"I CAME to Grimsby Town to get promoted and if I leave this club without having done that, I'll see it as a failure."
Those are the words of Craig Disley as he prepares to kick-off his fourth season with the Mariners against a former club that still has a very special place in his heart.
Tomorrow's curtain-raiser pits the midfielder against Bristol Rovers, a club where he made over 200 appearances during a five-year career, after being released by childhood club Mansfield in 2004.
Following the end of his time with Rovers – and two years with Shrewsbury – Disley became one of Rob Scott and Paul Hurst's first signings after they were appointed at Town in March 2011.
Over three years later, and he has led Town to an FA Trophy Final at Wembley, but suffered successive play-off heartbreak in the last two seasons.
But he still hasn't completed the challenge that drew him to Blundell Park three summers ago.
And on the eve of his return to the Memorial Stadium, Disley feels it is an opportune time to reflect on his lengthy career and what he still wants to achieve before he eventually hangs up his boots.
"This is my fourth season with Grimsby Town," he told the Telegraph.
"I came here to get promoted and I haven't done that yet and if I leave this club without having done it, I'll see it as a failure.
"I desperately want to get this club back into the league, as do all the other lads and the gaffer."
He continued: "I've got a really optimistic feeling about the season ahead, but I'm sure there will be plenty of other players at clubs around the league feeling exactly the same way.
"The gods seemed to be against us last season with the way it all ended for us. It does leave a bitter taste in the mouth but it gives you that kick to go again.
"It's all well and good having that feeling of positivity about the new season, but you've got to go out there and do something about it."
This will be Disley's 16th season in professional football and at 32 years of age, the Worksop lad appreciates that he needs to make every campaign count.
And that's why he's vowed to 'leave everything out on the pitch' each and every time he pulls on the famous black and white shirt this season.
"The older you get as a player, the more it means to you, because you become more aware of where you are in your career," he continued.
"You appreciate the better days more but in the same sense, the bad days feel worse the older you get.
"To be fair, in my head I still think I'm 21 and mess around in the dressing room with the lads – I don't really think I've let it sink in that I'm as old as I am.
"In saying that, you see some lads playing well into their 30s now, so it's not that unusual.
"Regardless of however many years I've got left, I'm going to enjoy them and give everything I can to get Grimsby Town where it deserves to be.
"At the end of the day, you've got to leave it out on the field every time you go out there because once your career's gone it's gone and there's no getting it back.
"You've got to make the most of it and that's what I intend to do."
