Last season the Monkey Hangers lost out to his former club Wednesday in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff - just twelve months after going out at the semi-final stage.
That came after winning promotion from Division Three as runners-up - and that was after three consecutive play-off semi-final losses.
Now captaining the north-east side, Humprheys believes the unfashionable club could finally find themselves reaching the Championship - ending years of being the bridesmaid but never the bride.
He told BBC Sport: "I think we've got the best squad we've put together in the five years I've been here.
"We've finished in the play-offs in the last two seasons, and there's no reason for us not to be in the top six again with the players we've added."
Last year's loss to the Owls in Cardiff is the closest the side have come to reaching the second tied of English football.
And Humphreys is convinced it is only a matter of time before they reach the promised land.
He added: "Getting to the play-offs in our first two seasons in this division has been a massive plus for the club and for the town.
"People know where we are now - we've had a good four or five years together now.
"Last year, we were nine minutes away from being in the Championship (losing 4-2 in extra time after leading 2-1), but you've got to deal with that as a footballer.
"We want to emulate last season, and improve on it. Hopefully the new lads can improve us and help us reach the goal we've set ourselves."