STAFFORD Rangers veteran Neil Grayson will be hoping to extend an amazing run against his home-town club when he arrives at KitKat Crescent tonight.

Grayson, who was born in Tang Hall, has won all four matches he has played as a visiting player against the Minstermen in a run spanning 15 years.

The 41-year-old frontman has also scored three goals in those matches, including a brace in a 2-0 win for Cheltenham Town in August 2000.

Grayson first tasted victory in York during a 1-0 Division Four triumph for Chesterfield in September 1991.

He then netted in a 2-1 victory for Cheltenham in December 1999, claimed his double-strike the following season and was a member of the Robins side that won 3-1 on his last trip to Bootham in December 2001.

In total, Grayson has only finished on the losing side in one of his eight contests - home and away - against City and, the last time he played the Minstermen, the 5ft 10in forward helped Cheltenham to a 4-0 win in March 2002.

Grayson is not expecting a similar outcome tonight but admitted he enjoys his trips back home, saying: "I've always done okay and it's nice to keep getting opportunities to play there as I didn't really get that chance when I lived in the area. It's a lovely little club and city and my parents, brother and sister still live in the area."

Having been spotted playing for current Tadcaster Albion manager Jim Collis' Rowntree Mackintosh side in the Northern Counties East League, Grayson made his first appearance for a professional club at the age of 25 when he signed on a part-time basis for Doncaster Rovers.

He then joined City, where he had previously played for the schoolboys, on similar terms in March 1991 but his first-team chances were restricted to a brief outing as a substitute at Aldershot.

The former New Earswick and Dringhouses striker went on to play for Chesterfield, Northampton, Hereford, Cheltenham and Forest Green, commanding £40,000 in transfer fees, before helping Stafford clinch promotion to the Conference via the play-offs last season.

Of his short spell at City under John Bird, Grayson said: "It would have been nice to play more but it was at a time when I had just started out in professional football. If I knew then what I know now, I might have made more of a go of it but things were a bit tight at the club and I don't think they could afford somebody on their books to train up. Fortunately, Chesterfield came in from me."

Grayson will turn 42 in November but has been delighted by part-time Stafford's start to the season with ten points from a possible 15.

He is currently combining playing with working in a double glazing factory but has not even considered hanging up his boots yet. "I enjoy football too much to think about retiring and I will keep going for as long as my legs can carry me.

"We lost for the first time this season on Monday (3-0 to Aldershot) but we were better than that score suggests and we have been pleased with the start we have made."