Founded on 18 May 1882, the club was one of the first to become professional (in 1883), putting pressure on the Football Association (FA) to permit payments to players.
[4][5] Burnley are one of only five teams to have won all four professional divisions of English football, along with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Preston North End, Sheffield United and Portsmouth.
[9][10] Two Burnley-born players have won caps for the England national team while at the club: Jimmy Crabtree in 1894 and 1895 and Billy Bannister in 1901.
[9] In 2001, Trinidad and Tobago international Ian Cox became the first Burnley player to represent a country from outside the British Isles.
[9] McIlroy also holds the club record for most caps won (51) and the most international goals scored (10) while playing for Burnley.