GARY Parkinson has described scoring the goal which last earned Burnley promotion via the play-offs as the highlight of his career.

The Clarets went behind to rivals Stockport County with just two minutes on the clock when the teams met at Wembley in 1994, but there were plenty of twists and turns ahead.

Soon after Stockport had been reduced to 10 men, David Eyres cancelled out Chris Beaumont’s early opener just before the half-hour.

County lost another man when Beaumont transformed from hero to villain for his stamp on Les Thompson, and Parkinson capitalised on their numerical advantage to poke the winner past John Keeley, and fire Burnley into the old First Division.

The former defender readily admits the execution was far from perfect, but that admission could never take the gloss off his euphoria.

“It wasn’t a great goal, but on the day it meant more than anything and it didn’t really matter how it went in,” said the 41-year-old, who is currently Blackpool’s caretaker first team coach.

”We won the game and achieved promotion.

“It was fantastic to score in the final; the highlight of my career as a player.”

Parkinson was a member of the Middlesbrough squad in the inaugural Premier League season in 1992/93, after finishing as runners up to Ipswich in the former Division Two. And he would love to see the Clarets hit similar dizzy heights come Monday night.

But while the town has been overcome by Wembley fever, Parkinson feels his former Bolton Wanderers team-mate, Owen Coyle, did the sensible thing in taking his players away and preparing them away from the spotlight.

“It’s great if you can get to the Wembley finals, for the supporters and the players themselves it’s a fantastic day to remember. But for the players, you’ve got to hold your nerve,” he said.

“Once you get through the two semi-final legs and make the final, you’ve got to treat it like any normal matchday, and make sure you turn up on the day and perform.”