Turf Moor has been the home of Burnley Football Club since February 1883, making it the second-longest continuously used football ground in English professional football, trailing only Preston North End’s Deepdale. Tucked into a residential corner of Burnley, Lancashire, the ground has watched the club rise and fall between English football’s top divisions for well over a century while retaining a distinctly old-school, community feel.
In 1886, Turf Moor became the first football ground in England to be visited by British royalty when Prince Albert Victor attended a match, and in 1922 it hosted its only FA Cup semi-final. Now an all-seater Premier League venue with a capacity of roughly 21,944, Turf Moor blends that deep history with modern matchday infrastructure, including a university campus built into the stadium itself.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: Burnley F.C.
- Location: Burnley, Lancashire, England
- Opened: February 17, 1883
- Capacity: About 21,944
- Record Attendance: 54,775 (Feb 23, 1924, vs Huddersfield Town, FA Cup)
- Notable Fact: Second-longest continuously used ground in English football
A Ground Steeped in History
Burnley moved to Turf Moor in 1883, and the ground has hosted the club ever since without interruption, a rare feat in English football. Its historic pedigree includes a royal visit in 1886, an FA Cup semi-final in 1922, and a full England international against Wales in 1927. The record attendance of 54,775, set in 1924 for an FA Cup tie against Huddersfield Town, reflects an era before all-seater regulations reshaped English grounds in the 1990s.
The Turf Moor Experience Today
Modern Turf Moor is arranged around four stands: the Bob Lord Stand, Cricket Field Stand, North Stand, and Jimmy McIlroy Stand, the latter two dating to a 1990s redevelopment that converted the ground to all-seating. A quirkier tradition survives from World War I: Turf Moor is reportedly the only British football ground where Bénédictine liqueur is served, a nod to Burnley soldiers who brought a taste for it home from France. The stadium also houses the University Campus of Football Business, opened in 2011.
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Turf Moor FAQs
When did Turf Moor open?
Burnley F.C. moved into Turf Moor on February 17, 1883, and has played there continuously ever since.
What is Turf Moor’s capacity?
Turf Moor holds approximately 21,944 spectators as an all-seater stadium.
What is Turf Moor’s record attendance?
The record attendance is 54,775, set on February 23, 1924, for an FA Cup third-round match against Huddersfield Town.
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Photo: Trappedinburnley / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.