DAN Parslow will break into York City’s top-ten all-time appearances list following his next game for the club and will then target more landmark achievements.

The 32-year-old defender is set to move level on 380 games with 1955 FA Cup semi-final hero Billy Hughes, meaning only Barry Jackson (539), Andy McMillan (494), Chris Topping (463), Wayne Hall (438), Gary Ford (435), Tommy Forgan (428), Tony Canham (413), Norman Wilkinson (401) and Phil Burrows (390) will lie ahead of him on the prestigious City roll of honour.

By the end of the campaign, he could feasibly climb up to sixth spot and break the 400-match barrier that only eight players have bettered during the 96-year history of the club.

On his pending accomplishment, Parslow confessed: “I will look on it as a great achievement. I’ve been fortunate to play here for many, many years and to still be at this club enjoying my football.

“I will be extremely proud to join that top-ten bracket. Hopefully I can get that appearance sooner rather than later and, then, make many more and reach other milestones.”

With nobody having played more games at Bootham Crescent this century than Parslow, the former Wales under-21 international admitted that playing this season’s final campaign at the 1930s’ venue will be an emotional experience, although he hopes to be among the first group of players that run out at the new Community Stadium in Monks Cross in 12 months’ time.

“This is where I have spent the majority of my professional career and where I made my professional debut, so I’ll miss the place,” Parslow declared. “But it’s an exciting time for the club moving forward to a new stadium and it would be great if I can be a part of that.”

Parslow has been a member of various back three and four line-ups during two spells with the Minstermen.

Following last term’s employment of a wing-back system for long periods, manager Martin Gray’s stated preference for 4-4-2 during 2018/19 has received the backing of the former two-time Press Player of the Year.

“When you’re growing up, most teams play 4-4-2 and it’s always predominantly been the main formation,” Parslow reasoned. “Everyone will have played it and it’s a system the manager has always liked.

“We’ve worked hard on the training pitch to drill everyone on their roles and our patterns of play, so everyone can perform to their best in games.”

With Gray keen to improve a clean sheet record of just three in his 32 matches as City chief, Parslow believes the key to racking up more shut-outs might rest on bolstering the team’s defensive discipline in midfield, where he reckons the return of Russ Penn could prove significant.

“I wouldn’t say playing a back four makes you more solid than if you line up as a three, because players make formations work and it’s all about taking information on board and performing,” the former National League title winner explained.

“Whether you have a back four or three, it helps if you have a midfield structure to put out fires further up the pitch. If you have that bit more rigidity and structure, it can only help the defensive unit and I think Russ (Penn) will bring that.

“You know what you’re getting with him – he’ll try and sit in there and control the game by keeping things ticking over nicely and, maybe, we missed that last season. He’ll be a really good addition and he has been here before, so it’s like he’s never been away really.

“He’s one of those players who wears his heart on his sleeve and is very committed.”

Opening-day opponents Chorley, meanwhile, will include two more familiar faces for Parslow with ex-Minstermen attackers Louis Almond and Wes Fletcher both new recruits for the Lancashire outfit.

On City’s first challenge, Parslow said: “We went there last season and didn’t do very well (City lost 2-0 at Victory Park last September). They have since recruited very well with Louis going there and we know what he’s all about from having him with us last season.

“In Wes, they’ve also signed another forward who had a good couple of years here, so we will expect them to be strong. There really are no gimmes in this league if you look at the teams who have come up.

“Chorley made the play-offs last season and were strong and organised, so we know how difficult it will be. We’ve just got to turn up ready for them having done all our preparation in pre-season.”

With City one of nine former Football League clubs from the 22 plying their trade in National League North this term, alongside Boston United, Bradford Park Avenue, Chester, Darlington, Hereford, Kidderminster, Southport and Stockport, Parslow also feels there could be a number of sides realistically targeting the division’s reaches.

“Hereford are obviously flying,” he pointed out. “Yes, it’s another step up for them, but the momentum they have got and fan base means you’d expect them to be really strong.

“Then, there are teams that didn’t do so well last season, ourselves included, who will be looking to improve and Kidderminster will be very strong again too. The football they play is always pleasing on the eye, so there are so many potential challengers, but we must just focus on ourselves.”