FORMER York City defender Ray Warburton is bidding to complete a hat-trick of play-off final triumphs by leading Aldershot back into the Football League tomorrow.

Warbuton, who is now 36, will ironically be hoping that the Shots become one of the clubs replacing the Minstermen in next season's Third Division when he captains the Hampshire side at Stoke's Britannia Stadium this weekend.

Part-time Aldershot, who dropped out of League football after going out of business in 1992, will meet Shrewsbury in the final.

Warburton joined the Shots 16 months ago after leaving Boston United and victory tomorrow would represent his third success in the end-of-season nerve-janglers after sitting on the bench as a City player during the 1993 Wembley win and going on to play for Northampton under the Twin Towers during their 1997 victory.

The Rotherham-born defender said: "It was nice to sit on the bench for City in 1993 after I had broken my foot but the best moment was when I won the final with Northampton and there were 46,000 at Wembley. This will be a big game as well though and to captain Aldershot back into the Football League would be up there as one of the best two or three days in my career.

"We are quietly confident. The lads are buzzing and can't wait for the game.

"They are full-time whereas we have only trained twice this week. We do one-and-a-half hours on Tuesday and Thursday nights so to get where we are is a great achievement but I am sure that if we play like we did against Hereford in the semi-final we can be more than a match for them."

Aldershot's appearance in the final marks a dramatic rise up the non-League ladder after the club were forced to start again at the bottom rung of the pyramid 12 years ago.

Four promotions campaigns later and, after one season in the Conference, Aldershot are dreaming of regaining their precious League status.

Warburton said:"It's been a bonus season for me really at 36 and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. You appreciate it more when you are knocking on a bit.

"I was at Boston but was travelling all the time and also started getting a few problems with my knees so the switch to part-time has helped me carry on playing."

"Whether, out-of-contract skipper Warburton will join the young hopefuls is uncertain however.

"I will carry on playing next season but I've no idea whether I will be here next season to be honest," he said. "I will enjoy it on Sunday and I want to stay but I'm not looking any further than the weekend.

"I've had one or two other offers already and I'm also working with my brother for his property company but I know I might be doing myself out of a contract if Aldershot get promoted. I would consider coaching as well and it's no secret that I want to stay in the game but there's not that many chances knocking about and it's a bit of an unstable business."

Updated: 10:05 Saturday, May 15, 2004