THE popularity of Burnley FC has reached all the way across the Atlantic - with a junior football team in New York being named in honour of The Clarets.

The squad plays in the iconic Battery Park, a 25-acre public park located at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, facing New York Harbour and the Statue of Liberty.

The team’s coach, Nick Stone, from Manhattan, decided on the name after finding out about the special bond between the club and its fans on the internet.

And now Nick, whose son Jack plays in the team, is keen to spread the word about his team’s more illustrious namesake to the people of The Big Apple.

All teams in the Under-Sevens are named after English sides but Nick was keen to pick the Clarets.

He said: “The league co-ordinator gave me quite a few options for team names before the season began “But Burnley was the easy, natural choice.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

In contrast to Harry Potts Way, where the faithful come to see the original Burnley FC play, the New York team’s home games are played at Battery Park, which attracts millions of tourists each year.

The team kicked off their season recently playing ‘Liverpool’, who they comfortably beat 5-0.

Nick said: “I want to be sure our kids have fun, play well together and learn a bit about the game.

“I’m also making sure that our players and their parents know about the English Burnley FC.

“I tell them they were one of the original founding teams of the Football League in 1888.

“Burnley FC embodies everything I wanted the team to strive for.

“There’s also a sports channel here that usually airs matches.

“Even on TV from 3,500 miles away you can sense the wonderful environment of Turf Moor and the special bond that exists between local fans and the team.”