GHOSTBUSTER Peter Swan returns to Plymouth Argyle tomorrow determined to bury the memory of his Home Park house of horrors.

Burnley's Incredible hulk is still haunted by his 11 month stay at Home Park and a stage in his career which he describes "as a living nightmare." And Swan admits: "I was ready to quit soccer until Burnley stepped in."

Burnley's £200,000 deal with Plymouth in August 1995 rescued the big Yorkshireman from a year of hell at Plymouth.

Swan's West Country horror-show included:

Living in a haunted house.

His dogs accidentally killed by a drugs overdose.

Breaking his ribs and a cheekbone.

Plymouth fans trying to drive him off the road in his sponsored car!

Tormented by the home support when he was awarded a man of the match award.

Losing the first two home league matches 5-1 - after scoring on his Plymouth debut against Brentford!

Playing under four managers in eight months - and getting relegated.

"Leaving Port Vale to go to Plymouth was the biggest mistake of my life," recalled Swan.

"I walked into a living nightmare. I could have walked away from football if Burnley had not come in for me.

"I was seriously thinking about packing the game up after the Plymouth experience. "I was never accepted by the fans and I knew I had made a mistake the moment I went through the door.

"I went in to see Peter Shilton (then manager) after three weeks and I said to him 'You've just got to get me out of here.' Things just went from bad to worse.

"I remember doing a bit of shopping one day. I was in a club sponsored car with my name on the side and this guy tried to run me off the road.

"I would get cold-shouldered in shops. It was hard to understand.

"I think I'll need an armed bodyguard tomorrow. I daren't stop moving out on the pitch or somebody might take a pot shot at me!

"I remember getting a man-of-the-match award and the fans booed me. The abuse I used to get was horrendous.

"Sometimes they would cheer me but I never acknowledged them. It made me a stronger character though."

Swan believes the Plymouth fans were unwilling to forgive him after making a last-ditch but fair tackle on Paul Dalton in a league match at Vale Park.

Plymouth lost 2-1 and some fans claim that result ultimately cost them promotion.

Argyle missed automatic promotion by a point to Port Vale before Burnley ruined their play-off hopes with a brilliant 3-1 win at Home Park in May 1994. "I was never out of the team for playing badly and I ended up playing under four different managers (Shilton, Stuart McCall, Russell Osman, Neil Warnock).

"Everybody made a big issue about me coming down to Plymouth just for the money. That wasn't true.

"I ended up playing second team football against the likes of Saltash and Torquay Reserves. The whole thing turned into a nightmare."

Swan's problems increased when he fractured his cheekbone. The big defender then found the rented house he was living in was haunted!

Swan continued: "Things would go flying off the wall for no reason. You'd be in the kitchen and the television would just switch itself on.

"I was in the bath one afternoon and I heard a smash downstairs. I went down and my lovely Royal Doulton pot dog was in pieces all over the floor. It had just flown across the room.

"I couldn't believe it. I just had to nip out for a pint to get over the shock.

"The lads will slaughter me when they read this. But they can ask my friend Martin Hodge.

"He came down for the weekend when I was away. But he got out of the house and drove home in the middle of the night because all the lights in the house were flashing on and off!

"In the end I just went home to Staffordshire. When Neil Warnock arrived I was in his office within an hour pleading to get away."

Manager Adrian Heath said: "It's a tough fixture but there is plenty of spirit in the camp!"

Burnley will not be pursuing their interest in former Blackburn Rovers player Peter Baah after his short trial period at Turf Moor.

Burnley face Liverpool at Anfield tomorrow in the second round of the FA Youth Cup.

Kick-off is 2.00 pm. Burnley have no Lancashire League fixtures this weekend.

Preston today looked set to sign Sean Gregan, a player watched by Burnley, for £300,000 from Darlington.

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