A SOCCER hooligan - once banned from Turf Moor for six years - has been told he won’t witness the Clarets return to top-flight football.

Philip Holmes, 48, a former member of Burnley’s notorious Suicide Squad, has been given a fresh three-year football banning order by Reedley magistrates.

Holmes, formerly of Griffin Close, Burnley, but now living in Avondale Road, Nelson, was first banned from Clarets games in 2001.

Since the ban expired in February 2007, he had ignored repeated warnings about his conduct and began to cause trouble again just weeks after the restriction was lifted, according to police.

Luke McGrath, representing Lancashire police, said the order, which was not opposed by Holmes, prevented him from attending any organised football match in England and Wales before May 2012.

Under the order Holmes must observe an extensive exclusion zone around Turf Moor, three hours before and three hours after matchdays.

He is barred from the rail network or from attending the town or city where Burnley FC may be playing away games on matchdays.

Before and after England and Wales internationals he is not allowed in the vicinity of the host stadium.

After the hearing, Police Constable Diane Murphy, of the Operation Fixture anti-disorder team, said: “Since the ban expired in February 2007 there has been a steady stream of incidents involving Holmes over the past two years.”

He was a central figure in trouble which erupted when the Clarets played both Stoke City and Sheffield United recently, police claim.

David Lawson, defending, said an agreement had been reached between the parties over the banning order.

Holmes was entitled to seek a review of the order after two years, if he kept out of trouble, and he fully intended to do that, added Mr Lawson.