IAN Craney can't get enough of that winning feeling.

The Accrington Stanley midfielder is still on a high after clinching the Nationwide Conference championship.

And he is looking to push on when the Reds embark on their return to the Football League next season.

"It's been my best season ever," said Craney, who along with team-mate Gary Roberts has made the final 18 for the England National Game XI squad for the Four Nations Tournament starting on May 23.

"I've never really won anything before. I got far in the FA Trophy a couple of times but the only cups I've won before were in the Lancashire and Cheshire Leagues.

"If you win any league you should mark it as a best' in any season. And more so with this because the Conference is such a hard division to get out of with their only being one automatic promotion spo.

"Any team who wins 10 on the spin like we did from January has got to be a class act."

He added: "Hopefully we will build on this season next year.

"You've only got to look at the past couple of years at how well Carlisle, Yeovil and Doncaster have done since getting promoted from the Conference.

"It shows that the Conference is a decent league and I don't see why we couldn't follow in their footsteps and progress.

"We've got a young group of lads, but with a few experienced additions, the squad we've got is capable of doing well at a higher level."

And Craney hopes the nucleus of the championship squad will stay together to build on their success.

"Personally, I want to improve my career, but hopefully with Accrington," the 23-year-old said.

"When you're in any profession you always want to make yourself better and get to the top and that's what I want to do.

"Promotion means everything. When you're playing football with your mates on a Sunday afternoon you think about playing in the League and it's a dream come true.

"I always think in football it's possible to better yourself."

He added: "The key to this season is that I don't think you can single out any individual. Every player has played their part in our success one way or another, whether it be scoring goals or keeping clean sheets.

"The defence has been solid and going forward we've been outstanding.

"A lot of us are still on contracts so hopefully we can stay together."