KALLUM HIGGINBOTHAM insists that helping Kelty Hearts into the SPFL would be one of the most satisfying achievements of his career.

The 31-year-old former Pars winger, who joined the New Central Park club last summer after a spell with Real Kashmir, scored the opening goal as the Lowland League champions defeated Brechin City 2-1 in the first leg of the League Two play-off final on Tuesday.

It means that, if they avoid defeat in Sunday’s return at Glebe Park, Barry Ferguson’s side will play SPFL football next season for the first time in their history.

It’s an opportunity Higginbotham is confident his team-mates will grasp and, if they do, it will be another promotion to add to his CV.

While the quaint Angus ground is far removed from the grandeur of Wembley, where he achieved play-off success previously with Rochdale and Huddersfield Town, the Englishman nonetheless said he felt “butterflies” ahead of the tie – and hopes the big game experience he and others in the Kelty squad carry can see them over the line.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play in some big games. I’ve played down at Wembley twice in promotion play-offs and stuff like that but it’s definitely up there,” he told Press Sport.

“I’m not for one minute taking anything away from the game but, certainly for this club, the size of the club and what this will mean going forward and the future of the club, it’s massive.

“Every one of the boys in that dressing room knows how important it is for the club, for the future and where the club wants to go.

“We need to be in the SPFL. It’s in our hands now; we’re the ones in the driving seat. Brechin now have to come and try to get a goal which will play into our hands and give us more space when we’re going forward because I thought it was a little bit cramped and compact.

“It’s understandable. It’s a final, they’re coming here playing for their lives and don’t want to get relegated, but I know the quality we’ve got in our dressing room, and I know the confidence I’ve got in our team and our squad that I believe will go and win on Sunday.”

When asked about whether the experience he and other members of the team carry will help them handle the occasion, Higginbotham replied: “Quality only gets you so far.

“We’ve all probably played SPFL at all different levels and at this level certainly, the squad that we’ve got is up there with the very best.

“It’s in our hands but we are disappointed. I’m not going to stand here and say we’re all over the moon we’ve won because we should’ve performed better, but we’ll put that right on Sunday.

“Even today, you still get those butterflies. It’s a massive game.

“It’s ours to lose and I fully believe that we won’t lose.”