List_of_Burnley_F.C._seasons

List of Burnley F.C. seasons

List of Burnley F.C. seasons

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Burnley Football Club, an English association football club based in Burnley, Lancashire, was founded on 18 May 1882 as Burnley Rovers.[lower-alpha 1] The suffix "Rovers" was soon dropped, and the club was simply known as "Burnley Football Club" at the time of its first recorded match on 10 August 1882.[3] For the first six years of its existence, there was no league football, so matches were arranged on an ad hoc basis, supplemented by cup competitions organised at local and national level.[4] The club won its first trophy in 1883: the Dr Dean's Cup, a knockout competition between amateur clubs in the local area.[5] Burnley turned professional at the end of 1883, first entered the FA Cup in the 1885–86 season, and were one of the 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888.[6] The team have played in the top four tiers of English football from 1888 to the present day.[7]

For details of the current season, see 2023–24 Burnley F.C. season.

Graph showing Burnley's league performance from the inaugural season of the Football League in 1888–89 to the present

Burnley have been champions of England twice, in 1920–21 and 1959–60, have won the FA Cup once, in 1913–14, and have won the FA Charity Shield twice, in 1960 and 1973.[7][8] They have been runners-up in the First Division twice, in 1919–20 and 1961–62, and FA Cup runners-up twice, in 1946–47 and 1961–62.[7] Burnley were the second, and are one of only five teams to have won all four professional divisions of English football, along with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Preston North End, Sheffield United and Portsmouth.[9][10]

As of the end of the 2022–23 season, the team have spent 59 seasons in the top division of English football, 47 in the second, 11 in the third, and 7 in the fourth.[7] The table details their achievements in domestic and international competitions, and records their top goalscorer and average home league attendance, for each completed season.

Key

Details of the abandoned 1939–40 Football League are shown in italics and appropriately footnoted.

Seasons

More information Season, League ...

Notes

  1. The Burnley Advertiser reported on 26 September 1874 that a rugby football team named "The Burnley Rovers Football Club" had "just been formed", already having 35 members.[1] On 18 May 1882, Burnley Rovers voted for a shift to association football.[2]
  2. Beginning with the 1925–26 season, the FA Cup was structured so that the third round proper contained 64 teams. Before that date, the structure had varied, so rounds are not directly comparable to the round of the same name after 1925. For example, in 1888–89, Burnley's first season in the Football League, there were only three rounds proper before the semi-final, as compared with the current six.[13]
  3. The League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.[15]
  4. Includes goals scored in the Football League, including test matches and play-offs, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Charity Shield, European Cup, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, UEFA Europa League, Texaco Cup, Watney Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup, Football League Group Cup, and Associate Members' Cup / Football League Trophy. Goals scored in seasons from 1888–89 to 2006–07 sourced to Simpson (2007), and from 2007–08 onwards sourced to Soccerbase.[16]
  5. League matches only (including Football League and Premier League, but excluding test matches and play-offs). Sourced from Simpson (2007), The Clarets Chronicles up to and including the 2006–07 season, and from European Football Statistics and ESPN thereafter.[17][18]
  6. Divisions are sorted according to their level within the English football league system at the time.
  7. Burnley's first appearance in the FA Cup. They fielded their reserve side, as most professionals were prohibited entry due to rules of the Football Association (FA) that year. Rules stated that professionals could only play in the FA Cup and County FA competitions if they had been born, or had resided for a minimum of two years, within six miles of their club's ground. The reserve side lost 11–0 to Darwen Old Wanderers, a club record defeat.[20]
  8. For unclear reasons, both Burnley and opponents Astley Bridge withdrew from the competition after the first replay.[21]
  9. The first of Place's two goals in the FA Cup first round tie against Astley Bridge, a 3–3 draw on 23 October 1886, was the club's first goal in national competitive football.
  10. Burnley was one of 12 founding member clubs of the Football League in 1888; the world's first league football competition.[15]
  11. There was no automatic relegation from the Football League until 1987.[15] The bottom four clubs in the League, together with candidates from outside the League, applied for re-election. Each current League club had a vote. Burnley were re-elected.[22]
  12. There was no automatic relegation from the Football League until 1987.[15] The bottom three clubs in the League, together with candidates from outside the League, applied for re-election. Each current League club had a vote. Burnley were re-elected.[23]
  13. The Football League expanded its membership at the end of this season by forming a Second Division.[15]
  14. For finishing in 16th place, Burnley had to play test matches against Newton Heath and Notts County from the Second Division in order to stay up. They only gained three points from four matches and were relegated to Division Two.[24]
  15. Although Burnley finished first in the league, the club had to play test matches against the two bottom clubs from Division One. The final test match left Burnley and Stoke involved needing a draw to both win promotion; the game finished 0–0. The Football League decided to expand each division by two places, and from then on the League adopted promotion and relegation directly dependent on league position (two up, two down).[15]
  16. Burnley reached the quarter-finals, in which they were eliminated by Manchester United in a replay. Burnley had led 1–0 in the original match on a snowy Turf Moor pitch (the club's home ground), when the game was abandoned after 72 minutes.[25]
  17. Freeman scored 32 goals in Division Two.[26]
  18. Freeman scored 31 goals in Division Two.[26]
  19. Excluding two goals in the FA Cup first round against Leeds City, which was abandoned after 50 minutes due to snow. The match was later replayed in full and Freeman scored once.[27]
  20. Beat Liverpool 1–0 to win club's first major trophy[7]
  21. The club played 144 games in regional league and cup football between 1915 and 1919. Guest players were permitted, and results and records from this period are not included in official statistics.[28]
  22. Beel's 35 goals in the league is a club record.[29]
  23. When the Second World War began in 1939, the 1939–40 Football League season was abandoned with two matches played.[30]
  24. The club played 215 games in regional league and cup football between 1939 and 1946. Guest players were permitted, and results and records from this period are not included in official statistics.[31]
  25. This was the only full season played in the wartime Football League North and South regionalised competitions. These leagues included Football League First and Second Division clubs divided geographically, playing each other home and away. Burnley finished in 16th place (of 22 clubs) in the Northern section.[32]
  26. From the first round proper to the sixth round of the 1945–46 FA Cup, matches were played over two legs.[33]
  27. FA Cup goals only
  28. Lost 1–0 to Charlton Athletic after extra time[7]
  29. Excluding two goals in the FA Cup third round against Bury, which was abandoned after 65 minutes due to fog. The match was later replayed in full, but McKay did not score again.[34]
  30. Lost 2–1 to Aston Villa in a replay, after the score was 3–3 on aggregate[35]
  31. Until 1993, in the event of a draw, the Charity Shield would be shared between the two competing teams, with each team having possession of the trophy for six months. Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers drew 2–2.[36][37]
  32. Robson's 37 goals in all competitions is a club record.
  33. Burnley chose to not participate in the competition again until 1965–66, as they had other priorities.[38]
  34. Irvine scored 29 goals in Division One.[26]
  35. Irvine's 37 goals in all competitions is a club record.
  36. Lost 3–2 to Swindon Town in a replay after extra time[35]
  37. Excluding one league goal against Sunderland; the match was abandoned at half-time due to snow. The game was later replayed in full, but Casper did not score again.[39]
  38. Between 1969–70 and 1973–74, the losing FA Cup semi-finalists took part in a third-place play-off. Burnley defeated Leicester City 1–0 at Filbert Street, Leicester.[40]
  39. The 1972–73 First Division champions Liverpool and the 1972–73 FA Cup winners Sunderland declined to compete in the 1973 FA Charity Shield, so Manchester City—the reigning holders of the Shield—and Second Division champions Burnley played instead. Burnley defeated City 1–0.[41]
  40. Lost 2–1 to Newcastle United after extra time[42]
  41. Relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time
  42. This season saw the introduction of three points for a win instead of two.[15]
  43. Relegated to the fourth tier of English football for the first time
  44. Club's lowest league finish
  45. Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated Burnley 2–0. The match was attended by 80,841 people, a record for a tie between two teams from English football's fourth tier.[43]
  46. Lost in the play-off semi-final to Torquay United on aggregate[44]
  47. By winning Division Four, Burnley became only the second club, after Wolverhampton Wanderers, to win all four professional divisions.[9]
  48. Excluding one league goal against Aldershot, who folded during the season and were obliged to resign from the Football League–their record was expunged.[45]
  49. Division Three was renamed Division Two after the FA Premiership broke away from the Football League.[15]
  50. The Associate Members' Cup was renamed the Football League Trophy from the 1992–93 season.
  51. Promoted to Division One via the play-offs, beating Plymouth Argyle 3–1 on aggregate in the semi-final and Stockport County 2–1 in the final, after Stockport had two players sent off.[46]
  52. Payton scored 27 goals in Division Two.[26]
  53. Division One was renamed the Championship from the 2004–05 season.[47]
  54. Promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs, beating Reading 3–0 on aggregate in the semi-final and Sheffield United 1–0 in the final[48][49]
  55. The club played Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals, and the score was 4–4 on aggregate. Burnley would have progressed to the final on away goals (1–4 away, 3–0 at home) but according to League Cup rules at the time, away goals only came into play after extra time.[50] Burnley were eliminated after two Tottenham goals in the last two minutes of extra time.[51] The League Cup abolished the extra time and away goals rules from the 2018–19 edition.[52]
  56. Gray moved from Brentford to Burnley early in the season. In the Championship, he had scored two goals for Brentford and 23 for Burnley, taking his tally to 25.[53]
  57. The club appeared in a major European competition for the first time in 51 years, courtesy of a 7th place finish in the 2017–18 season.[54] Burnley beat Aberdeen of Scotland and İstanbul Başakşehir of Turkey in the second qualifying round and third qualifying round, respectively. Greek club Olympiacos were the opponents in the play-off round, but Burnley were eliminated 4–2 on aggregate.[55]
  58. The 2019–20 season was interrupted for three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic before being completed behind closed doors;[56] the average attendance only covers those matches played with spectators present.
  59. Because of COVID restrictions, Burnley played 18 of their 19 home matches behind closed doors. At the home game against Liverpool on 19 May 2021, there was a limit of 3,500 fans allowed to attend.[57]

References

Specific

  1. [1]
    "Local News". Burnley Advertiser. 26 September 1874. p. 2.
  2. [2]
    Simpson (2007), p. 12
  3. [3]
    Simpson (2007), pp. 12, 18
  4. [4]
    Simpson (2007), pp. 18–29
  5. [5]
    Simpson, Ray (5 December 2017). "The Story Of The Dr Dean Trophy". Burnley F.C. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  6. [6]
    Simpson (2007), pp. 13–25
  7. [7]
    Rundle, Richard. "Burnley". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  8. [8]
    Ross, James M. (5 August 2019). "England – List of FA Charity/Community Shield Matches". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  9. [9]
    Tyler, Martin (9 May 2017). "Martin Tyler's stats: Most own goals, fewest different scorers in a season". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  10. [10]
    "Club Honours & Records". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  11. [11]
    Simpson (2007), pp. 529–531
  12. [12]
    "The FA Cup Past Results". The Football Association. Retrieved 7 May 2018. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
  13. [13]
    Rundle, Richard. "1888–89 FA Cup". Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020 and "1925–26 FA Cup". Football Club History Database. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  14. [14]
    "Burnley football club complete match record". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  15. [15]
    "History Of The Football League". The Football League. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  16. [16]
    "Burnley: Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 May 2020. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  17. [17]
    "English historical attendance and performance: Burnley". European Football Statistics. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  18. [18]
    "Burnley Stats". ESPN. Retrieved 13 February 2021. Select competition(s) and season required via dropdown menu.
  19. [19]
    Simpson (2007), pp. 18–25
  20. [20]
    Simpson (2007), p. 24
  21. [21]
    Simpson (2007), p. 26
  22. [22]
    Simpson (2007), p. 32
  23. [23]
    Simpson (2007), pp. 36, 88
  24. [24]
    Simpson (2007), p. 64
  25. [25]
    Simpson (2007), p. 111
  26. [26]
    Ross, James M. (12 June 2009). "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
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    Simpson (2007), p. 128
  28. [28]
    Simpson (2007), pp. 138–145
  29. [29]
    Simpson (2007), p. 179
  30. [30]
    Simpson (2007), p. 227
  31. [31]
    Simpson (2007), pp. 228–237
  32. [32]
    Simpson (2007), p. 239
  33. [33]
    Heneghan, Michael (12 December 2002). "England FA Challenge Cup 1945–1946". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  34. [34]
    Simpson (2007), p. 278
  35. [35]
    Abbink, Dinant (28 March 2008). "England League Cup Full Results 1960–1996". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  36. [36]
    Simpson (2007), p. 296
  37. [37]
    "The FA Community Shield history". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  38. [38]
    Simpson (2007), p. 312
  39. [39]
    Simpson (2007), p. 505
  40. [40]
    "Semi-Final Factfile". The Football Association. 13 April 2005. Archived from the original on 15 April 2005. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  41. [41]
    "Manchester City v Burnley, 18 August 1973". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  42. [42]
    Simpson (2007), p. 506
  43. [43]
    Donlan, Matt (18 December 2009). "Sherpa final a turning point in Burnley's history". Lancashire Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  44. [44]
    Felton, Paul. "Season 1990–91". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
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    Simpson (2007), p. 509
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    Metcalf, Rupert (23 October 2011). "Football Play-Offs: County fall short as Burnley go up: Parkinson makes the difference". The Independent. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
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    "League gets revamp". BBC Sport. 10 June 2004. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
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    Fletcher, Paul (12 May 2009). "Reading 0–2 Burnley (agg 0–3)". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  49. [49]
    Fletcher, Paul (25 May 2009). "Burnley 1–0 Sheff Utd". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  50. [50]
    Sheen, Tom (28 January 2015). "Do away goals count in the Capital One Cup semi-final?". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  51. [51]
    Hughes, Ian (21 January 2009). "Burnley 3–2 Tottenham (agg 4–6)". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  52. [52]
    "Carabao Cup: What you need to know ahead of the Round One Draw". EFL. 12 June 2018. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  53. [53]
    Marshall, Tyrone (21 June 2016). "'Padiham Predator' backs Andre Gray to be Premier League success for Clarets". Lancashire Telegraph. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  54. [54]
    "Burnley secure European football for first time in 51 years". BBC Sport. 5 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  55. [55]
    "Burnley 1–1 Olympiakos (2–4 on agg)". BBC Sport. 30 August 2018. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
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    "The Premier League returns — all you need to know". BBC Sport. 16 June 2020. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
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    "Burnley offer free entry to 3,500 season-ticket holders for Liverpool game". BBC Sport. 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.

General

  • Simpson, Ray (2007). The Clarets Chronicles: The Definitive History of Burnley Football Club 1882-2007. Burnley F.C. ISBN 978-0-9557468-0-2.
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