By Pete Oliver

Grayson has no plans to hang up his boots just yet

At 42 years of age, indefatigable striker Neil Grayson is winding himself up for another season of penalty area plundering.

Leading scorer once again for Stafford Rangers last season, Grayson gave no thought to hanging up his boots.

"As long as I am feeling okay and doing justice to myself and the team I will keep going," he told BBC Sport.

"What else is there to do on a Saturday afternoon? Certainly nothing as good as playing football."

The oldest outfield player at Conference level and above, Grayson is 18 months senior to celebrated golden oldie, Colchester new boy Teddy Sheringham.

And his longevity is even more impressive given that he must combine playing with his job working in a Derby double-glazing factory.

From there he travels to midweek matches and twice-weekly training sessions with Stafford, starting work at six o'clock on a Monday morning to make training at four that afternoon.

I have been fortunate to be popular Neil Grayson

"It's a sacrifice I am quite prepared to make to keep playing at this level," Grayson said.

"I'm not as quick as I used to be and I probably read the game a bit better, so sub-consciously I have probably changed.

"But there's no special secret to keeping on going. Fortunately I am naturally quite fit and really it's just the love of the game."

York-born Grayson started out in non-league with hometown team Rowntree McIntosh before Doncaster, York and Chesterfield, where he now lives, gave him a chance in the professional ranks.

That did not last but after spells with Gateshead and Boston United he earned a second bite at the cherry and this time he really made his mark.

He enjoyed promotion success with both Northampton and Cheltenham Town, either side of a short stay at Hereford, and was so well liked at Whaddon Road that he was named as Cheltenham's all-time 'Cult Hero' by viewers of BBC TV's Football Focus.

To still be playing at this level is a great feeling and when you score it still feels just like the first time Neil Grayson

"I have been fortunate to be popular, which makes it a bit easier if you're having a bad time," Grayson said.

"I have not been the best footballer on the books but people have seen that I have always given everything and I think they appreciate that."

Grayson's bravery and eye for goal also contributed to his favouritism and neither has diminished as he approaches his 43rd birthday.

"When you start out you want to make a go of it," he added.

"You look a bit to the future but not as far as I have managed to keep playing.

"To still be playing at this level is a great feeling and when you score it still feels just like the first time."

Forest Green Rovers were the next to benefit from Grayson's goal touch when he dropped out of the League in 2002, and after almost two years at The Lawn he moved north again to Stafford.

What else is there to do on a Saturday afternoon? Certainly nothing as good as playing football Neil Grayson

At the time they were playing in the Southern League but Grayson was not looking to wind down and after a move into the new Conference North, he helped Rangers secure promotion via the play-offs to the Conference at the second attempt in 2006.

"That was the idea, to get promoted to the Conference," he said.

"I wanted to keep playing at as a high level as I can and to go up was just brilliant.

"It's tough playing against full-time teams when you train just twice a week but we work for each other and work well as a unit.

"We only stayed up on the last day last season but at worst that was the position we were aiming for and we got there.

"I think we were the only part-time team to stay up (Altrincham also survived thanks to Boston's double demotion) and we will be looking to build on that this season and kick on.

"The lads that are still here know what it's about now and are a bit more aware of what's required."

Grayson passed 50 goals for Stafford with a double at Exeter last October and he is certain to be a key figure again for manager Phil Robinson this season alongside team-mates who are young enough to be his sons.

As long as I am feeling okay and doing justice to myself and the team I will keep going Neil Grayson

"They look up to me in one sentence and then in the next they are dragging me down! You know what it's like in football and I wouldn't want to be treated any different," he added.

"Some of the young lads come and ask for me for a bit of advice and I'm always willing to help them with a few points in training and try and guide them.

"If they are getting frustrated at not getting opportunities or at what they're achieving I tell them they have plenty of time and to keep working at it."

Grayson has not held back in pre-season and after playing against some of Derby's Premiership players in Stafford's recent pre-season friendly, will not let his own standards drop as he continues to defy the march of time.

"I don't set targets but I will try and improve on last season. Thirteen goals was a bit down on recent years so I will try and build that back up," he said.