BURNLEY have agreed a record-six figure deal with James Hargreaves to keep the plumbers merchants as sponsors of Turf Moor’s North Stand for a further five years.

The Burnley-based company have already forged a strong partnership with the Championship outfit and have now demonstrated their continuing commitment to the club.

From their Todmorden Road headquarters in the town, James Hargreaves have 23 branches across Lancashire and Yorkshire as they continue to win their battle against the difficult economic climate.

James Hargreaves’ managing director Gordon Rothwell said: “James Hargreaves is a company that is going places and so is Burnley FC – we are both going for the Premier League in our respective fields.

“There is a lot of doom and gloom about at the moment due to talk of a recession, but we have put down a marker by committing significant funds to supporting our local football club for the next five years.

“Our goal is to coninue to grow and be successful, even in this challenging economic climate.”

Burnley chairman Barry Kilby also welcomed the bumper extentsion to an already flourishing partnership.

He said: “James Hargreaves have become synonymous with the football club and the stand has become known by everyone as the James Hargreaves Stand.

“In such trying times, it is fantastic that a local company can still put a lot of money into its town football club and we hope the partnership will continue for many years to come.”