A FOOTBALL team is planning a Millennium celebration after being allowed to return to their 'spiritual' home after a five year absence.

Hapton Football Club will kick of the Year 2000/2001 season back on Hapton Recreation Ground after Burnley and District League officials initially told them the pitch was not fit for action because it sloped.

However, after a £40,000 project to flatten the pitch, the club is looking forward to playing on home soil at long last.

The work included moving tonnes of rock from under the pitch and bringing in new top soil.

And now Hapton will be applying for Lottery funding to build a new changing room and car park hoping that work will be carried out in time for next season.

Club secretary and founder member Darren Brown says it is a victory for the whole community.

He said: "We have waited a long time for this to happen and it is excellent news. It has taken us five years to get to this stage and when the bulldozers moved in to flatten the pitch it only took two weeks.

"Not only is it great news for Hapton FC but also for the local community as the school children will also be able to use the pitch for their sports days and other competitions."

Mr Brown paid tribute to Hapton parish councillor Jo Garrigan who made it all possible by asking housing developers, who were building homes in the area, to donate the money for the work. And they agreed with McDermott Homes giving £20,000 with Beazer and Tay Homes each donated £10,000 each.

Now the club will be looking to secure another £25,000 from the National Lottery and Sports Council to install new changing rooms and car park and make sure the home coming is a day to remember.

Plans are already under way to invite an Accrington Stanley or Great Harwood select side to kick off a return to the Recreation Ground while there are also plans to stage a five-a-side tournament for youngsters.

Mr Brown, who played on the ground before the league banned them from playing, added that the club hoped to return in style by winning promotion to the Premier League.

He said: "The perfect way to return to our home ground would be to win promotion back to the top flight.

"And while there is still a long way to go, we have had a very good start to the season and we are confident we can do it. But one thing is for certain is that football is coming home for Hapton."

Ironically it was the last time Hapton were promoted to the Premier League that the league decided that the pitch was unsuitable.

However, the league is now certain to give the new pitch the thumbs up once once the work has been completed.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.