Chairman's Notes: United In Our Goal

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Alan Pace's programme notes for the Manchester United game

2021-01-12T14:16:58.060Z

Chairman's Notes: United In Our Goal

Alan Pace's programme notes for the Manchester United game

2021-01-12T14:16:58.060Z

Alan's notes ahead of this afternoon's game

I am sure you are looking forward to tonight’s game, as we welcome Manchester United to Turf Moor for a fixture which is always one of the highlights of the season.

Like you, I will be watching on television tonight, as I continue to self-isolate at home. And while no fans will be filling the stadium, there will be a huge audience watching around the world.

The Premier League is the greatest sports league in the world, reaching all corners of the globe and connecting with fans in a way that no other sports property does. The league is arguably the most successful cultural export Britain has produced since The Beatles.

Yet while the top clubs enjoy tremendous recognition worldwide, others like Burnley have traditionally struggled to break beyond their traditional heartland. Something, I believe, we can change over time.

While we may never enjoy the fame of today’s illustrious visitors, I believe we have our own unique story to tell.

As a club with rich heritage in English football and a reputation for hard-work and outperformance, we can appeal to many football fans. It’s my goal to make Burnley England’s favourite underdog and a place that fans want to visit for a truly authentic football experience.

Building the Clarets brand will not happen overnight, but it starts with telling engaging stories, and I hope to hear more of your own as I get to know more of the club and surrounding community.

Over the coming months, I look forward to introducing innovative new content to the club, increasing the profile of our people in mainstream media, and forming an even closer relationship with the fantastic broadcast partners who provide us with a global platform.

An early example of this innovation was our announcement earlier today that Burnley has become the first Premier League club to launch a global, open talent search for future academy players using artificial intelligence.

The partnership with AiSCOUT enables footballers over the age of 14 to try out for the Burnley F.C. Academy by undertaking specific football drills carried out in their own location and filmed using the free AiSCOUT app on a mobile phone.

The drills will be benchmarked against other players using artificial intelligence, allowing our scouts and youth coaches to analyse and score players’ ability.

This is a first opportunity for us to introduce new data-led technologies into the football club and promote Burnley to the wider football world by giving aspirational young players across the globe an opportunity. I look forward to expanding the programme throughout 2021 as part of our wider investment in youth and the club’s academy.

Finally, there has been some speculation in the media about the club’s finances. While the details and figures quoted by some sections of the national media are wide of the mark, I realise that some supporters may worry about the impact the takeover may have on the club’s cash reserves.

I would like to reiterate, with a hand on my heart, that our financial approach is reasonable and sustainable for the club. The directors and I are committed to continuing the club’s growth and demonstrating financial stability over the long-term. Our actions will speak louder than any words.

I believe that with our talented squad and manager we should be looking upwards in 2021, with the strong results in recent weeks helping move the club away from the drop zone and progress to the FA Cup Fourth Round.

Let’s hope we can continue that form with a good performance tonight against a team fighting to go top of the league.

Alan

@AlanPaceBFC