Gareth Grant has set his sights on playing at Valley Parade again - in a Farsley Celtic shirt.

The former City striker is still in seventh heaven after playing a major role in Monday's pulsating play-off final win over Hinckley United.

Grant scored the opening goal in the Conference North decider and won the penalty for Simeon Bambrook's dramatic spot-kick at the death.

Now 26, he is loving his football again and relishing the prospect of playing next season in the Blue Square Premier, the highest tier of the non-league game.

It will be the first time in Farsley's 99-year history that they have reached that level - but Grant is dreaming about stepping beyond that and, given the meteoric rise of Lee Sinnott's men, that may not be as outrageous an ambition as it seems.

"You don't know what can happen in football - we've proved that this year," said Grant.

"Everyone will write us off in the Conference next season but we can show them again. Just look at what we've done.

"When I signed here at the start of the season, I thought we'd do well to stay up. I cannot believe how everything has gone - it's been incredible.

"And now we're just one division below Bradford. You never know what's going to happen but hopefully it won't be too long until we're playing them in the league."

Leeds-born Grant was touted as a prospect for the future when Paul Jewell gave him a chance as a spindly 18-year-old but his City career never really got off the ground and he started only six league games before being shown the door in 2002.

Slipping into the part-time game with spells at Gainsborough Trinity and Scarborough, Grant finally ended up at Throstle Nest, a move which has reinvigorated his form.

He said: "It's been great for me and I can't thank the manager enough. Some managers stab you in the back but he's always totally honest and really good to work with."

Sinnott's script-writing ability is also unrivalled, though Grant admitted he started to fear the worst when Hinckley regained the lead at 3-2 with only six minutes left.

Grant said: "I did have a few doubts creeping in but we've been taught to just keep plugging away. Football is a funny game and strange things happen, as you saw.

"It was a definite penalty because he clipped me but Simeon did well to step up and take it. I know a few wouldn't have wanted to do that.

"We always leave it to the last minute, which makes it a bit hard on the nerves, but they are a great set of lads - even if this club don't do anything easy."

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