KEVIN Hulme has played everywhere for Halifax this season.

But it's where the former Bury striker will be playing next season that excites him - back in the Football League.

At 30 years old, Hulme, who learned his trade with non-league Horwich RMI and Radcliffe Boro before moving on to Gigg Lane, will be resuming full time soccer after a two-year break.

The Radcliffe-based player could have been forgiven for fearing his top flight career was finished when he drifted out of the League.

After establishing himself in Bury's first team as a lion-hearted striker he moved on to Doncaster Rovers for £42,000 where he won the captaincy and added to his reputation.

But a return to Gigg Lane for the same fee heralded the fall of a previously rising talent.

A horrendous season in front of goal robbed him of his confidence and the downward spiral continued when he moved to Lincoln City in a swap for defender Dean West before moving out of the League to Macclesfield where he went part-time and returned to his former trade as a roofer.

Under Sammy McIlroy he got his soccer career back on track and played his part in their Vauxhall Conference title-winning campaign.

Against McIlroy's wishes he had to sell Hulme to Halifax for financial reasons half way through the season, denying him the chance of an early return to the Football League.

But he has made it 12 months later and when he lifts the Conference championship trophy as captain at the last final home game of the season against Cheltenham on Saturday it will mark the high point of his roller-coaster career.

He has been rewarded with a full-time contract again and he hopes to further enhance his CV by taking over responsibility for the club's reserve side.

Hulme's versatility has seen him play in six different positions this season including four games at centre half which have brought four clean sheets.

"The joke is that the only position I haven't played is goalkeeper," he says.

"But I came really close to playing there as well at Hednesford when our keeper looked like he would be going off injured.

"I had the gloves on ready then he recovered.

"My main position is centre midfield but I've also found myself up front, in the hole behind the strikers and right midfield."

The Halifax skipper believes he is equipped to make a success of his second chance in the league, adding: "I've really enjoyed this season. Playing in a winning side has seen my confidence return and where I was young and enthusiastic when I played in the league before I now feel more composed."

Ten-goal Hulme believes he is playing the best football of his career but prefers to deflect all tributes to the team who shocked the Conference with this season's success.

"We were favourites to go down at the start of the season which shows what a tremendous achievement it is to win the league.

"You cannot put your finger on why everything has gone so well but when I go up to lift the trophy on Saturday it will be the highlight of my career."

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