DESPITE being a popular salesman, Mark Yates would have struggled to convince himself that he would back on the brink of Second Division football.

Just three years ago, the former Burnley player had been forced to turn semi-professional with Cheltenham and was working as a salesman in a printing works.

He had failed to make a success of two seasons at Turf Moor and had slid down the football pyramid with Doncaster and Kidderminster before landing at Whaddon Road.

The skipper is now on the brink of returning to the level he was at when he left Burnley but first he has to help his side defeat Rushden and Diamonds at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium today.

"When I was working as a salesman I would never have expected this," said the 32-year-old.

"I had dropped out of the Football League and I guess I didn't have the same ambition, although perhaps that is not the right word.

"I was still ambitious to do well but I thought I would never get a chance to get back into the league.

"But since I have moved to Cheltenham it has been an upward curve and it has been fantastic."

The Robins secured their place at Cardiff by defeating Hartlepool on Tuesday night in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after it was level at 1-1.

Yates - the regular penalty taker - held his nerve to score number three as the Pool lost 5-4 in sudden death.

"When I was walking up to take it, I think my mum and dad and wife in the stand were more nervous me.

"I was confident as I knew where I was going to put the ball but I can't tell you which way I took it, just in case I have to take another!"

He admitted to feeling gutted for Pool's Ritchie Humphrey's who missed the decisive spot kick.

"I had marked him for the games so I went up to console him at the end. He didn't lose it for them.

"I shook his hands, I felt so sorry for him but we couldn't really celebrate either - we haven't won anything yet."

It is a far cry from 1993 when he he left Burnley as a Second Division club and thought he would never reach those heights again.

He had signed for the Clarets in 1991 when Frank Casper paid Birmingham City £40,000 for him. He made about 35 appearances and won a fourth division championship medal but never sealed a regular spot.

He went on to Doncaster and then spent four and half years at Kidderminster in the Conference as a semi-pro.

"I didn't mind semi-professional football, it was one of those things," he said. "I worked on the sales side in a printing works, it was a good job."

He moved to Cheltenham in 1999, the year they got promoted, and he had no qualms giving it up to go back full-time when the Robins got promoted into the Football League.

"Not many people get a second chance in professional football but I have signed another three year contract so I still have more than two years here. I have virtually been an ever present and I have loved it."

While reaching Cardiff with Cheltenham is a huge boost for him, he would have loved the Clarets to be there as well.

He still has fond memories of his time at Turf Moor and admitted: "I was gutted for Burnley, especially my friends like Steve Davis.

"I thought they only had to win and I did think they had done enough against Coventry but when I learnt that Norwich had snatched it, I felt so bad for them.

"They had been in the top six all season which is an amazing statistic. They were desperately unlucky and I just hope they can pick themselves up and they can do it next season."

Although Cheltenham did have a shock FA Cup win over the Clarets earlier in the season, he can't believe how far the Turf Moor outfit have come in the last few years.

"You talk about me possibly getting back up to Second Division level but it doesn't compare to what Burnley have achieved

"Steve Davis used to have to share a room with me and now he is sharing with Paul Gascoigne. Who would have thought they would have got players like that? It is amazing. I went back for the 10 year reunion at the end of March and it was great to see some old fans and I couldn't believe how many turned up to talk to us.

"But what amazed me most was the ground. We were in the James Hargreaves Stand and to look out onto the pitch and see the stadium, it is just excellent. They deserve to go up."

But he feels Cheltenham do as well - and if it comes to penalties at Cardiff will he hold his nerve?

"Well, we have had plenty of practice!"