LOWERHOUSE expect this season’s Worsley Cup final to break league attendance records and be an occasion to remember.

The August 5 showpiece will see House take on rivals Burnley at Liverpool Road in the first final meeting between the two sides in the competition’s 93-year history.

More than 3,000 are expected to descend on the Brooks Foundation Ground for the clash and Lowerhouse chairman Stan Heaton admitted the hard work behind the scenes was well under way ahead of the final.

“It is an enormous amount of work,” said Heaton of hosting the final. “When we had it in 2004 we set a record for gate receipts and we have learned from that year. That will help us in that we have hosted it relatively recently.

“We have sold out our 12 hospitality marquees already which guarantee you a good position, when we did that in 2004 it was relatively groundbreaking.

“The hard work is going on behind the scenes to make sure we are ready for the final.”

Lowerhouse last hosted the final in 2004 when they swept aside Haslingden to win a first trophy in 142 years.

That day saw approximately 3,000 fans through the doors raising a record £4,951.50 in gate receipts.

And Heaton expects both those totals to be broken this time around.

He added: “Our best estimate is that 3,000 people watched that game in 2004, a lot of that will have been novelty as it was our first final since 1980 but with this year’s being against Burnley we think we will get more than that this time around.

“Tickets have been flying out and we think there will be a big crowd.”

The final is not all ticket but Lowerhouse will have to monitor the number of fans attending to ensure the capacity is not breached.

Lowerhouse defeated Burnley in the first round of their 2004 Worsley Cup win which opened the floodgates for the club who won the competition again in 2012 as well; as claiming league glory in 2005, 2011, 2012 and 2014 and T20 success in 2013. House last season shared the LCB Knockout with Liverpool Competition Ormskirk taking their trophy haul to eight since breaking that duck 14 years ago.

And Heaton admits a third Worsley Cup success, in a derby game, would be a special moment.

“That would be nice,” he said. “We always want to win and play the game to win.

“It will be a keenly fought final. We beat Burnley in the league just last weekend and so I am sure that there will be a reaction from them.

“They are a good side with a lot of good players.”

Burnley also have a proven Worsley Cup pedigree having won the competition four years in a row before seeing that run ended last term and the Turf Moor men will be keen on a fifth triumph in six seasons.

Lowerhouse will also be without injured professional Ockert Erasmus, meaning they will have to find a sub pro for the showpiece.

Heaton, whose side beat Burnley last weekend with a team of 11 amateurs, added: “We will be bringing in a sub pro and we are actively looking to get someone in now who can play the remainder of the season.

“We want the continuity that Ockie gave us.

“We have Akbar Ur-Rehman back for this weekend. He played against Burnley and got some runs and wickets and if he was unattached we would have snapped him up but he has Saturday commitments with Walkden.”

The victory over Burnley propelled Lowerhouse up to second in the Lancashire League table, behind unbeaten leaders Walsden, and victory over Crompton in the Worsley Cup semi-final capped an excellent 48 hours.

“What a weekend it was,” added Heaton.

“To go second in the league and then reach the final was a perfect weekend.”

Bettered only by the possibility of going top of the table and winning the cup in the space of two days early next month?

“That would be great but let’s wait and see.” Heaton added.

Tickets are on sale from Lowerhouse’s club website priced at £4 for adults and £2 for concessions with a family ticket of two adults and two children £12.

Tickets are also available to buy from both clubs as well as Emma’s News on Padiham Road in Burnley and the Post Office on Rosegrove Lane in Burnley.