AND so, as the national side continue to huff and puff their way towards a qualification spot for Euro 2008, it was a blank Saturday afternoon for supporters of Burnley Football Club.

The next time Turf Moor hosts a game will be this coming weekend when Blackpool are the visitors. Supporters should make the most of it, as occasions like this are becoming increasingly rare; a local derby, an all but full house - including a packed away end, and that rarest of all things, a cracking atmosphere.

Ever since Steve Cotterill has been at the Turf Moor helm, the lack of atmosphere inside the ground has been one of his biggest bugbears. And there's no doubting that he has got a point.

In recent times, there have been three ways of generating atmosphere down Harry Potts Way; the visit of a Premier League team in a cup competition and the accompanying opportunity to grab glory by producing a shock victory, a sequence of poor refereeing decisions against the Clarets, or the visit of that lot from up the A666.

Not that Turf Moor is unique in that respect. A visit to the majority of grounds outside the top flight, and even some of those in it, will reveal that the atmosphere in the main is far from raucous.

Indeed, with the exception of the crowd reaction to goals being scored, you are more likely to encounter understated grumbling and polite applause.

Which is why it was so interesting to read in these pages on Saturday, that Burnley bosses are looking at the possibility of introducing "singing terraces" into the redeveloped Turf Moor.

"We all remember how it was on the Longside, how thrilling it was in a hustle and bustle crowd" recalled Brendan Flood.

"I think there's something that makes you want to sing more when you're stood up than sat down. We've debated a singing or standing area. It's something we've got to look into."

It's a proposal which will surely find favour amongst a good number of the Claret and Blue faithful as well as Steve Cotterill.

In the past, the manager has made mention of the fact that grounds housing intimidating, vocal supporters, such as Ninian Park, Hillsborough and the Ricoh Arena, can have a direct affect on key decisions made by match officials.

It would be nice to think that one day, Turf Moor would be able to boast a similar reputation.