Chairman's Programme Notes: Liverpool

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Alan Pace welcomes supporters back to Turf Moor

2021-05-19T12:20:53.939Z

Chairman's Programme Notes: Liverpool

Alan Pace welcomes supporters back to Turf Moor

2021-05-19T12:20:53.939Z

A warm welcome back to Turf Moor, for our final home game of the season tonight against Liverpool.

Everyone at the Burnley Football Club is delighted that we have been allowed to host 3,500 of our season ticket holders tonight, and while I look forward to the day that we can welcome back all our loyal fans, this is a big moment after 14 months of behind-closed-doors football.

When it became clear we would be permitted to host a limited capacity for this game, there were lots of discussions about how ticketing should be approached. We felt that operating an open ballot for free tickets was the fair and right thing to do, rewarding those season ticket holders who were able to keep their money with the club and renew seats in uncertain times.

While I know that there will be some disappointed supporters who are unable to be here, I hope you will get behind the Clarets from home this evening and appreciate that this limited crowd is a crucial step in testing processes for getting you back to Turf Moor safely.

Tonight’s fixture brings back fond memories of our famous victory in January, which ended Liverpool’s four-year unbeaten league run at home and was our first win at Anfield since 1974.

It that was a pivotal result that kick-started our season and demonstrated our ability to thrive in the Premier League. I know the management and players will be giving their all to do the double against Jurgen Klopp’s side tonight!

Off the field, we have already begun preparations for next season with several planned stadium improvements published on the club website in recent weeks. These include our plans to install innovative digital signage and new LED big screen technology, as part of the club’s wider ambition to make Turf Moor a more digitally connected stadium.

As well as helping to realise our commercial potential, I believe the new technology will benefit the matchday experience for supporters, while enhancing the image of the club on TV to the world. If granted planning permission, work will take place during the close season and hopefully be ready for the full return of fans.

The launch of AiSCOUT in January has been another opportunity to introduce new technology to the football club and I was delighted to see the first young players identified through our global talent search arrive at Barnfield this week for a week-long academy trial.

With 28 promising prospects identified from thousands of entrants from over 125 countries, this is a great example of how we can expand our academy footprint beyond Lancashire and maximise the club’s global reach. I look forward to following the progress of the young players and see if we have successfully identified any future academy stars.

Before then, I hope you will enjoy our final two matches of the season as the players seek to finish our campaign strongly and finish as high up the table as possible.

Enjoy the game,

Alan

@AlanPaceBFC