TOWN legend Andy Booth would like nothing more than to reward the fans with a promotion this season.
Having gone up and gone close in the last two seasons, the 31-year-old striker has more success in mind at the Galpharm.
Booth was back in the starting line-up for the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Blackburn, where a travelling army of 4,986 raised the roof in Town's cause.
And Booth is now even more detemined to build up his match fitness and help Town maintain their challenge at the summit of League I so the supporters can have a real party come May.
"The fans were unbelievable the other night and, hopefully, we can give them something back at the end of the season," said Booth, who snatched a dramatic late winner as a sub in last Saturday's 3-2 home win against Brentford.
"They have given us brilliant backing in all our games so far but Wednesday night at Ewood Park was something special.
"It was particularly good because it was such a big test for the lads.
"We were up against good Premiership opposition on their own patch and it gives the young lads in the squad something to aim for in their careers."
Booth, of course, was lucky enough to play in the top flight with Sheffield Wednesday and, on loan, Tottenham, and he added:
"We were playing against some very, very good players and I don't think we were disgraced.
"Everyone came away with their heads held high and it was great experience for the younger lads.
"John McCombe, for instance, did ever so well against Craig Bellamy and Paul Dickov and all the lads will learn from the game.
"There are quite a few young lads at our club who could play at that level and they've got a great chance of having a good career in the game.
"I'm not going to name them, but I know some of them have got a great chance.
"You do get better when you are playing alongside and against players who are better and, in the Premiership, that means every day. It does get easier and you sometimes find they tend to give you time on the ball, which is why I was a bit surprised by how quickly Blackburn harassed us the other night."
Booth is not ready to get carried away with Town's fine start to the campaign, but he feels encouraged to be joint top of the table and will use all his experience to help Peter Jackson's side stay there.
"When you are going well like we are at the top, it just gives all the opposition sides more of a reason to try and knock you off your perch," he said.
"It means we've got some tough battles ahead against Colchester and then Tranmere and Bournemouth at home next week, but we are up to the task.
"We just have to focus on each game in turn and be strong in taking the points we need to stay at the top."
On his own fitness after a month on the sidelines suffering a hamstring injury, Booth added: "I feel great, touch wood.
"I wasn't expecting to be in the starting line-up when the gaffer announced the team for the Cup-tie, but it was great to be back and involved.
"I got 80 minutes under my belt and it's a matter of building up from there. The more games I play the better I'll get."
So how disappointed was he to crash out of the Carling Cup to a 3-1 scoreline?
"We were playing a very good side," he explained.
"The instructions were simply to enjoy ourselves, to play our football and to make sure we didn't come off the pitch at the end thinking we could have done better. I think we did that and it's encouraging as the League season is now about to take shape with three more games in eight days to add to the ones we've already had.
"Like I said at the beginning, with the fans right behind us like they were the other night it's going to be a massive help and I really do think we can do well."
