GREG Halford is back in Essex football.

The versatile 37-year-old, who won a historic promotion with Colchester United under Phil Parkinson in 2006, has joined National League South side Billericay Town.

Halford, who had most recently been playing his football for Waterford in the League of Ireland, made his debut for Jody Brown's side in their 2-0 win over Dulwich Hamlet, on Saturday afternoon.

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The experienced utility man, who came through the youth ranks at Colchester and has made more than 500 league appearances for a variety of clubs.

Having started as a trainee at Layer Road, Halford was handed his U's debut by Parkinson in 2003 and went on to become a firm favourite in North Essex.

The England under-20 international had caught the eye for the U's with a string of dazzling performances under Parkinson and then, Geraint Williams.

Halford clocked up 165 league and cup appearances for Colchester but eventually left to move to then Premier League side Reading for Β£2.5m, in the summer of 2007.

Gazette:

It is still the highest fee the U’s have ever received for one of their players.

He went on to play for the likes of Sunderland, Charlton Athletic, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Rotherham United and Cardiff City.

Halford has enjoyed a successful career and has played most of his football at Championship level, making more than 300 appearances in the second tier.

He made 16 appearances for Southend United last season, before moving to Waterford in Ireland where he played alongside another former U's player, Anthony Wordsworth.