Championship Play-Offs: Turf More

SHEFFIELD UNITED 0-1 BURNLEY

Burnley FC, representing a town with a population of just over 70,000, are back in the big time after an absence of top-flight football for 33 years. The Clarets won on Monday at Wembley to seal promotion, and capping an amazing season which would have been memorable anyway, thanks to their Carling Cup exploits against Premier League teams. A sign of things to come perhaps?

Wade Elliott’s sensational 13th-minute strike ended the 3-decade agony (which included flirting with relegation to the Conference around 20 years ago) for the famous old side from Lancashire as they defeated Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.

Elliott scored with a curling 13th-minute strike into the top corner after a good run, scoring a goal that was worthy of winning any Wembley occasion.

Indeed, victory for Owen Coyle’s team was fully deserved, and never in doubt due to their dominance, as their 61st game of a long and successful season culminated in promotion to the Premier League (in its current form) for the first time. The frustration from the Blades was evident, as they also saw Jamie Ward sent off.

A day of joy for the Clarets, and they can now look forward to celebrating thier 50th anniversery of their last league title in the top league in England. Their biggest challenge is keeping manager Owen Coyle from the clutches of Celtic, who are now managerless, but the Burnley boss, a keen fan of the Hoops, is still set to sign a two-year contract with his current side, which would cap a brilliant season for the fanbase of Burnley Football Club.

Due to their exploits, many neutral fans will be delighted with Burnley’s success, and likewise Sheffield United’s faliure, due to the negative headlines that the Blades have made recently.

In a weekend of play-off finals, the Championship will again be graced by Scunthorpe United, who defeated Milwall in a dramatic 3-2 thriller on Sunday in League One. The day before that, a last-gasp header from Simeon Jackson sent Gillingham up (1-0), at the expense of Shrewsbury.

So, for the winners, a summer of joy and anticipation, but for the losers, a rebuilding period. Roll on next season…