YORK City new signing Ben Gibson is targeting another Wembley victory parade having already enjoyed a lap of honour at the world-famous stadium during his fledgling career.

Gibson, 19, was a member of the England European Under-17 Championship-winning squad whose success was applauded under the arch at a later Three Lions full international.

Now, the on-loan Middlesbrough defender has two return visits to the historic London venue in his sights.

Having earned man-of-the-match honours on his debut for the Minstermen in Saturday’s 2-1 home victory over Stockport, Gibson will be hoping to boost his new team’s Wembley challenge on two fronts during the next four days.

First up, City entertain play-off rivals Gateshead in the Blue Square Bet Premier tomorrow night (7.30pm kick-off) before travelling to face Grimsby in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy on Saturday.

On the prospect of two season-ending finals at the national stadium, Gibson said: “Playing at Wembley would appeal to any footballer.

“That’s always your dream growing up and we’ve got two opportunities to go there. That’s really exciting but we’ve got to make sure we get there first.

“I’ve never played there but I was fortunate enough to walk around the pitch at the England friendly against Bulgaria just after the World Cup. We had just become the first England team to win the European Under-17 Championship and everyone recognised what a good achievement that was.

“It was a good gesture from the FA to let us do that and I had a good look around to take it all in. When you do that, you see how big the stadium is and what it’s like with fans packed in there. Everyone aspires to play and win there.”

Gibson was made to wait for his first City match having been ruled out of the twice-postponed Trophy third round win over Ebbsfleet because he signed after the original date for the third round tie.

But he was preferred to James Meredith at left-back against Stockport and is hoping to retain his league place before getting a chance to be involved in City’s bid for Trophy glory at the last eight stage.

“It was frustrating not to play against Ebbsfleet,” he added.

“I did not know until the morning before the game and I was all ready to go so, when the gaffer told me, my heart sank.

“But it was good to see the boys get a win and a clean sheet and I hope we can carry on from there.”

Gibson spent the first four months of this season with League Two strugglers Plymouth before being called back from his loan spell by Middlesbrough.

A period in the Championship side’s reserves followed before Boro boss Tony Mowbray agreed another loan move to Bootham Crescent would be in his best interests.

Gibson added: “We had a chat at the start of the season and the manager said it would be good for me to go out and play first-team games. I went to Plymouth for four months then came back and had a bit of reserve football.

“Along with the manager, we then both agreed going to York would be a good move for me. The way I’ve been brought up at Middlesbrough is to pass the ball.

“Sometimes, you can over-do that and there is a time to go longer but I think the style of football the manager likes to play here helps me fit into the side.

“We made hard work of Saturday’s win to be honest and did not get the ball down and play the way we like to.

“But the conditions did not help. The wind and pitch dictated what happened a bit but the most important thing is we went on to get the all important three points.”

On swapping a relegation dogfight and off-pitch financial problems for a double glory bid, Gibson said: “Plymouth were in administration when I was there so they had a limited squad.

“There were a lot of young boys who arguably would not have been playing in other circumstances. The squad here is bigger, more experienced and talented although Plymouth are sorting that out now.

“I know being fairly local to York that the club is a bit of a sleeping giant. They are definitely a Football League club who shouldn’t be in non-League football.

“Hopefully, if we go on a good run of results, we will be able to sort that out.”