A UNIQUE project to unearth one of the most importing sporting sites in Bradford's history will invite schools and young people to take part next month.

Breaking Ground will see the former site of Bradford Park Avenue Football Club, Horton Park Avenue, explored by archaeologists, historians, artists and members of the Bradford University Geophysics Team as part of a project funded by the Arts Council and the National Football Museum.

For a week in September, starting on September 6, fans of the club, supporters who remember visiting the site for games and school groups will be able to take part in the unique project.

The findings and final artwork will make up an exhibition at the National Football Museum in Manchester later this year.

Until the early 1970's Bradford Park Avenue played top league football at the site, and were a major presence in Bradford life. The football ground had a huge main stand designed by the most significant architect of early sports grounds - Archibald Leach and in it's day the ground had a capacity of over 30,000.

The site dates back to 1907.

However with the demise of the club it was left to fall into disrepair. In the late 1970's the council demolished the stands but otherwise left the ground largely intact.

The site has now been reclaimed by nature.

In November 2013 the site became the first ever archaeological excavation of a football goalmouth and goalpost, with fans all ages reoccupying the former terraces to watch.

Artist Neville Gabie, photographer and graphic designer Alan Ward and sports historian and archaeologist Jason Wood are working on the site for a more complete excavation. Over the week of onsite activity there will be excavations of other parts of the former football ground and stands, examining historical artifacts in peoples own collections, demonstrations of geophysical surveying and artistic interventions to mark and celebrate the history and context of the football club.

Several primary schools are taking part in workshops as part of the event.

Mr Gabie said: "The project is expanding and will be open to the public. There are archaeologists, historians and artists involved.

"In it's day it was a really significant ground, built by the most famous architect for sports stadiums.

"It has existed in many people's living memory so it is unusual for an archaeological site. There is a lot of interest in it.

"We will have four primary schools coming to a workshop on the Wednesday.

"When the university has surveyed the site they picked up every chalk marking on the pitch, it must have left a trace on the ground, even though it hasn't been used as a pitch for years.

"The work will be exhibited in the National Football Museum, and we hope it will come to Bradford too.

"There is just so much social history surrounding this.

"When the schools come they will be taking part in two hour workshops and local historians will tell them about the site while they will be able to see the archaeologists working."

Artists working on the site will include some focusing on how nature has reclaimed the grounds, others looking at memorabilia from the club and others photographing the project.

As part of the national Heritage Open Days event being held across the country in September, the site will be open to the public on Friday September 11 from 11am to 3pm and Saturday September 12 from 11am to 3pm. Over the two days there will also be a 'dig' to find the goalpost holes, the dug-outs and other parts of the ground - a local sports historian will be leading tours around the site - and it will be a chance to see artists responding to the history of the location.

And the event also ties in with the upcoming Fringe Science Festival, part of the British Science Festival being held in Bradford.