THE Crown Ground home of Accrington Stanley is one of the top non-League grounds in the country thanks in no small part to Brett Ormerod.

The striker's sale to Blackpool in March, 1997, netted Stanley £50,000 which they invested in a new stand.

However, despite the impressive surroundings of the ambitious UniBond League club, it's still a far cry from the stage Ormerod will grace tomorrow when he leads the Seasiders' attack in their Third Division play-off final against Leyton Orient at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

"If you do go up through the play-offs you get to do it at a better venue," said the in-form front man, who has so far only admired the stadium from afar.

That's all set to change when Ormerod will arguably be the key figure in Blackpool's quest for an instant return to Division Two.

The one-time Blackburn Rovers junior has scored 25 goals this season, including seven in his last five games and four in the two play-offs legs which accounted for Hartlepool United.

"I've stuck a few away, but it's been more a team performance," said the modest Ormerod, who has formed a lethal partership with co-striker John Murphy.

"It's a big lad, little lad thing and we play off each other. It's worked well but hopefully we've saved the best until last," he added.

The pair have bagged 49 goals between them and impressed former Burnley and Preston full-back Gary Parkinson, who is seeking another play-off final triumph after joining the Seasiders in March.

"Brett has been fantastic and has got some unbelievable goals which have got us into this situation, along with John Murphy," said Parkinson.

"Brett is going to progress. He can go as high as he wants, it is down to him. I just hope we keep hold of him and he climbs up the leagues with us."

Ormerod signed a new two-year deal with Blackpool in January and while it's certain his pace and finishing power won't have gone unnoticed at a higher level, as things stand the 24-year-old from Rishton is bidding to be back playing Second Division football with Steve McMahon's men.

"Our aim all through the season was to get promoted. We had a bad start so automatic was always looking too far away so we looked to the play-offs. We got there and now we've got to the final, so hopefully we can carry it on from there," he said.

"I have been in the Second Division before and no disrespect to the Third Division, but there is a bit more football played. We know we can do a job in the Second Division and more or less everyone here has played in that division or higher.

"To be honest it was going well (in Division Two) last year until I broke my leg. I thought I was playing well at the time but then that was it finished."

The injury Ormerod sustained at Wycombe Wanderers back in October, 1999, ruled him out of the remainder of the season and during his time on the treatment table McMahon replaced Nigel Worthington as manager.

However, McMahon instantly called up the fit-again Ormerod at the start of the season and after scoring on the opening day he has barely looked back.

"I was just glad to be back playing and enjoying it. But you never know what's going to happen, especially with a new manager coming in. He didn't know me so I had a lot to prove," he said.

The evidence has come in Ormerod's goal tally, although he is yet to score against Orient who have taken four points out of six from the Seasiders this season.

However, that now counts for nothing as Hartlepool, who finished fourth in the table, found out to their cost when being outplayed by a Blackpool side that finished five points and three places below them in the table.

"We played really well as a team and deserved to win and hopefully we can carry that on.

"Coming with a late run can work for you but they will be up for the game as well. They aren't a bad side so we will have to put on a good performance to win," added Ormerod, who is determined to ensure that working overtime almost into June brings the ultimate reward.

"I don't mind once you get to the final. But you've got to win. It's no good getting beat. We're delighted to have got through and hopefully we will finish it off."