WHEN a player pulls on the claret and blue shirt, whatever his ability, Burnley fans demand above all that he shows pride and passion in representing the club.

Hence the animosity towards club captain Lee Howey, currently out injured, whose seemingly 'couldn't-give-a-hoot' attitude has resulted in Savo Milosevic-type barracking about his fitness to wear the colours.

Hence the raucous standing ovation for Andy Payton after his match-winning home debut against Southend last Saturday.

Payton, 30, joined the Turf Moor ranks in a straight swap deal two weeks ago that took former York City favourite Paul Barnes to Huddersfield Town. And for Burnley-born Payton, who still lives in the town, becoming a Claret was a "dream come true", despite a prolific goal-scoring career which saw him signed by Middlesbrough, and then Celtic where he notched 15 goals in 36 appearances between 1992 and 1994.

Payton, a goal-poacher who comes alive in the penalty area, had seven seasons with Hull City before going to Middlesbrough, and from Celtic went to Barnsley where he continued his healthy scoring record. Last season the 5ft 7in striker's goals saved Huddersfield from relegation, but this term he has failed to regain his first-team place following a hernia operation and did not need to think twice when Chris Waddle moved in for him.

It completed a full circle for Payton, who was one of a number of promising apprentices released from Turf Moor during the shambolic and shameful reign of John Bond in the mid-1980s when he preferred to pour cash into the deep pockets of over-rated has-beens, nearly bringing about Burnley's extinction.

As a youngster, Payton used to stand on the Longside to bellow his support for his home-town club, and the fans know his heart is in the right place.

After the match in which he started and finishing the slick move which sunk Southend he said: "I was nervous and most of my family were there to watch. I just wish I'd milked the moment a little more. It's a pity the old Longside is gone or I could have run the length of that!"

Waddle is now pinning his faith in Payton forging a potent partnership with highly-rated Andy Cooke that can improve on the present 26 goals from 28 matches - the lowest in Division Two.

With talks progressing in the potentially exciting Turf Moor take-over by Lancashire-born American-based billionaire tycoon Ray Ingleby, avoiding the drop is crucial for the Clarets. But at least Burnley fans are now in better spirits with the fight being led by "one of us".

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.