PLAYED FOR BOTH: SAM VOKES

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Ahead of Saturday's match with Brighton & Hove Albion we caught up with the former Clarets and Seagulls striker

2023-12-08T10:00:00.000Z

PLAYED FOR BOTH: SAM VOKES

Ahead of Saturday's match with Brighton & Hove Albion we caught up with the former Clarets and Seagulls striker

2023-12-08T10:00:00.000Z

Ahead of Saturday's match with Brighton & Hove Albion we caught up with the former Clarets and Seagulls striker

Sam Vokes will go down as a Burnley 'legend' in many Clarets' supporters eyes and the striker holds special memories from his time at Turf Moor.

After initially joining the Clarets on loan in 2011, Vokes played 14 times under Eddie Howe before spending the second half of the season on loan with this weekend's opponents Brighton.

The Wales forward rejoined Burnley in the summer of 2012 after describing what was 'unfinished business' as Vokes went on to make 258 appearances alongside promotion to the Premier League twice, helping the Clarets secure Europa League football and scoring 17 goals in the top-flight.

Speaking ahead of Burnley's trip to the Amex, the current Wycombe Wanderers striker said: "I remember first joining the Club and I was welcomed in straight away by the town.

"Obviously, you realise straight away that the football club is at the heart of the town and joining the Club at the time it was Eddie Howe that signed me as I knew him well from my time at Bournemouth.

"It was a bit of a transitional period really and think Burnley brought in a few players over the period like Tripps (Trippier), me, Ben (Mee), Jason (Shackell) and it was the start of a transition and a special journey I suppose."

In-between Vokes' loan move to Turf Moor and signing permanently, the Welshman spent the second half of the 2011/12 campaign with the Seagulls.

"It was good. It's funny, obviously with that fixture coming up this weekend because that season, like you say, I spent the first part of Burnley, which I loved. Then Brighton wanted me on loan, so I went down there with Gus Poyet and I really enjoyed it actually.

"It was a good spell down there. We were just on the edge of the playoffs, It was a very similar actually a club to Burnley.

"They just moved to the Amex and the club were on the up and obviously you've seen the rise of them in the last few years.

"You could get the sense of that feeling really the club building back then and after that move I ended up joining Burnley on a permanent move, which obviously I loved." Said Vokes.

PLAYED FOR BOTH: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION - Image 1

Vokes returned to east Lancashire ahead of the 2012/13 campaign which the striker felt was unfinished business and was keen to rejoin the Clarets.

"Definitely. I felt like after my loan move to Brighton, I ended up getting in touch Eddie Howe over that summer and he said he wanted to make it permanent and I was really excited.

"I could see the squad that he was assembling really and that the team was going to move forward and moving the right way, which it obviously did."

When asked if the former Wales international could pick a favourite moment from his time at Turf Moor, Vokes responded: "Oh way too many for me to remember. I think it was a great time, I look back on it with pride, it was a great time for myself and my family that were moved up there and we were accepted by the club really.

"Standout moments, obviously the two promotions were amazing at the time. The Premier League was great. Personally scoring the goal that got us promot against QPR was a huge moment and actually at Brighton, I always remember that one that Keano (Keane) scored in the last minute.

"I always remember that as a big moment for that promotion really to go head to head with Brighton at the time going for that automatic promotion spot."

The striker featured 30 times in the memorable 2017/18 season which saw the Clarets secure a 7th placed finish and bring European football to Turf Moor for the first time in 51 years.

"It was huge I think to to qualify for Europe. To finish seventh the previous season was an amazing achievement.

"One that you don't see that often matched by a club like Burnley and to then experience Europa football was amazing.

"I think for the first time in 50 odd years, I think the club was amazing. I'd say a personal highlight definitely was the goal up at Aberdeen to make to make it 1-1 and take it back to Turf Moor level.

"I think it was the first goal in Europe for over 50 years and for me it was a special moment really to come off the bench and score that goal."

This weekend sees two of Vokes' former clubs face each other at the Amex and the former fan favourite is hoping the Clarets can claim a victory on the coast.

"I think you touched on the clubs and they've probably had a similar kind of trajectory in this in the last couple of years.

"Now both are hopefully fully established Premier League teams obviously Brighton have been quite strong in the last couple of years and they're dealing with the Europa League as well now.

"So, I'd love to say if you're looking for a score, I'd love to see a Burnley win because I'd like to see them pick up some points and look to survive. But it's going be a tough game for the boys."