EXCITEMENT is building across Burnley ahead of this weekend’s much awaited return of Premier League football for the Clarets.

Sean Dyche’s team will play Swansea at Turf Moor on Saturday, August 13, their first official game back in the top tier after last seasons Championship title win.

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However the return of Premier League action is expected to have much wider benefits to the town rather than just being confined to the football pitch.

Cllr Gordon Birtwistle, former Burnley MP, said: “It’s fantastic, for the town, for the team, for everyone. It puts Burnley on the map again. I just hope this time they can stay up.

“It’s good for the whole area, I hope they do well. I think they will have learnt from last time. Look at Leicester last season, anything can happen.”

The Clarets have featured in the Premier League twice in the 2009/2010 and 2014/2015 seasons but suffered relegation each time.

However fans of the club believe that this is not acceptable for this season, otherwise the consequences could be costly.

TV weatherman and Burnley fan John Kettley said: “We’re getting used to being the parachute team.

“This time it’s got to be different. For Sean Dyche and his backroom staff its going to be a pivotal season, its no good just going up and down. There’s going to be an interest from bigger teams for Dyche.

“They’ve got to be finishing up towards the half way point this time, failure is not an option.

“But I do have a lot of confidence, everyone is behind them and they’ve got more financial support this time, it’s going to be onwards and upwards.”

While the impact of promotion is seen as crucial to businesses and the economy in the area, there are still steps the club need to make to ensure they stay in the division according to fans.

Peter Pike, chairman of the Burnley fan group Clarets Trust, said: “It’s great for the football club, but I always said that it was more important for the town as a whole that we got promotion.

“It’s the third time we’ve been promoted now, and it’s crucial this time to stay in the Premier League at the end of the season.

“We have a lot of good players, but I do hope we get someone to fill that gap left by Joey Barton.”

MP for Burnley, Julie Cooper said: “As a long time season ticket holder I am delighted Burnley are back to playing Premier League football. I am really looking forward to the season ahead and would like to wish the team all the best.”