AT just 33-years-old, former Clarets favourite Jamie Hoyland blew the final whistle on his playing days.

A move to Scarborough from Turf Moor left a bitter taste in his mouth, but the strapping central defender looks back on his four years with Burnley fondly.

And he explained how he was delighted to move from Bristol City to Burnley when he was snapped up by Jimmy Mullen in 1994.

"I was at Bristol City before I signed for Burnley. I was supposed to be moving to Blackpool and had held talks with them, but as soon as I found out Burnley were interested, there was no doubt in my mind where I would rather go," he said.

"Being born and bred in Sheffield, and playing for Sheffield United, I found a lot of similarities between them and Burnley.

"The supporters are just as fanatical as the Blades fans and they are both big clubs.

"I've always supported Sheffield United but I'd have to say Burnley are my second team."

Hoyland became second in command to Paul Simpson at Rochdale before the start of the season.

He said: "I had some very happy years at Burnley and made a lot of friends there. I still live in the area but work commitments mean I can't get to Turf Moor as often as I'd like to.

"I still speak to Damien Matthew every week, and I see Paul Weller every now and again.

"Gordon Armstrong wasn't at Burnley at the same time as me but his son plays for Rochdale's Centre of Excellence, so I see him every now and again as well."

Hoyland enjoyed his spell with the Clarets so much, he returned to Turf Moor when his playing career was over, joining the Community team.

"I was only there for about nine months but I really enjoyed working there," the former Manchester City trainee said.

"A lot of my former team-mates were still playing, so it was a bit weird being back at the club and not playing.

"But working with the community team was great. I organised the soccer schools and I really enjoyed it.

"I didn't miss playing at all because when I moved to Scarborough, I knew I'd made the worst mistake of my life and I stopped enjoying my football.

"I was supposed to have been signing for Shrewsbury but I didn't believe they would fulfill their promises to introduce me to the coaching side, so I went to Scarborough.

"I had been involved with big clubs all through my career and the set-up there was just something I wasn't used to, and at the end of the season, I left."

Thankfully, things have since improved for the likeable Yorkshireman and he has now settled into his role as assistant manager at neighbours Rochdale, helping the Third Division outfit into the FA Cup fourth round after their 2-1 win at Preston last Saturday.

"I had a couple of years left in me as a player when I retired but I couldn't carry on like I was, not getting any pleasure out of it," he said.

"I left the Community Programme after bumping into then Rochdale manager Steve Parkin at a game. He asked what I was up to and offered me the chance to be the club's youth team manager."

And with Dale's two managerial chances in six months, Hoyland's coaching qualities have been noted and he has moved through the the ranks, teaming up with best friend and winger Simpson at the helm at Spotland.

"I always said I wanted to go into coaching and management but it has happened a lot faster than I ever thought it would," he said.

"I'm enjoying the experience and just treating the players the way I would want to be treated as a player.

"Some will take you to the extreme and others will do everything right. It's all about getting the right discipline in the end."