HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS boss Jody Brown is looking forward to facing old colleague Terry Spillane in tomorrow’s match against Aveley.

The pair were at Maldon and Tiptree together and guided the club to the Ryman League division one north play-off final in 2013, before losing on penalties to Thamesmead Town.

Spillane was manager and Brown assistant boss at Park Drive. Now the pair will be opposite dug-outs as Brown’s Swifts take on Spillane’s Aveley, in tomorrow’s division north contest at Scraley Road.

“I’m looking forward to facing Terry again,” said Brown.

“He and I always got on very well.

“We were very different in terms of our approach to football.

“He was a real motivator – big, bold and not afraid to get in people’s faces.

“But that meant I was able to focus on the tactical, technical side of things and that chapter of my life was up there with the most enjoyable of my coaching career.

“We still keep in touch and speak about players and he was the first person to text me after the Maldon victory (on Boxing Day).”

Swifts had a successful Christmas, winning against the table-topping Jammers and then grabbing a late winner at Brentwood Town on Monday.

They also produced an impressive performance at high-flying Brightlingsea Regent on New Year’s Eve before going down 2-1.

Heybridge are now 19th in the table after their festive points haul and six clear of third-from-bottom Brentwood.