WEMBLEY and Hong Kong were both stopping-points during Ian Blackstone's hey-day as a no-nonsense striker.

But Harrogate Railway's homely Station View ground is where it all started 20 years ago for the former York City favourite and it is also likely to be the last destination on his colourful football playing journey.

Blackstone, now 39, has joined Railway's new boss Martin Haresign and will combine scoring goals with coaching duties at the Northern Counties East League outfit.

He got off the mark on his debut by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 defeat of Goole and believes he can carry on playing for another couple of seasons.

He said: "I'm still not in bad nick and think I can play for another two years. I always said I would play at a reasonable standard until I was 40 and I will do but then I'll have to see what the wife says.

"My debut was hard work because we set our stall out for a point really and myself and James Featherstone, who is a lot younger than me, were left up front to run our socks off.

"Luckily, we nicked a goal and got away with all three points when we perhaps didn't deserve them.

"I suppose I've gone full circle because I started out at Railway. They have not had the best start to the season but hopefully we can improve on that."

Blackstone has been appointed Haresign's assistant at Station View and he is looking forward to his first coaching role, saying: "It's never really something I had thought about. I just wanted to carry on playing for as long as possible and then think about it when I finished.

"But people said I should do it and when 'Haresie' asked me to join him the day after he was offered the Railway job I decided to say yes. I don't really know about going into management.

"I'll just cut my teeth with 'Haresie' and see how it goes."

Blackstone is currently a production manager for a Harrogate engineering company and still lives in the town.

He arrived at Bootham Crescent in 1990 from Halifax at the age of 25 with no Football League experience but went on to enjoy four successful seasons, becoming a fans favourite and playing under the Twin Towers for City's 1993 play-off winning team.

A season at Scarborough then followed but he also spent three months on loan in Hong Kong and still has fond memories of his time in the Far East, saying: "It was about Conference standard but the life style was fantastic. We only trained for an hour a day and the money was good but there was no chance of a permanent transfer because I went out there without my wife and kids."

Blackstone returned to England with Southport and then moved on to Chorley before linking up with Haresign at Farsley for two spells either side of a Unibond League first division promotion-winning campaign at Harrogate Town.

His days with City remain his happiest as a footballer and he has vowed to return to Bootham Crescent when he finally hangs up his boots.

He said: "They were my best footballing days and it was two great years when we got to Wembley and the Division Two play-offs. Wembley was a great day out and there was a coach load of my family there.

"I was a late starter at 25 but I have always played the best standard that people have asked me to. I was not sure about going into professional football because my wife had just had a baby but she told me to do it and I'm glad I did because it was the best decision I have ever made.

"I still keep in touch with a few of the boys and I went to Tony Canham's silver anniversary last month, when I met up with Nigel Pepper, Andy McMillan and Wayne Hall. Glenn Naylor's also still playing and scoring for Harrogate Town.

"The only reason I left York was because the manager at Scarborough was Billy Ayre. He was a great lad who gave me my first real break at Halifax.

"In the last year of my contract at York, it was also clear that Alan Little was not bothered whether I stayed or went and in that situation you go. I still follow York and look out for their results.

"I don't get to too many games because I'm still playing but when I finish I will be there all the time."

One player Blackstone could be watching in the future at Bootham Crescent is former Harrogate Town team-mate David Merris.

Like Blackstone, City's left wing-back Merris has graduated to the professional game in his 20s after playing non-league football in Harrogate and Railway's new assistant manager thinks he can be just as popular in Minstermen colours, saying: "He's fit enough and keen enough to be successful and his parents are also lovely people."

Blackstone will also be hoping to pass on some of the coaching knowledge he acquired during his four seasons at City during his time with Railway.

He said: "I picked up a lot from certain coaches and John Ward was the best I ever worked under. His man management and coaching on the training ground were excellent.

"His sessions were the best and he knew how to deal with the players."

Blackstone has played for Haresign during the last three seasons at Farsley Celtic and is full of admiration for the new Railway boss, saying: "He's a great motivator and very passionate.

"I've always scored goals for him and get on with him really well. I'm glad he asked me to come but I'm not sure I would have gone if 'Haresie' was not here.

"I felt sorry for the previous managerial team because I know John Francis and he's probably one of the best coaches about in non-league football. But it can be more about contacts and the players you know at this level.

"We have recruited some of the Farsley lads who will do well at this level but the previous manager has also been unlucky in that our arrival coincided with the return of three old Railway players."

FACT FILE

Ian Kenneth Blackstone

Born: August 7, 1964

York City career: 1990-1994

City League appearances: 107+22

City League goals: 37

City cup and play-off appearances: 17+2

City cup goals: 5

Total appearances: 124+24

Total goals: 42

Debut: Chesterfield (a) October 2, 1990, Division Four, 2-2

Last game: Stockport County (a), 18 May, 1994, Division Two play-off semi-final, 0-1

Other clubs: Harrogate Railway, Accrington Stanley, Harrogate Town, Scarborough, Southport, Chorley, Guiseley, Farsley Celtic.

Updated: 10:59 Saturday, October 18, 2003