BIG Iffy Onuora wore a Town shirt for the first time in 10 years today and immediately set sights on putting one painful record straight.
The 36-year-old transfer deadline signing - who will be on the bench in tomorrow's crunch clash against Swansea at the McAlpine (3.00) - was a play-off loser in 1992 against Peterborough at Leeds Road.
That memory has stayed with him through an eight-club career - Town are his fifth club of this season! - and he is eager to win promotion to balance the books now that he has returned to the club where it all began so eventfully for him 15 years ago.
"I honestly couldn't have seen myself signing for any other club in the Third Division, the fans and the manager were a big influence and promotion is the aim," said Onuora, who is Peter Jackson's 15th signing in 273 days at the club.
"I'm really looking forward to playing for Town again in the new stadium, the Division III table makes it all the more exciting and, hopefully, we can start as we mean to go on against Swansea tomorrow."
Onuora, who will wear No14, takes the place of Jon Newby, who has joined York City on a month's loan and who can still influence Town's prospects as they play Yeovil, Doncaster and Swansea before the end of the campaign. Jackson insists Newby remains part of Town's long-term planning.
Onuora - who joins fellow new face Gary Harkins (Blackburn) in the squad - made his League debut, coincidentally, against Swansea in 1989 and netted 40 goals for Town in 211 senior appearances before signing for Mansfield in 1994.
A Wembley play-off winner with Gillingham, he suffered a snapped Achilles at Sheffield United in 2002 and, this season, played on loan for Wycombe and Grimsby before leaving Bramall Lane for Tranmere.
"I'm older, wiser and probably a bit slower than when I last played for Town, but I think the supporters appreciate I always give 100% and, if I can get some goals and help the club go up, that would be a fantastic way to continue my career because I don't intend hanging my boots up for a few years yet," added Onuora.
Jackson is delighted to have signed one of his best mates, especially having missed out on Swansea's Lenny Johnrose, who had talks at the McAlpine yesterday afternoon before opting to take a bigger cash offer to return to his former club, First Division strugglers Burnley.
"It's great to have Iffy back," said Jackson. "His strength and pace will be a big bonus and he is capable of causing mayhem in any opposition defence, which is what we want.
"I'm excited, and I think the fans will give him and Gary Harkins, who looks very useful, a big reception.
"I reckon six wins out of nine will take us up and with a crowd of 13,000-plus getting right behind us tomorrow, I'm very hopeful of taking three points in a massive game."
Swansea signed defenders Matt Rees (Millwall) and Lee Fieldwick (Brentford) yesterday.
* Town's Lee Fowler had a successful ankle operation yesterday.
Town - (from): Rachubka, Holdsworth, Lloyd, Yates, Sodje, Mirfin, Worthington, Schofield, Carss, Booth, Abbott, Senior, Scott, Edwards, Onuora, McAliskey, Harkins, Mattis.
Swansea - (from): Freestone, Byrne, Tate, Jones, Coates, Maylett, Martinez, Britton, Roberts, Connor, Robinson, Trundle, O'Leary, Pritchard, Thomas, Connolly, Corbisiero, Rees, Fieldwick.
Referee - Roy Pearson (Co Durham).
