Brendan O'Connell is the guest who will be entertaining the Clarets Foundation members in their exclusive bar before the game and then making the half time Golden Gamble draw. It seems so long since Brendan's time at the Turf that I was somewhat surprised to see that he is still only 34 years old. 
He joined the Clarets from Exeter City as a 21 year-old in the summer of 1988 following our Sherpa Van Final appearance. He knew a move to Burnley was likely when that final was played and was inside Wembley to watch his new colleagues. Needless to say he arrived on a free transfer, there was no money around at that time.
Exeter was the club he made his league debut for although he had previously been with Portsmouth, his home town club. He was an unknown to just about every Burnley fan but his short time at the Turf was to be eventful.
He didn't make the starting line up for the opening game of the season but on the second Saturday got his first start and his first goal. For a spell in the early months of the season the Clarets were right up there at the top and a lot of that was down to O'Connell's goals.
The goals did start to dry up and the fans started to turn on him as things went worse. He ended that first season with 13 league goals from 43 appearances but in the following season there was to be no improvement. He was not the first to feel the hostility of the Burnley crowd and he certainly wasn't the last, the treatment he got from the Longside at times was similar to that reserved for players such as Lee Howey.
His form, not surprisingly, dipped and just before Christmas 1989 Frank Casper loaned him out to Huddersfield in a unique deal. At the same time Junior Bent came to Burnley in an exchange loan. Brendan really impressed at Huddersfield where he was under less pressure and all the talk was that the swap was to be permanent.
It wasn't and back he came but not for long. Barnsley, two divisions higher, came in and paid £50,000 for him. He went on to have a good career at Oakwell in the next six years. He featured in 240 league games for them but by now had been converted into a midfielder.
Alan Curbishley, no bad judge, then took him to Charlton for £125,000 and he was a regular for the one season he was at the Valley. Then came the call from Wigan and it was here his career came to an end with a bad injury. His last game was an FA Cup game against York just after his 31st birthday.
He is still at Wigan though. Despite the regular change of managers under Dave Whelan at the JJB Stadium he has hung onto his job.
It will be good to see him back at the Turf and this time I think he should be afforded a good welcome – he deserves it.
