BEING a prominent character in one of the most popular TV soaps doesn't seem to have phased a dedicated Clarets fan.

Richard Moore, who plays the character, Jarvis, in Emmerdale, explains "It's taken me 40 odd years to become an overnight success!"

Early in his career, whilst working as a photographer for the Burnley Express, he got to see all the games at Turf Moor.

"Before the European Cup quarter final match, when the Clarets played Hamburg, I saw the German players walking back from Turf Moor to the Keirby Hotel after a training session. I had one picture left in my camera. I asked Uwe Seeler if he wouldn't mind me taking a photograph.

"I got this fantastic picture of some snotty nosed kids with one of the biggest names in European football, against a backdrop of clothes strewn washing lines. The picture was picked up by six national newspapers and, you know what, I haven't even got a copy!

"On that day all my dreams had come true. Hero worship, love of football and professional pride - and it all happened in my beloved Burnley. Bliss."

Richard has supported the Clarets for over 50 years and felt it was a huge privilege to see that side emerge through the late 50's into the early 60's.

"Wherever I go, up and down the country, people can still real off the names of that Championship winning team.

"Like thousands of others I would have given anything to wear the famous Claret and Blue shirt. Sadly it wasn't to be. My own playing career was fairly limited.

"I played for Burnley boys and was football mad but my influences tended to be more Brazilian. I was often requested 'to get stuck in' which seemed to conflict with my own philosophy about how the game should be played.

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He does, however, feel there are lots of similarities with his own career and football.

"Both have to perform in the 'School of hard knocks, the public arena," he tells me. "There are ups and downs, some terrific individuals and people get dropped and promoted. They get scarred, physically and mentally. Bill Shankly called the game, 'Working Men's Ballet.' Football is theatre, there's no doubt about it.