Turf Moor

Turf Moor stands on the edge of Burnley, in the hills of Lancashire beside the River Brun. The ground has hosted football since 1883 and is the second-oldest continuously used stadium in English professional football. It sits on Harry Potts Way, named after the manager who guided Burnley to the First Division title in 1959–60. Cricket was played here as early as 1843, when Burnley Cricket Club moved to the site. The first football match in 1883 drew 2,000 spectators who watched from the hillside behind the pitch. The ground has seen many historic moments. In 1886 Prince Albert Victor became the first royal to watch a match at Turf Moor. The first Football League game took place here in October 1888, with Fred Poland scoring Burnley’s first league goal. In 1924 a crowd of 54,775 packed the ground for an FA Cup tie against Huddersfield Town, a record that still stands. The stadium hosted an FA Cup semi-final in 1922 and an England international in 1927. Over the years the ground has grown from a simple pitch with wooden stands to a modern four-stand arena. Visitors today find four distinct stands: the Bob Lord Stand, the Cricket Field Stand, the North Stand and the Jimmy McIlroy Stand. The Cricket Field Stand looks towards the old cricket pitch, reminding visitors of the ground’s dual sporting past. The North Stand occupies the site of the old Star Stand, rebuilt several times since 1891. The Jimmy McIlroy Stand, named after the club’s 1950s playmaker, offers a clear view of the pitch and the Pennine hills beyond. The ground retains the feel of a working football stadium, where history is still felt in every corner.