Homecoming striker Neil Woods is anticipating an uplifting return to the York City ranks.

The 31-year-old frontman passed a medical to finalise his free transfer from Grimsby Town before declaring his promotion aim.

York-born Woods, whose father Alan graced Bootham Crescent in the 1960s, hopes to provide the firepower for a successful break for the First Division.

Surveying the changes instigated at Bootham Crescent since he left as a 16-year-old City junior, Woods revealed re-joining his home town club was "a bit special".

Said Woods: "It is nice to play for your home town club and it is a tremendous move for me."

The striker's final season at Grimsby offered few opportunities in the senior side, with loan spells at Scunthorpe, Wigan and Mansfield the only source of first team football in the latter stages of the campaign.

But his search for a regular role has brought him back to Bootham Crescent.

"Grimsby had a fabulous season and you have got to be sensible and see that when things are going well you are not going to change the team. I have not played a right lot," he said.

"But I feel I can still play for at least four or five years. This club is superb. I have been to see the training ground and the ground here. There is a great improvement from when I was last here.

"I was born and bred in York and used to come and watch when they were in the old second division. I can remember Barry Swallow and Brian Pollard."

However, after playing for the City reserves at the age of 14, the former Clifton Without School pupil headed for Doncaster Rovers.

Manager Graeme Souness paid £120,000 to make Woods part of his Glasgow Rangers revolution in 1986, but snapped ankle ligaments turned his brief stay into a "frustrating" time.

Moves to Ipswich, where he played alongside City player coach Neil Thompson, and Bradford City followed before Woods settled at Grimsby in 1990, a stay which comprised more than 200 appearances.

However, he fell out of favour at Blundell Park following a dispute with manager Alan Buckley over his substitution against Brentford in January.

And now he is seeking success with the Minstermen.

"So far I have had a good career and hopefully it can continue here. York were one of the few teams that went to Grimsby last season and were the better team," said Woods.

"Alan and the board have convinced me they want to play football. The target for the club is to get promotion. I do not set personal targets and whatever I contribute will be good for both parties.

"Every striker has got to weigh in with their fair share of goals and if I can do that it will benefit the team. The main aim is to get promoted and whether that means Neil Woods scoring 30 goals or ten goals is irrelevant as long as York City get promotion.

"I was at Grimsby for eight years. It is a wrench to leave but everything comes to an end. The idea of being a footballer is to play in the first team. If you cannot do that you have got to go somewhere to get that."

Woods declared himself to be more than a mere target man, adding: "I would like to think I am a footballer. I am six foot tall but I like the ball played in to feet and on the floor. I believe that is the way it should be played."

Neil's father Alan made 259 appearances in City's midfield between 1960 and 1966 and Woods junior was looking forward to following in his father's footsteps.

"My father played and he thoroughly enjoyed his stay here. I have got family and friends in York and with it being my home town it is a little bit special," said Woods.

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