Wednesday 2 May 2018 10:53, UK
Burnley manager Sean Dyche will have a pub near Turf Moor named after him once the club have qualified for Europe next season.
With the club's place in next season's Europa League all-but secured, a local pub owner has vowed to rename her pub 'The Royal Dyche' to honour the Burnley manager for his achievements at the club.
The landlady of 'The Princess Royal' previously promised Dyche free drinks for keeping the club in the Premier League last season, but felt obliged to take her generosity a step further after seeing this year's performances.
"We wrote an A-board saying that he could drink here for free when we gained another season in the Premier League," landlady Justine Lorriman said.
"We then beat Stoke at home [in December] and went fourth. We've never done so well, there was just a big high.
"At the time it was a little joke and next thing you know it's all real. Everyone thought it was brilliant. Everyone's excited. We really want to stay true to our word."
Southampton's FA Cup semi-final defeat ensured a Europa League spot will be afforded to the team that finishes seventh in the Premier League, due to finalists Manchester United and Chelsea already having qualified for Europe.
Burnley lead eighth-placed Everton by six points with two games remaining and due to the Clarets holding a goal difference fifteen superior to the Toffees they are expected to finish in that seventh berth.
"It's just a good feeling at the minute to be a Burnley fan," Lorriman added. "A lot of people are questioning whether they want to be in Europe but you never know when it's going to come round again."
When asked how she would pay tribute if Dyche led Burnley to Premier League glory, she added: "I'd have to put a statute out of him."
