On 16 August 2008, Burnley were soundly beaten 3-0 at home by Ipswich Town. It was only the second Saturday of the season and already the Clarets were in freefall (unlike the parachutist who caused that game to be delayed by an hour after he landed on the away end roof delivering the matchball).
Burnley were an accident waiting to happen that day. Lacking ideas in attack and looking schoolboy at times at the back, Owen Coyle's side seemed certainties in my mind for a long season of struggle.
But quite incredibly, Burnley are one game away from the Premier League after one of the greatest seasons in the their history.
The comprehensive 3-0 aggregate win over Reading in the Championship play-off semi-final was fully deserved. It followed a devastatingly late moment of anguish against Tottenham in the Carling Cup after Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal had been beaten in earlier rounds (Arsenal were to get their revenge in the FA Cup ending another heroic cup run).
Most significantly, Coyle has shown a trust in his side. He has used just 23 players all season. It is a side full of team players. There are no real standout men, but a set of lads determined to do well for themselves with the resources at their disposal.
Interestingly, 10 of the 11 Burnley players who started against Ipswich, featured in the second leg with Reading. Only the injured Stephen Jordan missed out.
While Manager of the Year contenders Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez and Guus Hiddink enjoy the rotation policy, it is clear that a settled side has worked wonders for Coyle, who has arguably achieved far more.
These Premier League managers will wax lyrical about how too many games is damaging for their sides. Yet, the play-off final against Sheffield United will be Burnley's 61st match of the campaign.
And what fitting reward it would be, if Coyle's hard-working side can get their chance to take on Fergie, Rafa et al in the Premier League next season.
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