CLARETS fans are being are being urged to turn Derby's Pride Park into Santa's Grotto for Saturday's FA Cup clash.

Soccer fanatic Alan Boys, who runs his own Unofficial Burnley Football Club Web Site, has issued the notice via the Internet, calling for all supporters to brighten up the game by wearing Father Christmas outfits.

And he has even got a pub in Derby - The Blue Peter Hotel, Harvay Road, Alvaston, - to agree to give away free chilli and chips to fans if they turn up suitably attired!

Since he made his appeal he has had pledges of support and is now hoping that 5,000 Santa Clauses will head to Derby to add a bit of fun to the seriousness of the match.

Radio Lancashire's Gary Hickson is gearing the Santas up for a special interview.

And reports are that shops in nearby towns are selling out of outfits fast.

Sunday league seven-a-side team One Step Beyond, who play in the Barden Association league, have pledged to go to the game in customised Santa suits - with their favourite players' names on their backs!

And another set of fans including six Father Christmases and one Mother Christmas, a pirate with a broken leg and some elves are heading to the game.

Alan said: "I want as many people to get into the Christmas spirit and have fun on the day. Whatever the result - and we are playing a Premier League side - I hope Burnley can show that we all know how to have a good time.

"Let's turn the ground into Santa's Grotto for the day.

"I will be taking digital camera pictures of all the fans and will be publishing them on my web site next week for all to see!"

Alan's website address is www.claretbfc.demon.co.uk

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