“Up the Clarets” is a phrase with it’s roots in English football that has come to represent the ups and downs faced by fans of Burnley Football Club. With a history stretching back over 100 years, this proud Lancashire team has seen glorious highs but also desperate lows, encapsulated in their iconic claret and blue stripes.
Early Days and First Major Honors
Burnley FC was born in 1882 in the soccer-crazy town of Burnley, Lancashire. The lads had a couple of glory days, winning the top league in 1921 and 1960. Their jerseys were a snazzy claret and blue, earning them the nickname “the Clarets.”
During their heyday, fans would yell “Up the Clarets!” from the stands, basically telling the boys to get their rears in gear and score some goals. It was like the Burnley version of “Git ‘er done!” that caught on with the locals.
Financial Troubles and Relegation Battles
After their title win in 1960, Burnley struggled to replicate that level of success. A combination of financial troubles and the loss of key players led to some fallow years punctuated by relegation battles. However, their loyal fans continued to rally behind them with cries of “Up the Clarets!”, even during these lean times. The phrase took on an added poignancy in the 1980s when Burnley faced liquidation. Supporter’s fundraising kept the club afloat, maintaining an unbroken line back to 1882. “Up the Clarets!” became a defiant chant in the stands that the fans would never abandon their team, no matter the circumstances.
Against All Odds – Promotion and European Glory
In the early 1990s, Burnley started to turn their fortunes around after hiring manager Jimmy Mullen. After two consecutive promotions, they found themselves back in the top tier of English football in 2000 under the guidance of charismatic manager Stan Ternent.
Displaying a never-say-die spirit that embodied the history of the club, Burnley dramatically avoided relegation on the last day of the season, sparking delirious celebrations of “Up the Clarets!” from fans.
The following year, Burnley qualified for the UEFA Cup – a historic first foray into European competition for the club. Propelled by the passion of their fans, they went on a memorable run. Chants of “Up the Clarets” resounded around Turf Moor stadium as they defeated the likes of Aberdeen and CSKA Sofia at home.
Modern Battles Between the Top Divisions
In recent years, Burnley have become known as a “yo-yo club” bouncing between promotion and relegation, never quite gaining a foothold in the Premier League. Their tendency for late goals and narrow wins has led to them being dubbed “the Comeback Kings”.
These rollercoaster highs and lows only serve to reignite fan’s passionate cries of “Up the Clarets!” during every match. Home games at Turf Moor are known for their intense, electrifying atmosphere generated by the crowds. Long-serving manager Sean Dyche has led the team to two promotions in the last decade, back into the lucrative Premier League, where they’ve managed to stay for several seasons. But the threat of relegation still looms large each year.
Through it all, fans continue to rally behind the team, letting “Up the Clarets” ring out as a mantra of support in good times and bad. The phrase connects the current squad all the way back to the pioneering teams of the 1880s.
What Does “Up the Clarets!” Mean Today?
The phrase “Up the Clarets!” has endured over the decades as Burnley have seen dramatic highs and lows. It positively sums up the never-say-die attitude of the team and their passionate, loyal supporters.
Originally a chant to spur on the players to attack, it now encapsulates the emotional rollercoaster of following Burnley – from financial crises to European adventures and everything in between. Letting out a cry of “Up the Clarets!” connects you to all those fans who have gone before, sharing those experiences. It represents pride in the claret and blue, in the club’s hard-working values and in Lancashire heritage. Yelled with gusto, it conveys a genuinely held belief that Burnley can achieve the improbable against any odds.
The phrase means commitment through good times and bad. It means passion for the shirt and the crest and the 107-year-old stadium. It means being part of something bigger than one person or one game. For the players and fans alike, “Up the Clarets!” embodies what Burnley Football Club is all about. So if you’re ever at Turf Moor for a match, look around at the claret and blue scarves and kits everywhere, take a deep breath and belt out, “UP THE CLARETS!” You’ll immediately feel connected to over 139 years of history and the masses around you yelling the same thing. That’s Burnley.
The Future is Claret and Blue
After over a century of history, what does the future hold for this proud Lancashire club? Having gained a stronger foothold recently in the lucrative Premier League, there are ambitions for Burnley to try and establish themselves as part of the English football elite. A proposed takeover bid by an American consortium headed by Alan Pace promises fresh investment that could take the club to new heights. Plans for significant improvements to stadium and training facilities aim to make Burnley competitive on and off the pitch with the Manchester clubs and Liverpool.
Consistency will be key if Burnley are to mix it with the best teams in the country on a regular basis. Manager Sean Dyche has worked miracles on a limited budget but more funds could allow him to build a squad with the depth to deal with injuries and maintain performance levels across long seasons. There is also talk of expanding the stadium from it’s historic foundations to increase capacity and matchday revenue, key factors in competing financially today. However, fans are keen not to sacrifice too much of what makes Turf Moor special in chasing commercial success.
Burnley’s Identity Through Thick and Thin
One thing supporters insist must not change is the “one-club mentality” that puts community at the heart of everything Burnley FC does. From supporting local charities to engaging with schools, the club must remain accessible to it’s hometown. Generations of families making up the fanbase are the true foundation on which this identity is built.
The claret and blue home colors are central to heritage so likely will remain in any future vision for commercial growth. While American ownership provides exciting new opportunities, most fans believe staying true to Burnley’s industrial Lancashire roots drives the whole culture of the club. Chants of “Up The Clarets!” may one day echo from a redeveloped stadium but the feeling behind it will be the same.
It is this community spirit and the passion of dedicated, loyal supporters that fueled the club’s rescue in the 80s. The same attributes sustain them now during unrelenting relegation battles through history. Whatever the future holds, as long as voices cry “Up The Clarets!” with belief and pride, Burnley FC will have a base from which to achieve the improbable.
FAQs
“Up the Clarets” is a chant sung by supporters of Burnley Football Club in England. It’s a show of encouragement for their team to attack and score goals. The “Clarets” part refers to Burnley’s claret and blue jersey colors.
Fans chant “Up the Clarets!” during Burnley FC matches to spur on the players. It’s especially loud when the team is on the attack, pressing for a goal. But it can also be heard at other key moments to lift the spirits of the players.
The chant has it’s origins in Burnley’s most successful early period in the early 1900s when they won the league title twice. “Up the Clarets!” came into use as a localized variant of similar chants by fans of other teams.
While the club has endured some very lean times, including near bankruptcy, fans never abandoned them. Through relegations and promotions, the chant connects current fans to all those that have supported Burnley FC over 139 years of history. It embodies fan’s passionate loyalty.
Yes! Fans view yelling “Up the Clarets” as playing their role in willing the team to exceed expectations and achieve the improbable. It represents their commitment to supporting the players whatever the circumstances.
The actual phrase is unique to Burnley FC but variants using team names or nicknames are common across English football supporting culture. Fans adapt the format to make chants specific to their club.
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