SCARBOROUGH Athletic will finally return 'home' next week after a decade playing out of the town, writes Ian Appleyard.

The club, which was formed after the liquidation of Scarborough FC in summer 2007, will play a Sheffield United XI in the first game at the newly-built Scarborough Sports Village stadium.

For the last 10 years, the club has been lodging at Queensgate, the home of Bridlington Town, meaning the majority of Boro supporters have made a 36-mile round trip along the East Coast for every home game.

The old McCain Stadium on Seamer Road has now been demolished and replaced by a Lidl supermarket to help fund the construction of the new Sports Village which is situated just across the road in Weaponness Valley.

The new club, which is supporter-owned, narrowly missed out on promotion last season from Evo-Stik First Division North but still expects to attract bigger gates this season to the new 2,000 capacity venue.

It is exactly 10 years ago since the club played its first game, a friendly against Edgehill, at Hunmanby sports field following the closure of Scarborough FC.

The sold-out game on Saturday July 15 will be an emotional occasion for everyone involved, especially the friends and relatives of former chairman Dave Holland who passed away suddenly last season.

Holland will be remembered at a memorial match against Bridlington at the new stadium on Tuesday July 18.