Few players cross the divide and then go back again but Greg Williams did just that after he re-signed for boyhood club Aylesbury United.
The veteran midfielder left the Ducks in 2006 for Oxford City and then later joined Banbury United. However, it was the move to Aylesbury FC in 2009 which angered United fans.
Three years on and Willaims is back, saying he felt ‘messed about’ by Aylesbury FC’s new boss, Craig Faulconbridge.
Back at the club where he made his name as ‘the leader’, Williams, 35, made a blistering start, coming on as sub to smash home a long distance strike in United’s 4-0 hammering of Enfield 1893 in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Williams said: “I probably need to win back the fans here a little bit.
“A new manager has come in (at FC) and decided he didn’t want me at the club full stop. I feel like I’ve been messed about to be honest.
“I’ve got no problems with Craig. But I think I deserved a little bit better.
“But that’s football it’s very harsh.
“I wish both clubs the best for the season. I’ve got no problems with FC or the manager.”
It was a superb start to the season for Williams and Ducks boss Tony Joyce, who said he did not expect such a comfortable win.
Joyce said: “I thought it would have been a tough one, really.”
Three goals inside 30 minutes from Paul Edgeworth, Stacey Field and Ian Cooper gave United the perfect start.
Joyce added: “We could have been four or five up by half-time.”
FC boss Faulconbridge said the transfer of Williams had been an ‘easy decision but not a nice one’.
He said: “I would have had two players who are past 35 in midfield. I couldn’t justify that.”
The Ducks welcome Stotfold to Bell Close for their first game of the season on Wednesday night (7.45pm kick-off).