Former Clarets youth team skipper inspired by Sean Dyche's model at Turf Moor

February’s recipient of the Premier League Manager of the Month award is an advocate of hard work and endeavour.

After being unveiled as Eddie Howe’s successor at Turf Moor, the ex-Watford chief declared that the ‘minimum requirement was maximum effort’ while making a promise that there would always be sweat on his players’ shirts.

Those are the core values and beliefs that Clitheroe FC player-manager David Lynch has always lived and played by.

It was a culture and philosophy that had been instilled during his time at Burnley, where he became the youth team captain.

That particular attitude has always been prevalent at the club, it had been encouraged by the likes of Terry Pashley and Andy Farrell during Lynch’s stay, but the ‘Legs, Hearts, Minds’ mantra is a model that has brought unprecedented success in the modern era.

“I keep banging on about hard work because, first and foremost, that’s what we’re going to be about,” said Lynch.

“That’s what you’ll need to do to get into this team. I don’t care how good a player is, if they’re not prepared to give 110% then they won’t play.

“It’s as simple as that and that’ll be our philosophy for the season. They’ve all been told that, they all know that.

“Ability at this level is important, but it’s more about the team spirit and having that desire to win every single week.

“They need to fight for each other. I’m drilling it into them about that work ethic and the mentality. If I ever see a lack of effort it will be very disappointing because that’s what I’m all about as a person.”

Lynch is a huge admirer of what Dyche has achieved in his near eight years at Burnley. Two promotions, two top 10 finishes in the top flight and a European campaign is just the tip of the iceberg.

And the 27-year-old former Alfreton Town midfielder is keen to mirror the Clarets’ blueprint, but on a smaller scale.

“I’ve always been a massive advocate of training as you play,” he said. “I’ve always demanded that my team-mates give 110% in training.

“I love the way that Sean Dyche goes about things at Burnley. I know it’s a far cry from the level we’re at, but I love the way they go about things, and how a manager of that calibre does things the way he does.

“I don’t see any reason why we can’t try and mirror that in terms of being on the front foot, being aggressive, being fit and strong, working hard for each other, which is what has given them success at the top level. If that’s something teams don’t want to mirror then there’s something wrong.

“I’ve had it drilled into me since I was 16/17. I love everything that Burnley are about and that’s the culture I want to create. It’s a fantastic football club that breeds good human-beings, who are respectful.

“I’m not trying to say for a minute that we’re going to emulate what Burnley has done. We want to move up the leagues, the club is very ambitious, but I’d be stupid if I didn’t stick to those principles that were drilled into me by Pash, Faz, Vince Overson and Martin Dobson when I was a young lad at Burnley.”