Town legend Andy Booth is aiming to finish his playing career on a high note by scoring his 150th Town goal at Leyton Orient on Saturday.
The 35-year old target man netted his 149th strike in the famous blue and white stripes during the 2-2 draw with Brighton at the weekend and told htafc.com that reaching the milestone would be a tremendous way to round off his near 20-year career.
"It would be nice to finish off by getting a goal at Leyton Orient, but I couldn't have asked for anything else on Saturday - it was a fantastic day," Andy explained.
"The Brighton game was really my send-off, but I am a professional and I will pick myself up for Saturday. It should be a good game down there and we will be looking for the win. We had a good night on Saturday and we have the Golf Day today, but then it will be back down to business and we will give it our all at Orient."
Saturday's game was an emotionally charged one for Booth and Town fans alike as the striker made his final appearance on home turf. He could have reached the 150 goal mark on the day after opening the scoring; however, Brighton goalkeeper Michel Kuipers had other ideas and pulled off two stunning saves to deny the Town legend.
"For me to get the first goal, it couldn't have been any better and although the Brighton 'keeper pulled off a couple of great saves from me later in the game, if somebody had offered me one goal before the match I would have snapped their hands off! I enjoyed every minute of it.
"We knew that Brighton wouldn't come here and let us walk all over them as they had a lot to play for. I think they are a good time and I can't figure out why they are near the bottom of the table. It was a good game and I think Brighton played their part in it."
Town's record goalscorer George 'Bomber' Brown netted an impressive 159 Town goals between 1921 and 1929 but had Boothy managed more than his 8 starts this season he may have topped that tally.
"If I had managed to play thirty or forty games this season, you never know! I've scored quite a few in the recent games, but I have always felt that George Brown's record was just too far away for me. If I can get to 150 this weekend I will be very, very happy.
"I struggled with my back at the beginning of the season and I had a few injections before I had the operation. Looking back, if I had undergone the operation straight away I may have been back before Christmas but we didn't know that at the time. When you are knocking on a bit it takes a bit longer to get your fitness back, but the Gaffer gave me as much time as I needed to regain my fitness and then put me straight back into the squad.
"I am happy that I can finish my career on a high and it would be nice to get another goal this weekend. My mind was made up quite a few months ago and my aim then was to get back into the squad for the final ten games of the season, which I have managed to do.
"I will be 'suited and booted' next season - there will be no more football kit for me! I don't know how I'll manage to work from 9am until 5pm, but I am looking forward to it. I have had a fantastic playing career but it had to come to an end someday and I am looking forward to my new role and to getting out into the community.
"I'll be registered as a player for next season, but it will take a dire emergency for me to put my boots on again! I'm here just in case, but I will be very surprised. It will be a good motivational factor for me to keep my fitness up."
As ever, the ultra-modest Booth reserved his final word for the fans and urged them to back Lee Clark's side in numbers in the upcoming 09/10 campaign.
"As I said to them after the game, the fans have been fantastic with me ever since I made my debut and it makes my job a lot easier when they are so behind me. It's not just me either - I know that all the lads here really appreciate their support and I hope that the fans will continue to get behind the boys next year.
"We have the makings of a good team and a fantastic squad, but we do need a few more players and the Gaffer will bring them in. We need somebody who can score us 20-25 goals per season, but that might be the only ingredient that is missing because the midfielders here will always chip in with goals. Those strikers are not easy to find, but the Gaffer is looking and I have ultimate faith in him to bring in the right man."
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