10 YEARS OF BEN MEE

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10 YEARS OF BEN MEE

Captain Ben Mee reflects on 10 years as a Claret

2022-01-17T07:50:49.064Z

10 YEARS OF BEN MEE

Captain Ben Mee reflects on 10 years as a Claret

2022-01-17T07:50:49.064Z

Captain Ben Mee reflects on 10 years as a Claret

368 appearances

209 Premier League appearances

131 games as Burnley captain

16th in Burnley's all-time appearance list

11 goals

2 Championship promotions

A 21-year old Ben Mee originally joined Burnley on loan from Manchester City in June 2011, before signing on a permanent basis in January 2012.

Mee believed it was the right club for him to move on to and depart the team he had grown up at, Manchester City, to kickstart his career.

“I was really excited to join the club; I chose this club over a few others. I was excited to come here and prove myself and show what I could do.

“I started pre-season quite well and wanted to show the fans what I could do and what I was about.

“Then, obviously January came around and I joined on a permanent basis, and I felt it was just the right time for me to move, the right club for me.

Mee in action against Watford in his first season at Turf Moor

“I was eager to get signed at Burnley permanently and get my career going and move on from City.

“I was a young player; I wanted to improve and get my career off somewhere and not out on loan, and it just went from there.” Said the Sale-born defender.

The 2013/14 season was Mee's third season at the club and Sean Dyche's first full season in charge, after joining midway through the previous season.

And the Clarets, who were strong relegation favourites, went on to secure promotion to the Premier League.

And Mee described it as a 'brilliant season, against all the odds'.

The skipper said: “What a season that was, the feel around the club, the group of players we had, especially after Christmas.

“To get that second spot and go and get promoted, against all the odds was just fantastic.

“Brilliant season, quite unexpectedly, it was also the Gaffer’s first full season at the club as manager, so what an achievement that was to go and get promoted to the Premier League.”

Mee, alongside his teammates after sealing promotion

The Clarets were back in the big time and hosted eventual Chelsea on the opening day of the 2014/15 season, with the defender making his Premier League debut.

And Mee, who remembers that night at Turf Moor very well, believes that season was big learning expereince for himself and the squad.

“You always aim to play in the Premier League, as a young player you want to aim for the top.

“So, to be a part of it and see what it was about playing in the Premier League was an eye opener.

“You play in the Championship, but then you play in the Premier League, and you see the attention it has across the world, different people wanting to get involved and have a piece of the action.

Mee celebrates his late equaliser against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

“Our first game of the season was against Chelsea on Monday Night Football live on Sky, that was a great experience.

“Playing against the quality of Chelsea, Scotty (Arfield) scored a great goal, and the place was bouncing, we didn’t quite get the win.

“I remember (Cesc) Fabregas playing that pass to Andre Schurlle that night, I think I got blamed for not seeing the pass, but I don’t think anyone saw that pass!

“I think that whole season was just a big learning curve for us, I was playing left-back throughout that season, which isn’t my favoured position.

“But that season was all about learning for me, unfortunately we couldn’t quite stay up, but that group of players learnt a lot that season.”

Burnley were back in the Championship for the 2015/16 season, but nobody knew what a season that was to turn out to be.

As Dyche's men secured the league title, enjoyed a 23-match unbeaten run and Mee started every game that campaign.

Mee celebrates his goal against Huddersfield Town

“Going into the next season, back in the Championship, it’s how you then bounce back.

“We didn’t have the best first half of the season, but it all changed around Christmas time, we went on an amazing run and went on to get promoted.

“That was probably one of the best times I’ve had here as a player, going on a 23-game unbeaten run and winning games.

“Finishing off winning the league and at Charlton on the final day celebrating with the fans was special and to be back in the top-flight at the first time of asking was a massive achievement.” Said Mee.

The defender celebrates promotion back to the top-flight at Charlton

The Clarets returned to the Premier League for the 2016/17 season, where Mee went on to captain the side for the first time, against his former club Man City at Turf Moor.

Mee admitted it was a special occasion to wear the armband for the first time, against his former side and secure survival later that season.

He said: “It was great to be back in the Premier League and I went on to make captain the side for the first time, against my former club too was special.

“But like I said, a lot of players learnt a lot from the first-time round in the Prem, which benefited us second time round.

“The experience for myself and the squad was very valuable from the first season in the Premier League, it helped us a lot.

“And we of course went on to secure survival that season and stay up, which was massive for us.”

Dyche's men then enjoyed an outstanding season the following year in the 2017/18 season, as Burnley secured a 7th placed finish, winning 14 games and conceding just 39 goals all season.

“That was a special season, it was great. We were in the mix with the big boys for the first half of the season, fourth in the league in December.

“We sort of tailed off towards the end of the season, but overall, it was really strong, we were a solid unit that season.

Mee blocks Harry Kane's shot at Wembley, as the Clarets hold on for a 1-1 draw

“We got results against teams that maybe we shouldn’t have got results against, things just worked for us.

“That was a real good base for what we built on and of course we then went on to finish 7th and secure a Europa League spot for the upcoming season.”

The 2018/19 season saw Mee play every single minute of the Premier League season and feature in the Europa League qualifying stage for the Clarets, in a jam-packed season.

And the centre-back says it was a 'fantastic experience' to compete in Europe and a nice personal achievement to be an ever-present in the league campaign.

“It was a fantastic experience, not just for me and the team and the coaching staff but for the club and the fans too.

“It was the club’s first European tie for over 50 years, it was really special, it was brilliant walking out at Aberdeen on the first game.

“We had a fairly difficult draw and came up against some tough sides, but a great learning experience for us all.

Mee captains the side against Aberdeen at Turf Moor

“The demand of playing in Europe at the beginning of the season too, it is difficult playing them away games on a Thursday, then back playing Premier League football on the weekend.

“But it was really nice for me to play every game that season, I aim to do that every year, sometimes it doesn’t work out like that through injuries and stuff, but I want to play as much as possible.

Mee, who is now on just under 400 apperances for Burnley, admits he is very proud looking back on how he has progressed and the club over the past 10 years.

The 32-year old said: “I’m really proud to have played so many games, 16th in the all-time appearance list is a good achievement for myself.

“I will push to get higher, but I think when I finish playing one day I’ll look back and really be able to take it all in and reminisce the good times I’ve had and the friends I’ve made.

“I couldn’t have asked for more from when I joined in 2011, to be here 10 years later, still going strong.

“Being captain of the club, it’s a good achievement, the club has grown massively and that’s been a big part of me staying here, progressing hand in hand with the club.”

The skipper dedicates his winner at Selhurst Park to his daughter Olive

On Tuesday the activities will all centre around Ben Mee’s tenth anniversary at the club (which is on Monday). This will include;

• 10% off everything in stadium on Tuesday. Clarets Store & catering throughout the stadium. Please note this will not be on items already discounted in the Clarets Store.

• Mosaic of “10 years of Ben” of something similar in the Utilita Jimmy Mc Upper made by fans holding cards.

• Big screen montage of Ben Mee highlights played pre-match

• Big screen montage of messages for Ben played at half time

• Stadium announcement pre-match to get crowd going

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