Gifton's Gift!

Former Clarets striker, Gifton Noel-Williams cant believe his luck after being given a chance of playing against Real Madrid and Barcelona next season (amongst all the other Spanish Primera Liga clubs)

Gifton was transferred to Real Murcia earlier this year, in the Spanish Segunda (Second) Divsion. He has since contributed to their success and promotion to the Spanish Primera Liga.Murcia last won promotion in 2003 but were relegated the following season after finishing bottom.

The fans have warmed to him big time nicknaming him 'Baby Drogba'

Gifton is quoted as saying:

'I sometimes have to pinch myself to check that it's happening.

'When I came, there were 18 or 19 games left and anything could have happened, but the team has gone from strength to strength.

'I just can't wait for next season and I think, for the first time in my life, I'm actually looking forward to pre-season. I can't wait to train hard, get myself fit and hopefully get a place in the team and play against some of the big boys.'

Gifton scored 23 goals in 91 appearances for Stoke between 2003 and 2005, before being signed by Steve Cotterill in the close season of 2005.

The 26-year-old, however never really hit it off with the Clarets fans. His best spell came last season when he had the chance to team up with Andy Gray (before Andy's cruel injury against Leeds in November 2006 that saw him sidelined until February 2007) He will also be remembered for that impressive hat-trick against Barnsley back in September 2006.

Gifton is now understod to be learning the Spanish lingo and still in party mood after the promotion

He had this to say about Spanish football and playing for Real Murcia

'The big difference on the pitch is pass appreciation. It's encouraged to pass, to play and when you've got the ball three or four men want the ball from you.

'When the wingers lose the ball, they get back in their own time and it's not as up and down as it is in England.

'These Spanish boys know how to celebrate,' he continued. 'They've been singing for three days. They were singing the day before we were promoted, when we got promoted, the night after we got promoted - and they're still going.'

Well done to Gifton Noel-Williams, just a pity we could never find the role that suited him when playing for the Clarets! It will always be at the back of the Clarets fans minds whether retaining Gifton might have eventually brought the winless run to an end quicker as options upfront continued to fail post-Xmas even after Andy Gray returned from injury.

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