HE lives 75 miles from Turf Moor, but as the most anticipated football season in decades begins there is little doubt who is Burnley FC’s most extreme supporter.

Dave Burnley, 55, who changed his name by deed poll in 1976, has attended every first team performance since 1974, an incredible 2,000 games.

The distance covered during the 25-year period he estimates at 508,720 miles, meaning he can legitimately claim he’s travelled to the moon and back following the club.

Now Dave, who lives in Madeley, near Stoke, has written a book detailing the lengths he has gone to following his beloved Clarets.

He said: “I’ve never had a driving licence so I’ve had to rely on lifts, public transport, cycling and hitch-hiking.

“For instance in the 1970s I had to catch up to eight trains just to get to Burnley.

“On several occasion I’ve cycled the 150 mile round trip, particularly on Boxing Day, when there used to be no public transport.

“When I was younger I contracted pneumonia twice as a result of sleeping outdoors after away games so now if I can’t get back I stay in a B&B.”

Dave, who named his 19-year-old daughter Clarette in honour of his passion, has supported the club since 1964.

He has had dozens of jobs to fund his passion and is currently working at a cake factory.

His book, Got To Be There will be launched in the James Hargreaves Stand reception area of Turf Moor from 5pm-7pm before the Manchester United game on Wednesday, August 19.

Dave has planned the book for around 10 years and it will be published by fellow fan Tony Dawber, from Chorley, who himself once appeared on Mastermind with a specialist subject of The History of Burnley FC.

Dave said: “Many people have asked about a book and I thought this was the right time.

“It takes in the period up to 1987 and the emotional game against Leyton Orient when we just about stayed in the league.

“I’m planning to release part two about the years 1987 -2010 next summer, to celebrate Burnley staying up.”

As for the beginning of the Premier League season, fate dictated that Burnley’s first top flight game would be right on Dave’s doorstep.

“I had a wry smile when the fixtures came out as Stoke City will be the only game I don’t have too travel far for.

“I just can’t wait for us to get started and show the big boys what Burnley are about,” he said.

Dave’s most memorable matches

Bradford City (home) 1983 "Boxing Day and as I cycled past a crossing on the outskirts of Wilmslow by coincidence I spotted our manager at the time, John Bond. “Are we going to win today?” I said. “Yeh, I hope so,” he replied. We lost 2-1, and I reflected on that as I cycled past that crossing in the pitch darkness on my way home."

Swindon (away) 1986 "A puncture suffered by one of two transit vans 40 miles from Swindon nearly caused a miss. It resulted in most of the party squashing into one vehicle arriving in time for the second half and a 3-1 defeat."

Carlisle Utd (away) 1980 “Another Boxing Day nightmare. In fancy dress as an Arab sheikh I had to thumb it. As I reached Preston time was running out but suddenly a speeding furniture van screeched to a halt. I opened the shutter to reveal a van load of Burnley fans, late setting off. We made it just in time.”

Bristol City (home) 1985 "Trevor Slack managed to leave his car keys inside his car about eight miles from Burnley. Luckily, a reasonably frequent bus service came in handy. It enabled me to make it in time for the kick-off, whilst Trev waited for the RAC to come and help."

...and the last game he missed – Newcastle (away) 1974 The fixture had been decimated by a harsh winter and the game had already been postponed a number of times. None of the papers I checked listed the fixture on that fateful Wednesday. It was no consolation when I heard we won 2-1.

Got To Be There can be ordered from the website below.