ANDY BOOTH hailed the 7,142 fans who made his testimonial match a night to remember and pledged: "I'll reward you by helping Town win promotion."
The 32-year-old striker was unable to mark the occasion with a goal against Real Sociedad, but says holding the Spanish top-flight side 0-0 is a sure sign that Peter Jackson's team can mount a genuine League I promotion challenge.
"It would be a dream come true if I could mark my testimonial season by helping Town win a place in the Championship," said Huddersfield-born Booth.
"The fans have been absolutely brilliant to me in both my spells at this club, and to see so many people from my home town turn out was something special.
"It really does mean a lot to me, and I'd love to see their loyalty both to myself and the club repaid.
"We've all come back fit and strong, we had a great week's work out in Ibiza, and we're all looking forward to the opener down at Gillingham on Saturday week.
"We came so close to going up last year, only to fall in the play-offs, and it's up to us to make sure we do it this time. I think it's going to be a big season."
While Jon Worthington was yellow carded by Premiership referee Mike Riley for a late tackle last night, Booth played 87 minutes of a match in which Jackson used six substitutes and Sociedad nine.
"The fact that they had so many fresh legs in the second half meant we had to work all the harder to keep them at bay, and I think this game was great preparation for us," added Booth. "We've got competition for places as well, and while Luke Beckett and myself started last night's match, with people live Pawel Abbott and Jon McAliskey around, I'm going to have to keep on my toes."
Jackson is set to rest most of those involved last night when Town travel to Ossett Albion tomorrow (7.30).
