IT was back home where it belongs. The flag that unfurled before a TV audience of millions during the World Cup in Japan and Korea was finally flown with pride in its native Weardale.

After following the fortunes - and misfortunes - of England in the Far East, 30-year-old Kevin McGuire finally ended his soccer journey of a lifetime by showing the flag to football fans and friends in the County Durham dale at the weekend.

Mr McGuire, now working in a shipyard at Eindhoven, in Holland, made the headlines when his flag was spotted on television during England's historic 1-0 victory over Argentina, in Sapporo. He went on to fly it during England's games against Denmark and Brazil.

The appearance of the 15ft-wide flag on worldwide TV stunned Mr McGuire's parents, Bill and Wendy McGuire, and friends back home in St John's Chapel.

But they were in for another shock when Mr McGuire - after spending two months in Japan and Korea - decided to call on them unexpectedly at the weekend.

And before heading back to Holland, he was persuaded to unfurl the Weardale World Cup flag for fans and friends at the weekly training session of a football academy in Weardale.

"I never believed the flag would stir up so much interest back home. I didn't even know if anybody had seen it, until my parents said it had made the headlines in The Northern Echo," said Mr McGuire.

His flag was proudly displayed along the likes of those from Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester during the World Cup.

Other flags from the region spotted in ensuing matches included those from Darlington, Ferryhill, Middlesbrough and Scarborough.

"I have a lot of pals back home and I have enjoyed playing football with them. I suppose I just wanted to fly the flag for Weardale," said Mr McGuire, who revealed that his World Cup adventure had cost him £5,000.

The Weardale flag will now be tucked away in the house in Eindhoven, which Mr McGuire shares with two other English soccer fans - Danny Rogers and Alec Simpson - until England hopefully qualify for the European Cup in Portugal, in 2004.

If they do, Mr McGuire - and his flag - will be there.

Until then, he can recount how the name of Weardale also found its way on to Japan's landmark Mount Fuji.

He, along with Mr Rogers and Mr Simpson, climbed to the summit in the early hours of the morning to watch the sun rise . . . and couldn't resist unfurling the flag.

"It has to be the best moment of my life," said Mr McGuire.