GENEROUS IN ALL (WELL ALMOST ALL) ASPECTS OF THE GAME.

Burnley FC is one of those clubs fairly close to my heart. I saw them play at White Hart Lane in Division One on December 3rd in the Spurs' Double year (1960-61). Ray Pointer was their centre forward, he scored a hat trick, which helped hold a rampant Spurs to 4-4. Over 58,000 watched this spectacle.

Today Burnley took on Non-League Lincoln City, who have already made their mark in this years' FA Cup. To see The Imps on their way the Burnley club decided to invite some of their more mature supporters to be match day mascots. (normal mascots would pay £300 for the "package", which is sort of worth it I suppose).

No, they weren't expected to dress up in that Bertie Bee costume, but merely to enjoy the match day package and walk out with their favourite player before the game.  This was a reward for their longevity and continuous support of the Lancashire club. I think this was a really nice idea.
Good on them!

Here they are before the game at Turf Moor.

Athletico Madrid did this in January and Sweden's AIK also; both generous gestures to their loyal fans.  I'm sure others have done too.

Burnley offers much support to the local community (as all clubs do these days) and the "Extra Time" programme is their offering to the "silver generation". They also run a Lifetime Support programme which includes organised activities at the club such as indoor bowls and just getting oldies together. The Clarets also support Age UK, Lancashire Care and the British Heart Foundation. Good on them!

Following the charitable result against The Imps, Burnley's named Man of the Match, James Tarkowski, gave his champagne bottle to the opposition (possibly opened by 89 minute goal scorer Sean Raggett?), yet another example of the Clarets' charity. Good on him! and Good on Sean!

Lincoln's achievement makes them the first Non-League club to reach the last 8 in the FA Cup since 1914, when a non-league QPR did the job. They are also only one of 8 non-league clubs to beat top flight opposition since the Second World War and only the second since 1989. Good on them!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_non-League_clubs_in_the_Fifth_Round_of_the_FA_Cup_since_1945

Rather less charitable was dear old Joey Barton's behaviour on the pitch (so my Imp spy told me); he just can't hack it can he? Yeh, go on Joey, look interested! Bad on him!!!