“THERE’S no point us looking back – we have to look forward and crack on, and this was a good way to start that.”

So declared big Jon Parkin as he helped York City win the FA Trophy in a Wembley thriller to soften the blow of relegation into National League North.

Cult hero Parkin scored the first goal of City’s 3-2 victory over Macclesfield and also laid some claim to the winner five minutes from time when his shot was partially blocked but was still heading in when sub Aidan Connolly knocked it home from a yard out.

“It’s a bit of light at the end of the season,” said the 35-year-old striker of the cup triumph.

“Going into next season we wanted to sign off this season with a positive and we’ve done that.

“I’m delighted mainly for the fans. They’ve had two terrible years but look how they’ve come out and supported us here. That’s for them really.

“I hope they’ve had a good day out and we’ve given them a bit back for travelling all over, away to the likes of Harlow, Woking, Dover. The fans have been incredible.

“It’s three weeks since we got relegated. I’ve had some bad feelings in football but that was the worst.

“I’m still gutted about us going down, even after winning at Wembley. But there’s no point us looking back – we have to look forward and crack on, and this was a good way to start that.”

Asked if he was already thinking about next season, he replied with a smile: “I’m thinking about my holiday!”

The veteran hitman was meant to be flying out to Mexico on Saturday with seven-year-old son Oliver, but he had to rebook flights for this morning given City’s season had gone into overtime with their date at Wembley.

“We were supposed to fly out on Saturday for my best mate’s wedding but I’ve had to book new flights. The wedding is next Sunday and we’ll meet up with the rest of the wedding party (today).”

Parkin, meanwhile, bore no ill-will to young sub Connolly for effectively nicking his Wembley winner.

“I’d said to Aidan a few minutes earlier, ‘Go and win the game’ - he obviously took me literally!" he mused.

“I think it was going in. But it’s not about if Jon Parkin scores – it’s about York City winning the game, and we went on and did that.

“I don’t think anybody wanted extra time – I certainly didn’t. It was nice to get that goal and see the game out, no matter who scored it.”

As for his opener, deftly flicking a cross into the far corner of the net, he said: “It’s an incredible feeling to score but if I’d scored and we’d got beat it wouldn’t have meant a great deal.

“It’s the third time in four years I’ve played here (after playing for Fleetwood in the 2014 League Two play-offs, and Forest Green in last year’s National League play-offs) – this is the first time I’ve scored. It’s a nice feeling now we’ve won as well.”

Parkin’s first spell at York over a decade ago launched a career which hit the heights of the Championship with Hull, Stoke, Cardiff and Preston, helping Stoke win promotion to the Premier League. He also had two good years at Wembley opponents Macclesfield, bagging 30 goals in 65 appearances for the Silkmen after transferring from City in 2004.

He said of his return to Bootham Crescent: “I signed back here in November and we’d pretty much got this team together by the start of January. Our run since then was really good but we just fell short in the last two weeks really.

“That was my worst feeling in football. Full credit to the lads though – we picked ourselves up and won this trophy.

“This club means a lot to me. When I was 19 and came here the first time, I was pretty much ready for jacking football in. I’d had a bad experience at Barnsley but Terry Dolan signed me for York and the rest is history.

“The chairman here is as good as gold. Hopefully this win can maybe soften the blow for him and the supporters after this past season.

“They’ve come out and backed us even though we didn’t manage to stay up. Hopefully that gives everyone some positivity going into next season.

“Promotion will be the club’s aim and 100 per cent my aim.”