Ex-Captain Kev returns to the Hall

Last updated : 21 November 2008 By Shrimpers24

The midfielder spent 10 seasons with the Blues before being released at the end of last season after spending 8 matches on loan with Gillingham. For this weekend only, while visiting the opposition, he will have to remember not to enter the home-team's changing room!

Speaking to the Southend Evening Echo: "The weirdest part will be turning up at the ground and going into the away dressing room which is obviously something I'm not used to doing. I'll have to make sure I don't go in the wrong one and it's going to be one of the weirdest games of my career. I won't know exactly how weird until I actually get out there but it will be strange lining up against Southend that's for sure."

Maher joined Southend from Tottenham Hotspur in January 1998 and went on to play an incredible 454 games for the club, putting him behind only Alan Moody and Sandy Anderson in the all time list of appearance makers and included among those matches were a number of memorable moments.

The Dublin born player skippered Southend to successive promotions in 2005 and 2006 to make sure of a place in the Championship and also led them out in both of their LDV Vans Trophy finals at the Millennium Stadium. He was the captain too when they beat Manchester United and twice faced Tottenham Hotspur.

Subsequently, the Shrimpers remain close to his heart but Maher knows there is no room for sentiment on Saturday: "In an ideal world we would both go up this year but nowadays my focus has to be Oldham so I hope we win tomorrow. It will be nice to see everyone again at Southend because I made a lot of good friends there down the years. It's the first result I look for and this will be my chance to say goodbye because I couldn't do that when I left."

Maher hopes to receive a warm reception by the home faithful but is not guaranteed to start the game. He lost his place in the Latics side at the start of the season after picking up a slight injury and was an unused substitute on a number of occasions.

However, he has been recalled for the last two matches: "The team were doing so well when I got injured it was hard to get back in. That's how it goes but hopefully now I've done enough to stay in and will play again this weekend. The teams are very closely matched so it's going to be tight and I know that Southend never lose too many games at home so it's going to be a real test for us."

The full truth behind Kevin falling out with Tilly may never be known but, either in the team or on the bench, it will be great to see him back.