FORMER York City striker Glenn Naylor may have retired from the professional game but his eye for goal is proving priceless in Harrogate Town's bid for the UniBond League title.

Howden-born Naylor played his last game for Darlington in March before turning his back on the Football League after struggling to recover from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

His decision brought the end to a career that saw him net 84 League and cup goals in 272 starts for York and Darlington.

But when former Feethams team-mate Neil Aspin, now player-coach at Wetherby Road, became aware of Naylor's availability he wasted no time in persuading the 31-year-old forward to turn his skills to non-League football.

Naylor's knee, which was struggling to cope with the rigours of full-time training, has responded well to the lesser demands of UniBond football and he has helped fire Harrogate to third place in the premier division table, making promotion to the Nationwide Conference a realistic target.

York-based Naylor has already netted seven times in six starts for Town, including a four-goal haul in a thrilling draw with Droylsden.

The 5ft 11in forward last netted a hat-trick in a 6-1 FA Cup victory for Darlington over AFC Sudbury two years ago and he has been pleased with his form for Harrogate after a slow start.

"I was not playing well at first because I probably wasn't fit," he admitted. "But the last five or six games have been better and the lads are doing well.

"When I retired at Darlington I did not want to travel far as I had grown tired of going to Durham every day for training. So when Neil Aspin asked me to go to Harrogate I thought I would give it a go because it's still a decent standard.

"My right knee has been fine, touch wood, but now I'm getting a touch of tendonitis in my left one which might be because I'm over compensating perhaps so I'm having to watch that."

But aching joints were not Naylor's main concern after Saturday's 2-1 victory at former Conference club Stalybridge Celtic.

The ex-Heworth and Cliftonville marksman scored the winning goal in that match but had to be substituted before the break because of a cheekbone injury, sustained after a collision with team-mate James McDaid.

Pleasingly, X-rays this week have confirmed there is no break and Naylor was expected to feature against lowly Burscough today when Town were seeking another victory to underline their title credentials.

Pre-season championship favourites Southport already trail Harrogate by nine points and Barrow are also six adrift.

With the season nearing the halfway mark and only Hucknall Town and Alfreton Town preventing Harrogate from topping the table, Naylor believes his new team are one of a small pack of clubs that could finish champions next May.

He said: "We have played Barrow who have lots of money and were apparently one of the favourites but we battered them. I think we are definitely one of five teams that could win it.

"Everybody's playing well and there is a great spirit and a lot of experience here. We have got Neil Aspin at the back, Mark Ford and Mark Atkins in midfield and myself up front.

"A few of the other players have stood out as well. James Riordan, the young lad at the back, is a good player, as is Colin Hunter on the left."

Naylor has also signed for York John Smith's Sunday League outfit Marcia and turned out alongside ex-Leeds, Burnley and Darlington midfielder Ford in a 4-0 win over Selby Olympia WMC earlier this season.

He scored twice in that game but local defenders need not have too many sleepless Saturday nights as Naylor does not intend to feature in too many matches on the Sabbath.

"I played for them because I needed match fitness to be honest but I don't think I can play two games in a weekend," he explained.

Since retiring in the summer, Naylor has qualified as a personal trainer and is working with clients at Living Well gym.

He admits that leaving Darlington just after the club moved into the impressive Reynolds Arena was disappointing and, choosing his words carefully, admits that the club's notorious owner was a "funny character".

Naylor spent seven years with Darlington after leaving Bootham Crescent in September 1996 and played with current City coach Lee Nogan at Feethams.

He watched the two teams draw 1-1 this season and admits that he still looks out for the Minstermen's results and admires the job old pal Nogan and player-boss Chris Brass are doing.

Naylor said: "I think they have got a tough job and they are doing all right. I still follow them and my dad still works at the club as the youth development officer.

"I was gutted to leave the club but I was only on a week-to-week contract at the time and Darlington came in and offered me two years."

Naylor rates current City midfielder Darren Dunning highly and names Paul Barnes as the best player he shared a City dressing-room with for his "amazing goal-scoring ability" and "great pace".

He also considered John Ward to be the best manager he worked under at Bootham Crescent, saying: "As a coach, training was always enjoyable under John because every session was different."

GLENN NAYLOR FACT-FILE

Born: Howden, August 11, 1972

Career: Joseph Rowntree and York Schools; Heworth renamed Cliftonville (York Minor League); York City (YTS 1988, professional Feb 1990-Sept 1996), Darlington (loan Oct 1995, Sept 1996- May 2003)

York City League and Cup appearances: 87+42

Goals: 32

Darlington League and Cup appearances: 185+63

Goals: 52

Updated: 10:16 Saturday, November 08, 2003