BRETT Ormerod is gunning for a unique hat-trick after cheering Stanley onto their Conference goal.
Former Crown Ground favourite Ormerod was cock-a-hoop after hearing that John Coleman's side had romped to the Unibond League title 24 hours before his own FA Cup semi-final goalscoring heroics for Southampton.
Now Ormerod is desperate to repeat the feat in May at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium - and dedicate an FA Cup Final winner to Stanley chairman Eric Whalley.
The Accrington-born striker said: "It was a double celebration for me after the semi-final against Watford when my dad came up and told me Stanley had achieved promotion.
"My dad sends me the Observer religiously every week so I have kept a close eye all season on how they've been doing.
"It's fantastic news for the town and I'm thrilled to bits for everyone connected with the club - especially Eric.
"In many ways, he IS Mr Accrington Stanley and ever since he arrived at the club he's never stopped talking about getting the club into the Conference.
"But to be fair to him, that's exactly what he's gone and done. He's already told me he will be coming down to cheer me on at Cardiff and if I score the winner he can take the credit because I've not done bad for an Accy lad!"
Ormerod became a true Stanley legend thanks to a stunning tally of 32 goals in just 40 starts between 1995 and 1997, before his prolific return attracted the attentions of Blackpool.
But the 26-year-old - now settled on the south coast and due to get married a fortnight after the FA Cup Final - still recalls his halcyon non-league days with affection.
He said: "I was released in the summer of 1995 and Stanley asked me to come down and train with them.
"It wasn't as though I was intending to sign but after pre-season I enjoyed it and signed on.
"Eric negotiated a £40-per-week wage and anyone who knows Eric will tell you what a hard bargain he drives.
"In fact, if he had pushed me any harder, I would have ended up paying him! That's how tight he is with his money!
"But seriously, I was there over a year-and-a-half and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my time there.
"I believe that moving to Southampton later in my career even earned them a nice little sell-on fee - and when they build their new stand Eric has already joked that he's going to call it the Brett Ormerod Stand!"
Ormerod, whose parents still live in Accrington, added: "Stanley fully deserve their chance in the Conference and who knows what might happen now.
"Macclesfield came straight though to Division Two after joining the league and Rushden and Diamonds have shown you can survive at a higher level if you really want it badly enough.
"I'm sure there are some good teams in the Conference,but Stanley have a good base to work from and hopefully they can do well.
"It's only one tantalising step away from a Football League return and that would start the mother of all parties in Accrington."
