IAN BROWN has signed for York City Knights because he wants to finish his career on a high note.

As revealed by The Press, the much-travelled centre has penned a one-year deal with the Knights to bring his career full circle, having begun at Huntington Stadium with York Wasps reserves back in 1997.

He has little to show for his nine seasons in the semi-pro game - but is eager for that to change.

"I'm getting towards the end of my career and I want to end on a high, and I can see York doing something next year," said the 32-year-old, who hails from Sherburn-in-Elmet.

"I've played a decade and the only thing I've won is the Lazenby Cup (the annual pre-season challenge between Hunslet and Leeds Rhinos) last year.

"I want to look back and say I've won something, and with the team York have got, they've a good chance of winning National League Two or the play-offs."

As for personal aims, he added: "Getting in the team is my first priority and I want to play well week in, week out. You always want to be in things like Team of the Month and score tries and I want to get in the Team of the Year, and just do the best I can."

He also stressed he was still keen to improve.

"Mick Cook's a good coach, and I'm still wanting to learn," he said.

"I've had some good coaches, like Mark Aston at Sheffield and Graham Steadman at Cas. You always want to take things away from training, no matter how old you are."

Brown already knows a few of the squad.

"There are some very good players at York," he said. "I played with Scott Rhodes at Sheffield and I know Jim Elston well.

"York signed Hunslet's best player last year - Jamaine Wray - and George Rayner has come as well."

Brown also knows the city. His girlfriend lives here, while he began his career at the Wasps when Dean Robinson was in charge.

He explained: "I played in the second team under Brian Kellett. I joined half-way through the season and played ten or 11 games.

"I was asked to play for the first team in the play-offs but by then I was going on holiday and when I came back the season had finished."

Brown then played for Castleford's reserves, before enjoying three good years at Sheffield.

He then had a spell at boyhood heroes Featherstone, a year at Gateshead, where he doubled up as the club's conditioner under York-based head coach Dean Thomas, and lastly a year at Hunslet.

He sees two of those teams as key rivals to York next year.

"Featherstone will be good and I think Gateshead might be up there, especially if they get Dave Woods in as coach."

Former Cas boss Woods is the favourite to replace Thomas, who has joined Salford as conditioner.

Brown added: "We did fairly well when I was there. Gateshead had won about four games in four years before that season, and we reached the play-offs. They were in the play-offs again this year and Woods will fetch some good players in."