Vokes joins Clarets folklore

Clarets striker Sam Vokes wrote his name into Burnley folklore on Monday afternoon.
Sam Vokes, front right, celebrates promotion with the squad, staff and familiesSam Vokes, front right, celebrates promotion with the squad, staff and families
Sam Vokes, front right, celebrates promotion with the squad, staff and families

56 years to the day since Burnley won their second First Division Championship title at Maine Road, Vokes' glancing header against QPR sealed promotion back to the Premier League.

While promotion is earned over a season, Vokes joined the likes of Wade Elliott, Gary Parkinson and John Francis in scoring the goal that got Burnley over the line.

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And the amiable Wales frontman beamed: “It was a magic day. There were a few nerves floating around the place before, we got wind of the result elsewhere so it made the game more tense with a lot more riding on it.

Sam Vokes, front right, celebrates promotion with the squad, staff and familiesSam Vokes, front right, celebrates promotion with the squad, staff and families
Sam Vokes, front right, celebrates promotion with the squad, staff and families

“We knew the job that we had to go out and do and we did it."

Brighton's draw with Derby meant a win against the Rs would be enough, and the cheers of fans at Turf Moor alerted the players to that result in the warm-up: “I think it was the fanzone when they cheered out the back when we were trying to warm up.

“Before the game the lads were brilliant and said it’s all about us, we knew what we had to do anyway.

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“It was about getting the three points. QPR made it tough for us but we got it in the end."

Sam Vokes, front right, celebrates promotion with the squad, staff and familiesSam Vokes, front right, celebrates promotion with the squad, staff and families
Sam Vokes, front right, celebrates promotion with the squad, staff and families

Manager Sean Dyche feels it is a better achievement than 2014, and Vokes concurred: “Of course. It’s tough, you see it all the time, teams come down from the Premier League and they’re expected to go straight back up and they don’t do that because it’s a tough league.

“A lot of the lads know the league and we’ve come back and managed to complete the job."

Two years ago, Vokes hit 21 goals as Burnley were promoted, but missed the last six games and the start of the Premier League campaign with a cruciate knee ligament injury, so he was thrilled to be on the pitch when the Clarets got over the line: “It was tough that time because games and days like this I missed out on.

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“It’s a great feeling to be part of that, and obviously getting the goal was special for me."

The title is the goal now, having been one of several at the club to win it with Wolves in 2009: “It would be nice.

“The gaffer came in after obviously buzzing, but he said ‘Now we go and win the league’.

“We came second last time so our goal is to win it this time.

"We go to Charlton and want to win the league, so that’s our objective now."