THE scorer of the 500,000th goal in English league football is from Widnes, writes DAVE BETTLEY.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher, 25, made it half a million strikes since the formation of the Football League in 1888 with his second in as many games this season for Huddersfield Town.

It came in their 3-0 home derby victory over Rotherham United.

But he had no idea the place in record books was up for grabs and knew nothing of his entry until well after the final whistle.

However, Taylor-Fletcher admitted he has scored none better in his career than the one which brought up the landmark.

He said: 'I didn't have a clue until I looked at my phone after the game.

'I expected people to have left messages saying 'what a goal' but all of a sudden, some came up saying I was in the record books.

'All my family and friends texted me and it was confirmed by the FA later on.'

His phone did not stop ringing the following day - journalists from every newspaper imaginable all wanting to find out from the former England Schools international striker how it felt to join the ranks of football's famous.

Statisticians had worked out the accolade would go to the scorer of the 63rd goal on Tuesday last week and Taylor-Fletcher's match-sealing 78th-minute effort fitted the bill perfectly.

'It was a good strike - I hit it from about 30 yards and it nestled right in the top corner,' he added.

'For it to be a goal like that which saw the milestone is absolutely fantastic.'

Taylor-Fletcher is a former Fairfield High School pupil and Halton College student, who played amateur football in Widnes for Moorfield.

He was then known as Gary Fletcher but adopted his wife Viv's surname on marriage two years ago.

The couple now live in Huddersfield but Taylor-Fletcher's sister Nicola and her family are still in Widnes while

Viv's parents Sue and Arthur reside in Runcorn.

He said: 'It will obviously be one of my most memorable goals - this one and the one I scored against Chelsea in January.

'I think it probably is my best goal. I have scored a few good ones but that one is right up there not just because of the goal itself but the milestone it has set.

'This is one to show the grandchildren and will be seen over and over again when other landmarks are set.

'I was made up just to score a goal like that but when you look back at some of the great players who have played and reached other landmarks you begin to realise it's a great moment.'

One of a select few from Widnes to have made it in league football, Taylor-Fletcher is now looking forward to further boosting his tally in Coca-Cola League One.

He said: 'In the last three seasons, I have scored 15 goals in each, which is not too bad.

'I always set myself a target for double figures and in every other year, I have passed that benchmark and I will be looking to do that again.'

Taylor-Fletcher has scored 39 career goals in 120 Football League starts plus 31 appearances as a sub.

He has played for Hull City (on loan), Leyton Orient and Lincoln City and in non-league for Northwich Vics, who sold him to Orient as a 19-year-old for £50,000, and on temporary deals at Grays Athletic and Dagenham & Red-bridge.