Halifax Town's midfield hard man Peter Butler can't wait to get stuck in against his old Southend United team at The Shay on Saturday.

The 32-year-old, who joined Blues for £75,000 in 1988 from Cambridge United before moving onto West Ham five years later for £175,000, is now player-coach at the Yorkshire club.

However, he readily admits that he still has a soft spot for the Shrimpers who hold many happy memories for him.

"Southend is a great club and I'll always cherish the time I had there," said Butler.

"When I arrived at Blues they were a struggling Third Division club, but I was part of a team that transformed their fortunes and eventually helped them win promotion to the Old Second Division for the first time in their long history.

"It saddens me now to see them back in the doldrums and I hope they manage to sort themselves out and return to the good times soon."

Butler is convinced that current Southend boss Alvin Martin is the man to steer the Seasiders' sinking ship back in the right direction.

"I know Alvin has been under a lot of pressure from the fans recently. But if they give him time I know he'll get things right," he said.

"When I was at Upton Park I got on very well with Alvin, as I do now, and I can tell all Southend's supporters that they won't get a more committed or better man for the job.

"As a player Alvin was the hardest trainer and a great competitor and he has my utmost respect - mark my words if the fans give him a chance he will come good."

Butler also revealed that he almost made an emotional return to Roots Hall over the summer.

"I was at West Brom at the time and Southend were interested in bringing me back in a player-coaching capacity.

"The urge to go back was very strong, but I opted to join Halifax because they are my home town club and I wanted to return to my roots. But you can never say never in football.

"Who knows? I may come back to Essex, where I lived happily for nine years, one day in a coaching role."

Old Blue - Peter Butler

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.