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Crossley's season has been hampered by a persistent back problem and he hasn't kicked a ball in anger since Farsley's 3-0 victory over Halifax Town on Boxing Day.

But the former Emley defender is hoping the next few days will prove a turning point as he is expecting the results of an MRI scan.

Crossley said: "I went for a scan in Dewsbury on Tuesday and hopefully by the time we play York I should have the results, so fingers crossed I will know what the problem is.

"We have come to the end of the road really, we don't really know what is up with it. The pain started in the back but the problem has now gone into the hip a bit as well.

"We have exhausted all routes on the physio side and have stopped all treatment until we know exactly what is wrong.

"It's just so frustrating. I was alright at the start of the season and until just before Christmas. But I played against Halifax on Boxing Day and I have been out since.

"And I am not a good watcher of football. I kick every ball from the touchline and I go through every emotion. But when the lads are playing well you can't share in the enjoyment and you feel like a spare part. And when it's not going so well, you can't get on to help out."

Crossley – the scorer of a vital goal in last season's Conference North play-off final victory over Hinckley United – has been forced to watch as Celtic slipped into the relegation zone after a promising start to their inaugural season in the Blue Square Premier.

They were thumped 5-1 at home by Crawley at the end of last year before Halifax gained revenge for their defeat at Throstle Nest with a 2-0 win at the Shay.

But an influx of new signings including on-loan youngsters Scott Gardner, from Leeds, and Craig Bentham, from Bradford, plus goalkeeper Curtis Aspden and centre-back Georges Santos, have got Farsley firing again.

They were unfortunate to go down 2-1 to a late goal at Kidderminster a fortnight ago but bounced back to take a point at home to much-fancied Stevenage – one of Crossley's former clubs.

They also beat Alfreton 2-0 in the second round of the FA Trophy in midweek to set up today's clash against York, kick-off 3pm, when a quarter-final berth awaits the winners in a competition that boasts a Wembley final.

Crossley said: "I was really disappointed to miss the Stevenage game. Ronnie Glavin (former Emley manager) sent me down there for three months when I first dropped out of professional football.

"I played four or five games but it didn't really work out for me and I came back up and played for Emley.

"But it was a good experience and they are a good side at the moment, they are right up there.

"We were struggling when we went down to their place earlier in the season, and they were a lot better than us, but to get a 0-0 result at Throstle Nest was great and the performance more than anything was really good. We looked organised, we looked strong and we should have got three points to be honest.

"John Deacey has brought a lot of good quality players in, that's put pressure on everyone to perform and it's good for the dressing room as well. It has given everybody a lift."