EAST Thurrock United veteran Ben Wood says he is already looking forward to pulling on his boots next season in the National League South, after confirming he would play on next year.

The 37-year-old has been a key component in a memorable season for Rocks, in which they won promotion via the play-offs beating Dulwich Hamlet 3-1 on Bank Holiday Monday.

Wood has played in the old Conference South in the past, and was a key figure for Thurrock back in 2007 at that level.

And he believes East Thurrock can hold their own against those in the second tier of non-league football, despite having not played higher than the Ryman Premier League before.

“I think we can give it a good go,” he said. “The group is so together and there is a real belief that this side can achieve so much so we will recover this summer and give it our best.

“I have already spoken to Covo about next season and I have said I want to play again so I am really looking forward to it.

“I still haven’t come to terms that we have won promotion this year. I have lost a couple of semi-finals in the past and that is not a nice feeling but this is something else.”

The man who manager John Coventry calls “his best ever signing” played his 55th match of a remarkable season on Monday, having returned to the club at the start of the 2014/15 season having answered an SOS from the Rocks boss.

Wood has played 109 times since and says he is not ready to stop playing just yet.

“It has been a great season and there is no better way to win it,” he said. “The boys put in a great shift and we got the result we needed. It is up there with the best days of my career and I have played quite a few games.

“I am a bit older than the others so I do quite a lot of training by myself to keep myself ticking over. Having my own regime really helps and I am just pleased I have been able to play a part in this season.

“We have some very good young players and I enjoy playing with them. They keep me young and I can offer them advice and help if they need it so it works well for everyone.”