Bradford City v Preston North End: Taking final view from boundary now he's on Parade

The 22-year-old will be proud at having played a major role in the Rams reaching the Bradford League's showpiece occasion with a vital innings of 58 in last month's semi-final triumph over Woodlands.

But there will also be a tinge of disappointment for Syers as he watches from the boundary edge at Spen Victoria as Farsley, the club where Yorkshire cricket legend Ray Illingworth once honed his talents as a teenager, do battle with Bradford & Bingley.

The flipside of being unable to don his cricket whites this weekend, however, is that since the semi-final Syers has realised his dream of becoming a professional footballer by signing for Bradford City.

"It has been an eventful summer, to say the least," explained the former Farsley Celtic midfielder when speaking to the Yorkshire Post ahead of tonight's Carling Cup second round tie with Preston North End at Valley Parade.

"I finished my ancient history degree at Leeds University and was then fortunate enough to get a trial with Bradford. Neil Parsley, my manager at Farsley, knew (City assistant manager) Wayne Jacobs and he had a word for me.

"The trial started in pre-season but had been going a bit slowly because I had picked up an injury. At one stage, I was getting quite worried.

"The lads were brilliant in making me feel part of it but, at the back of my mind, I knew I wasn't really part of it.

"Luckily, Peter Taylor showed a lot of faith in me and I signed non-contract terms the day before the Nottingham Forest game in the first round.

"My hope the night before was to be able to come off the bench and change the game. So, to score our equaliser and then for us to win 2-1 and knock out a Championship team was brilliant."

Syers's second-half goal against Forest persuaded City manager Taylor to offer the midfielder a one-year deal with an option for a further 12 months should he make 20 starts. Bradford also reserved the right to extend the deal.

It represented a remarkable turnaround in fortune for the Wetherby-based midfielder whose release as an apprentice by Darlington was followed by him falling out of love with football.

He said: "I drifted out of the game after getting a few injuries and ended up playing Sunday League. Unfortunately, it wasn't the best of seasons as I got head-butted a couple of times.

"I then decided that I had to try and play at a decent level so signed for Ossett Albion. I had four great years there playing for Eric Gilchrist, who did a lot for me."

After impressing for Ossett, Syers joined Farsley Celtic in the summer of 2009 only for the Leeds club to slip into administration just two weeks later.

He said: "There were some tough times but, in a funny way, it brought everyone together and the team spirit was amazing. The transfer embargo meant no new players would be coming in so we all just knuckled down and got on with it.

"I was very sad when the club folded. I then joined Harrogate Town because I didn't want to travel too far due to studying at Leeds University."

Syers duly completed his ancient history degree this summer, earning a 2:1, and had the chance to revive his football career not come along then next month would have brought a move into accountancy.

He explained: "I actually had a job lined up at Price Waterhouse Coopers in Leeds. It was due to start in September, but they have been brilliant about the football and really understanding."

With thoughts of a career in number-crunching on the back-burner, Syers is determined to make the most of his chance with Bradford.

A repeat tonight of the impact he made against Forest in the previous round would go down very nicely – and more than make up for being unable to play in Sunday's Priestley Cup final for Farsley.

Syers said: "It is unfortunate that I can't play in the Priestley Cup final as it has been one of my best seasons and I have scored runs in more or less every round. But I will be there for the final. A perfect week would see us beating both Preston and Southend (on Friday), before Farsley do the same on Sunday."

Robbie Threlfall will miss tonight through suspension but Tom Adeyemi is available after parent club Norwich City granted the on-loan midfielder permission to play in the competition.

Last six games: Bradford City WWLWWL, Preston North End LLLWLW.

Referee: C Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Last time: Bradford City 2 Preston North End 1; September 13, 2003; Division One.