Silsden hope to kick-start plans to return to their home ground by raising £40,000 in pledges by the end of January.

The club have launched the ambitious scheme – dubbed the Football’s Coming Home Appeal – in an attempt to secure matched funding from the Football Foundation.

Applications for current grants need to be submitted within that period and, amidst concern that future funding may be diverted towards the 2012 London Olympics, the Cobbydalers feel the time is right to make a serious bid.

The cost of returning to their Keighley Road base from their current rented home at Cougar Park has been brought down from a projected £184,000 to below £80,000 after the North West Counties League agreed concessions following recent talks with the club.

With matched funding from the FA’s Football Foundation, it means Silsden must raise £40,000 and have already reached more than £13,500 in either loans or gifts.

The club have ascertained the ground improvements needed, having met with the league’s ground grading panel. They include installing floodlights, a concrete walkway, perimeter fencing, turnstiles and refurbishing the existing stand. The Cobbydalers have always harboured hopes of returning to their Keighley Road ground.

The juniors and Sunday side have remained at that venue, which received a £1 million upgrade featuring a new clubhouse and changing rooms that were officially opened by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe in September.

Silsden, whose sponsor Link Telecom went into administration in October, are now appealing to the local community to help them achieve their dream with pledged loans and donations or money-making events.

When asked if he felt confident the target would be achieved, chairman Sean McNulty said: “I am always confident. We have a fair way to go and we are asking anybody and everybody to help if they can.

“If they can give £10, that means £20 through the matched funding.”

While the club remain grateful to landlords Keighley Cougars for helping them onto the non-league ladder, the arrangement means Silsden struggle to generate their own revenue.

McNulty said: “If there is an opportunity to move back down to Silsden, we have to try and grasp it.

“We want to get back there as soon as possible - if not in the next 12 months, then the 12 months after. It’s where we belong.”

Pledges or fundraising ideas can be made by emailing silsdenafc@hotmail.com Anyone donating over £1,000 will be made a life vice-president and anyone over £5,000 a life member.