Most players dread returning to the former clubs and can expect to be booed with every touch for the whole 90 minutes, but that's not the case for Steve Fletcher as he prepares to make the trip to Chesterfield.
Fletcher was released by then Cherries manager Kevin Bond in the summer of 2008 and joined Chesterfield on free transfer. The striker quickly became a hero at Saltergate after scoring five goals in 38 appearances in his first season, but left halfway through a two year contract due to personal reasons.
The striker is yet to score against the Spireites since leaving the club but always looks forward to making the trip north, and says he plans not to celebrate should he find the net on Friday night.
"It's one of the first fixtures I looked for at the start of the season along with Hartlepool, it's a big game for me and hopefully I can play a part," Fletcher said.
"They've been promoted and moved into a new stadium since I left. The stadium was being built while I was there and I lived a stone's throw away from it, by all accounts it's a fantastic stadium and a great arena to play football in.
"I had a fantastic time when I was there, and when I left I said if the club was a couple of hundred miles further south then I would have had no reason to leave. I had another year on my contract at the time, but I wanted to leave because of personal reasons.
Fletch in action for the Spireites
"They're a great club, and all the staff, players and fans made me feel very welcome. The manager, Lee Richardson, loved me to bits and who knows, if it wasn't for family reasons I might still be there.
"I have massive affection for the club even though I was only there for a year. I got on really well with the supporters and they always sing my name every time I go back there, and you would have thought I had spent more than a season there.
"I've been back two or three times now and got a good reception each time whether I come off the bench or started the game. I love going back to Chesterfield, and I've never had anything negative shouted at me there, which is very rare for a player going back to a former club, but I think they understood my reasons for leaving.
"I haven't scored against them and a few of their fans have been tweeting me about it. If I did score I wouldn't be over elaborate in my celebrations out of respect for them."
Cult hero!
Chesterfield made a bright start to life in npower League One, and recorded a 3-0 win at the Seward Stadium in early September, but have found themselves in the relegation places for most of the campaign. But John Sheridan's side picked up their first league win in four months at Colchester last weekend, and are half way through the Johnstone's Paints Trophy southern area final.
The 39-year-old added, "They started well but have struggled as of late, but they're not to be underestimated. They've got big Jack Lester back from injury, and I'm good mates with him, and he's scored a few and won a few penalties for them. He will be a huge factor in if they can avoid relegation or not. He causes so many problems, Lee (Bradbury) and myself have warned our centre halves about him.
Big Fletch makes his first visit to the B2net tonight
"They've found it a little bit difficult of late but they're on the up, they've won their last two and we won't be expecting an easy ride. We saw it ourselves a few years ago that when you're down the bottom you can beat the teams up at the top."
Article by kind permission of AFC Bournemouth
