TOWN are hoping to stage a star-studded clash with mighty Arsenal to celebrate their centenary.

While Town's 100th birthday is not for another four years, officials have already contacted the Gunners with a view to playing at the Galpharm Stadium in 2008.

By then, Town hope to be among the top 30 clubs in the country while Arsenal - now one of Europe's elite - will be playing in their new Emirates Stadium at Ashburton Grove.

"Our ideal would be to play Arsenal to mark the Town centenary in 2008 and we've already been in touch," said chief executive Andrew Watson.

"The links between the clubs are very strong thanks to the legendary Herbert Chapman, the fact we've both won title hat tricks, played in the FA Cup final and the record Leeds Road gate of 67,037 being against Arsenal.

"If we could play them in 2008 it would be something special for our fans and be the perfect way to pay homage to our past."

Plans are also afoot to create a Hall of Fame leading up to the centenary of the club formed in 1908 and which was saved from financial ruin by fans in 1919.

"In the New Year we will be starting an extension at the front of the stadium to include a bigger shop and ticket office for our fans," said Mr Watson.

"As part of the plans, our current club offices will become a supporters bar and we are already talking to the Development Association about creating a Hall of Fame.

"It's not something where we anticipate dozens and dozens of people to be included, just the top men from each decade, with others being added by a specially-formed committee in the build-up to the centenary."

Town are also working through the Development Association with the club's Supporters Trust on plans for the Storthes Hall training complex.

Town could, in the next fortnight, reach agreement with the University of Huddersfield to purchase land at the site including the old pavilion.

"Apart from Beck Lane in the old days, I don't think we've ever owned our own top-class training facility, so Storthes Hall would be terrific for Peter Jackson and the players," added Mr Watson.

"The aim is to use the £50,000 of the Supporters Trust to gain grants to multiply that 10-fold, which will help us to rebuild and provide a superb facility with two immaculate pitches and plenty of space for training.

"New players always like the look of the Galpharm Stadium when Peter shows them around, and if we've also got a wonderful training facility it can only be the icing on the cake.

"We've also got the use of The Barn down at Leeds Road, which is a superb community facility targeted at our Academy, so the set-up is all looking very positive."

Mr Watson reported the new shop, Sporting Pride, on Cloth Hall Street, has already created a lot of interest among Town and Giants fans and is doing well.