I’LL never forget the goals I scored against Blackburn Rovers in the derbies of the mid-1960s. I couldn’t . . . I’ve got the photos all round my house as a constant reminder.

One of my favourites is of me stood on the goalline at Ewood Park with my hands raised up to the Blackburn supporters!

East Lancashire derbies have always been passionate affairs.

Even when the two sets of fans mingled when I was playing, you could hear the songs and chants for both clubs all around the ground.

When you walked out of the tunnel you could see a full house of claret and blue next to blue and white; it was enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

Sadly, those non-segregation days have gone, but the passion and rivalry is as strong as ever and I can’t wait for Sunday. My biggest worry is that the feeling between the two clubs is misplaced. I’m praying there’s no trouble because the newspapers will have a field day with it if there is. We only want good news, because it’s the clubs that suffer otherwise.

A lot of the Burnley players will have been involved in derbies during their careers, but only a couple of them have experienced this particular one. I don’t think the majority of players will believe the level of passion that runs round that ground on that day, but they have got to get themselves ready for that.

This is a big day for Burnley Football Club.

Since the 1920s there have been more meetings between the two clubs in the 1960s than any other decade. They were good days.

But Sunday promises to be even better.

We haven’t met in the top flight for over 43 years; we haven’t beaten Blackburn for 30 years and obviously we’ve never ever played each other in the Premier League. This is massive!

I’ve never been to derbies involving Celtic v Rangers, Manchester United v Manchester City, Liverpool v Everton – but if they’re anything like Burnley v Blackburn they will be electric.

I’m sure Owen Coyle will have them all well prepared, and I’m sure the break for internationals will have done them good and made them reflect on the away form.

What a time to start picking up points!

My advice for them is not to panic; to go out there and play their normal game. Keep going forward and try to attack them, but stay composed.

My message for the fans is to sing from start to finish, because the players will be glad of that support. I know they used to lift me as a player, and I’m sure they can do the same on Sunday.

Click play below to listen to this week's edition of the Lancashire Telegraph Premier League podcast.