football Club officials are to travel to the United States of America this week to pursue it. Chairman Barry Kilby, Operational Director Brendan Flood, Development Director Paul Fletcher and assistant manager Sandy Stewart will head to America this coming Wednesday with the aim of building foundations that could help the Clarets develop and nurture young talent on both sides of the Atlantic.

During the four-day trip, the Clarets' party will visit three franchises as part of a strategic youth development programme: Carolina RailHawks, Minnesota Thunder and the Richmond Kickers, and it is hoped the Clarets can forge a symbiotic relationship with a club similar to that enjoyed by Stoke City and their new American partner Austin Aztex, who plan to hold summer training camps in America, scout for local talent, exchange players and share best practices between the two clubs.

Brendan Flood explained: "The American market is exploding and, from being the 10th most popular sport just a few short years ago, football is now the third most popular and played by young people right across such a huge country.

"In many ways, this means America is still very much an untapped market and, from our research, the youth organisations and facilities over there are extremely well run.

"We feel there is an exciting opportunity to tap into that pool of talent before other clubs and hopefully, through an affiliation with one partner, start to build a relationship that will ultimately benefit both clubs.

"That may even entail us ultimately taking a franchise on as a partner and that particular club being re-branded as 'The Clarets', even potentially adopting the famous claret and blue colours we all wear with pride."

Mr Flood continued: "The potential is huge and with football being very much a global television event in the modern era, hopefully any link-up could be commercially and strategically beneficial."