GARY BROWN regretted leaving Darlington almost as soon as he left.

The defender departed for Shildon in the Northern League at the beginning of the season, citing the increased travelling in Quakers’ division as a factor as his partner had recently given birth to their second child.

However, the 28-year-old today re-joined the club he captained to two promotions inside three seasons, and told how he still felt “attached to Darlington” despite signing for Shildon in August.

“I started to think about going back about three or four weeks after I’d left,” said Brown, who could return to the Quakers line-up on Tuesday evening, in a League Cup game at Blyth Spartans which will feature a mixture of youth and senior players.

“I’d had quite a lot of things going on at home. Hindsight is wonderful, but looking back I maybe should’ve asked for a couple weeks break.

“We had a heavy pre-season schedule so were training twice a week, there were games to play, the baby had just been born and I was working all hours God sent on an extension on my house. I didn’t think I was going to be able to carry on.

“Once the extension was finished and the baby was settled in I suddenly had a lot of time on my hands. Not only that, I just wasn’t enjoying my football.

“I found myself attached to Darlington, checking the results, watching the highlights online and wishing I was still there.

“I knew I was going to miss it. My Mrs has been saying that I’ve been miserable ever since I left Darlo. She says that I’ve been coming in from football and have been a nightmare to be around, so she really pushed me to go back.”

Summer signing Kevin Burgess took over as captain, and Brown is not expecting to be immediately handed the role back.

He said: “Kev will stay captain, I don’t think it would be fair for him to give up the armband. If I was in his position I wouldn’t give it up by choice.

“I’m starting from scratch and as far as I’m concerned Kev is club captain and Leon Scott is vice-captain.”

Shildon, who are challenging for the Division One title, were disappointingly knocked out of the FA Vase last week, but Brown says that defeat to Handsworth Parramore did not come into his thinking.

He said: “I wasn’t getting out of football what I wanted. Once you’ve been at Darlington and had the standard of training there, and all the lads there are really hungry, and the way the club is ran, it’s difficult to not be a part of it anymore.

“Everything was different and it wasn’t for me. I’m 28-years-old and that sort of thing will probably be ideal when I can’t run in five years’ time.

“I’ve lost a bit of fitness as the training wasn’t the same standard, but I’m pretty fit naturally so it’ll only take me a few weeks. I’m sure my determination will get me through.”

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Brown was eager to thank Shildon for their role in hastily arranging his transfer, for the same fee the Railwaymen paid in August.

“I’d like to thank Gary Forrest for his cooperation,” added Brown. “I approached him after training last Wednesday and told him that my heart is at Darlington.

“I said ‘I’m not enjoying training, I’m not enjoying going to games, my heart isn’t in it and my decision to leave Darlington was hasty and I shouldn’t have done it’.

“Gary said that if my heart isn’t in it then I should go back to Darlo as long as Shildon got their fee back. That was very good of him, because he could’ve held Darlington to ransom.”

Where Brown fits into the team is a dilemma for manager Martin Gray. With Burgess, Chris Hunter and Alan White vying for the centre-half slots, right-back is obvious assumption having played there last season.

“I don’t know where I’m going to play,” said Brown, who had a cameo as goalkeeper at Lancaster City after Peter Jameson was sent off. “I know I got some stick, but I thought I did okay at right-back last year.

“I’m just happy to be back and looking forward to providing a bit of competition for whoever.

“I’m coming back as second-choice goalkeeper, surely? Mark Bell has gone, Jim Provett is old and I had 100 per cent clean sheet record last year. One shot, one save.”

Gray will make changes on Tuesday evening, with Burgess, Alan White, Adam Nowakowki and David Dowson in contention to feature having not played much lately for various reasons.

“I’m available and I’m hoping to play. I’ll be knocking on the door if I’m not!” joked Brown.

“Whatever happened in the past is water under the bridge, I’m starting from scratch again and I’ve got to get myself into the team and take my chance.”

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