GRAHAM Branch broke down in tears as he signed off his Burnley career.

The versatile veteran, who has served the Clarets for eight and a half years, got a rapturous reception from an almost 2,000-strong crowd during his testimonial match at Turf Moor.

And even though Branch will spend the summer looking for a new club, he admitted: "I'll always be a claret".

The 35-year-old added: "I didn't know how emotional it would be. All the lads were asking me if I was nervous, but even two hours before the game it didn't hit me.

"But at the end I could feel it."

Branch couldn't contain his emotions as he addressed the crowd at the end of the game between the current Burnley squad and his specially selected side, which included former team-mates Ian Cox, Ian Moore, Steve Davis and Tony Grant.

"I tried my hardest not to do what I did. I will get a lot of stick later off the lads but it was a very emotional day. It was a good day though, and I really enjoyed myself and I hope everyone else did as well.

"The gaffer (Steve Cotterill) phoned me this morning and said I had to make the most of it because it will go very quickly. He told me to take everything in.

"That's it. That's the end. My time at Burnley has been a real rollercoaster ride with lots of ups and downs but, like all rollercoaster rides, you enjoy it.

"I've had a lot of good times and I'm glad that I came here and have spent as long a time as I have here, and I've appreciated the appreciation from the fans.

"There have been difficult times, but it's good to come out the other end of it. I'm glad I've had the chance before I move on to come out of it."

But, although Branch's immediate future is uncertain at the moment, he insisted he wouldn't be a stranger from Turf Moor.

"I will come back to cheer the lads on. They're a good bunch of lads and they deserve to do well. The gaffer will get them sorted and I know they'll do well," he said.

"I'm going to carry on. My fitness is woeful but that's because I haven't played. I know I've got a couple of years left playing - you're a long time retired and hopefully I can go to a club that I can have a good time at."