ADRIANO Moke has admitted he wants to finish his playing career at York City.

The 28-year-old midfielder has agreed a contract extension to keep him at Bootham Crescent until the summer of 2019, but he is determined to still be around the following season, when the Minstermen are due to play in the new Community Stadium, as well as beyond.

Moke has racked up 82 appearances for City during two separate spells and has confessed that he is now hoping to move that tally well into three figures.

Between his stints in North Yorkshire, Moke never managed more than a single season with the likes of Cambridge United, Tamworth, Halifax, Macclesfield, Wrexham and Boreham Wood, but he is now desperate to make a lasting impression at a club he confesses to love.

“I’m not really one to think about contracts – I just focus on playing – but, when the gaffer pulled me to one side and asked me to sign a new deal, I took that as a reward that he wants me to stay and work under him and I’m delighted it’s all sorted,” Moke enthused.

“Six years ago, I went to Cambridge and it was a mistake. I went there to play because my old agent told me to find somewhere else, as he felt I wasn’t going to play with York in the Football League.

“I then kept moving about and that was a problem, because I’m a local lad from Leeds who wants to be near his family and I love this club. York City should be in the Football League and, when they were a few years ago, they got into the League Two play-offs, which is where I feel the club should be.

“I hope to help the club get back to where they want to be and stay for a long time. If I could get to 200 games for York, then that would be my highest achievement.

“I look at somebody like Dan Parslow, who has managed that and a lot more and I want to be remembered here too as somebody who gave his all for York City. I always try my best and give 100 per cent no matter what and, while people have told me I should have played at a higher level, I’m happy at York.

“My brother has asked me if I want to finish my career here and I said yes, because it’s a fantastic club that’s moving to a new stadium. Hopefully, I can do well and stay for that and keep working with the gaffer if he’s still here.

“Our skip Newts (Sean Newton) will have the chance to experience playing there under his new contract and I want that as well.”

Moke went on to admit that captain Newton and 25-goal top-scorer Jon Parkin’s decisions to commit their futures to the club also made it an easier choice for him to follow suit.

On the pair’s value to the Minstermen, Moke pointed out: “Every week, you think Jon is going to score.

“He’s a big leader and it’s great to have him in your team. Newts is also a massive leader, who motivates me and gets me going.

“If I get frustrated, he’s like a big brother to me in the team. He’s the only one who, if my head has gone, will make me feel calm again.

“I’m really good friends with him and love playing beside him, because he gets the best out of players. He’s up there as one of the best captains I’ve played with, because of his leadership.

“If I was going to be a captain, I would want to follow his example, because of the way he gets everybody going and the way he communicates on and off the pitch. Now, he’s told us not to get comfortable after winning five in a row, because he wants us to keep winning.

“I’m pleased he will be here this season and next season, which will hopefully be in the National League Premier.

“Teams will be looking at us now and seeing that York have picked up. They’ll see us as a bit of a test and we’re ready for that.”

Moke has been signed three times by Gary Mills in his career – twice for City and once for Wrexham – but the former Glenn Hoddle Academy graduate now believes he is thriving under the Wembley winner’s successor Gray.

“I love working under the gaffer,” Moke declared. “He’s a big factor in why I signed, because he’s made me the player I am now and he’s still improving me.

“I’m working hard on the ugly side of the game like tackling, because I need to improve my defending, along with scoring more goals.”

Moke has only netted five times in City’s colours – his latest coming in Tuesday night’s 5-3 triumph at Telford.

But the winger, who was converted into a midfielder, reckons his new inside-right position complements both his ability to retain possession and set off on driving runs at defences.

“I hear a lot of people say I always pass sideways or backwards, but I’d rather do that, than charge forward at the wrong time and lose the ball, because people would get at me for that,” Moke reasoned. “I love the new position because it gives me the licence to tuck in or go into the space if it’s in front of me, with somebody like Hessie (Simon Heslop) or Rowey (Daniel Rowe) sitting in behind.

“That means I can combine more with the likes of Aidan Connolly, Jon Parkin, Josh Law and Raul Corriea as well.”