TOM Greaves may be player-manager of FC United of Manchester but his first club Bradford Park Avenue, who are Vanarama National North rivals, remain in his heart.

Greaves had two spells at Horsfall Stadium and, after beginning his senior career with Avenue, still sometimes refers to the club as "we" and "us" before remembering he is now a Red.

And not just player-manager but also FC United's all-time leading scorer, having reached three figures.

Greaves said: "I came here (Avenue) at 16 and I still remember my first appearance for the first team.

"Carl Serrant picked me for the game – he was caretaker-manager and was a player-manager, so I've come full circle.

"I think Karl Shutt took over that summer. We were in Conference North back then, when we were founder members.

"I loved every minute of it – Park Avenue have always been special for me. It was my first proper club and I went back for a second spell. John Deacey brought me back and we had a good few seasons.

"That's when we won that play-off final and got promoted back to Conference North, which has changed to National North now.

"I scored the goal in injury time; a last-minute winner. I've always enjoyed that feeling and I've made a bit of a habit of it over the years.

"I've enjoyed playing for all the clubs – Bradford, Bridlington Town on loan, Ossett, Garforth and the few clubs that I had a couple of games for. I had a lot of help from Ash Berry when I was a young player and that set me up, really.

"Even though I'm a manager, I still want to play, so there are still some chapters to write before I finally hang my boots up. I never set any targets when I started out, so it was open ended and I'm still going.

"I realised late in my teens that I wouldn't make it in the Football League but I thought I was still good enough to be a footballer, to get paid for doing what I love, so I'm proud to have achieved what I have so far."

It is a twist of fate that Greaves is now paid by the club he scored the most memorable goal of his career against. FC United were the club Avenue beat in that play-off final in which Greaves was the home hero as his name rang out around Horsfall.

"They still mention that goal (the FC United fans, his team-mates and his employers) even though I've scored a hundred goals for this club," he said.

"At the time it was as good as it was going to get for me, that feeling of scoring the winner. I think all but one or two (at FC United) have forgiven me for it by now."