MANCHESTER and Merseyside derbies are famous among football fans the world over.

And having spent 10 years with Chelsea, progressing from apprentice to first team regular, Frank Sinclair has experienced the many pockets of London that come together numerous times per season too.

So the Lambeth-born defender was surprised to discover the intense bitterness felt between two small East Lancashire towns when he signed for Burnley in the summer of 2004.

It was in the Jamaica international’s first season at Turf Moor that the then Championship Clarets reached the fifth round of the FA Cup, and were pitted against their Premier League neighbours.

Sinclair led Steve Cotterill’s side out as captain at Turf Moor, following Robbie Blake’s January transfer to Birmingham, and Burnley did the home fans proud in earning a 0-0 draw to force a replay at Ewood Park on March 1.

After Micah Hyde cancelled out Tugay’s first-half opener with a stunning striker before the break, Morten Gamst Pedersen delivered a killer late blow and brave Burnley bowed out.

Aside from the his team-mates’ battling performance on enemy territory, one key feature stood out to Sinclair.

“I didn’t know much about the rivalry between Burnley and Blackburn, and the hatred that comes with it, until I played in those cup games,” said the 37-year-old, who since leaving Turf Moor in 2007 has played for Huddersfield, Lincoln City, Wycombe Wanderers on loan and now Conference club Wrexham.

Sinclair backed the Clarets to achieve promotion last season.

And he believes they have earnt the right to retrieve the bragging rights when they end their long wait for a top flight reunion.

“Burnley get to meet them on a more even scale now. I don’t think Blackburn are that hot.”