PAUL Fildes says he is rediscovering his love of football thanks to Burnley United.

The non-league legend, whose previous clubs include Barnoldswick Town, Clitheroe and Padiham, made the move into management after hanging up his goalscoring boots.

But Fildes, who played more than 500 games, took a break from it all after his spell at Ramsbottom United came to an end during the 2016/17 season.

The former striker admitted to feeling disillusioned with the game he spent 17 years playing.

But he is feeling rejuvenated after a break from it, and is gearing himself up for the new East Lancs League First Division season, which gets underway on Saturday, and embarking on a five-year plan to get Burnley United into the North West Counties League.

“Chris Price, the chairman, has backed me 100 per cent,” he said.

“He has restored my faith and it’s nice to be back involved.

“But it took some time to get back into it.

“I lost quite a lot of interest in football after the Ramsbottom situation. But Pricey asked me if I wanted to start from scratch with a five-year plan to get into the North West Counties.

“The East Lancs League is a little bit below what I’ve ever done but I’m prepared for it.

“And there is progress being made at the club all the time. We’re getting a new clubhouse built, new dugouts and a tractor or the pitch - things to make it a little bit more professional.”

But for now Fildes has been getting his hands dirty.

“I’ve even been cutting the grass with a petrol mower, which I’ll probably get a bit of stick for but it needed doing,” he smiled.

Burnley United begin their season away to Barnoldswick Town on Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm).

“I’m going back to my roots at Barnoldswick,” Fildes continued.

“I’m just looking forward to it.

“We’ve had some good games in pre-season and got some good players who are already North West Counties Premier standard.

“As a manager I want to win both leagues, one and two, with the reserves, and set a bit of a standard for the first team going into the West Lancs League next year and build momentum.

“We are four leagues away from the North West Counties League so that’s four years in theory but we’ve targeted doing it in five and I’m confident we will.”