ACADEMY ENJOY PRODUCTIVE WEEK NORTH OF THE BORDER

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Pre-season trip comes to an end

2026-07-31T16:30+01:00

ACADEMY ENJOY PRODUCTIVE WEEK NORTH OF THE BORDER

Pre-season trip comes to an end

2026-07-31T16:30+01:00

Burnley’s Professional Development Phase players and staff have returned to Lancashire after five days full of learning, bonding, and competing in Scotland.

The U21s and U18s stayed at the iconic St Andrews resort on the east coast of Fife, experiencing a variety of on and off field activities.

Andy Farrell’s U21s rounded off their week with a friendly against Bristol Rovers’ first team, which finished 1-1.

After Michael Mellon opened the scoring with a well-taken finish in the second half, Riley Harbottle equalised for Steve Evans’ League Two side.

Speaking after that result, coach Charlie Adam said: “I’m delighted with the lads, in terms of how they competed.

“Bristol Rovers are an experienced team with a very experienced manager and watching them against Dundee earlier in the week, we understood what they were going to do.

“The boys showed quality in the game, and that’s something we’re looking for.”

The U18s were able to get two fixtures into their legs, starting with an emphatic 8-2 win over Dunfermline Athletic.

Tony Philliskirk’s scholars fought through the pouring rain to put their opponents to the sword, with second-year Vishon Masara netting a brace.

Then came a more testing clash with Rangers U19s, which finished 2-1 to the Scots. It was striker Warren Taylor who netted our goal shortly before the hour.

After the victory over Dunfermline, Philliskirk said: “One thing we said to them (the players) at half-time in the changing room was that we felt we needed to be a little bit more ruthless.

“We were 2-0 up at half-time and really, with the chances we created, we should have been more goals ahead.

“Ironically, they (Dunfermline) then go and score two of the first three goals of the second half, but after that I think we put our foot down a bit.”