CRAWLEY will not need any extra incentive to beat York City and take a step closer to the Football League tonight.

Reds are six points from making history and could even go up if they win AND Luton lose at home to Kettering.

But striker Richard Brodie makes an emotional return to his former club desperate to get the goal that secures Reds’ place in the big time.

Brodie left York in August for a Conference record fee of £275,000 after scoring 53 goals in 135 appearances over three years. Last season he scored 34 goals, the most by a York player since 1955, and was joint top scorer in the league along with Reds’ team-mate Matt Tubbs.

The form of Tubbs, who has 34 goals, and Craig McAllister, means the 23-year-old has only started 20 of Reds’ 39 league games this season but he has still scored ten goals, including the winner in his last start away from home at Fleetwood three weeks ago.

Brodie has no regrets about leaving York, some of whose fans accused him of moving purely for financial reasons last summer.

He said: “It was the right decision in my eyes and I think that is backed up by where we are in the league.

“A lot of fans might think that I went for the money but that wasn’t the case at all. Everyone who has a job will know that if they get the chance to better themselves in any walk of life then they will do that.

“I think I’m tenth in the all-time list of scorers for York so I don’t think the fans can really knock the time I had there. I gave 120 per cent every time I went on the pitch and I hope I get a decent reception.

“I’m excited about going back. York was really my only club but the time was right to move and this was the right place to move.

“It is a great club up there, friendly people and wonderful supporters. They have an outside chance of nicking a play-off spot and I really hope they do.”

The scene is set for Brodie to score the goal that takes Reds into the big time against his former club but he will just be happy when the job is completed.

“If we sealed promotion on the night it would make it even more special but it doesn’t matter when we do it as long as we get there,” he added.

Steve Evans may freshen up his line-up and could have skipper Pablo Mills available after missing two games with a twisted ankle. Brodie may return up front alongside Tubbs.

York City (from): Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, Chris Smith, Meredith, Jonathan Smith, Boucaud, Mackin, Chambers, Rankine, Reed, Till, McDermott, Darville, Barrett, Constantine.

Crawley (from): Shearer, Hunt, McFadzean, Wassmer, Howell, Simpson, Smith, Bulman, Torres, Tubbs, Brodie, Wilson, Rusk, McAllister, Gibson, Mills, Jordan, Cook.