IT’S known, on social media these days, as getting the band back together; former team-mates reuniting for one last fling.

So, with Dimi Konstantopoulos back in goal for Hartlepool United last weekend, Antony Sweeney on the coaching staff and Gary Liddle making a return to Victoria Park, what’s the chances of Ritchie Humphreys, James Brown and Joel Porter turning up next week….

But while others have retired, long retired in some cases, Liddle has never stopped.

He signed for Pools this week on loan from Walsall, returning to the club he left in 2012 after making 284 appearances.

New boss Dave Challinor has signed Liddle for his experience, a calming influence in a back four capable of imploding.

When Liddle came to Pools back in 2006 from Middlesbrough, it was the making of him as a footballer.

Danny Wilson signed the FA Youth Cup winner, pitching him straight in. After an impressive debut in a League Cup tie at Burnley, he became a mainstay in midfield as Pools romped to promotion from League Two.

In the strongest of dressing rooms, a young Liddle learned a lot, while making friends for life. One of them became his manager at Walsall and allowed him to return home.

“Darrell (Clarke) hasn’t changed, one of the lads really,’’ smiled Liddle. “When I came to the club he was sent out on loan to Rochdale for months by Danny Wilson and didn’t spent much direct time with him.

“The four summers following my move here I went away with him and Ritchie Humphreys, Sweens, Mark Tinkler and the like. He became a mate of mine and it was good to see him do well as a manager. He was the first manager to call me in the summer to sign me.

“He’s a good lad and wanted me to go out play football. When the loan ends in January then we see how things are. If Hartlepool are happy and want to extend it then I’m happy, if Darrell isn’t happy with his squad and wants me back then it’s an open ended arrangement.

“We had a strong dressing room here last time. I’ve played with hundreds of players over the years and you don’t keep in touch with about 90 per cent of them.

“You go to a club and are together for a year or two and move on – that’s how it is really. But to come into Hartlepool and a dressing room like that, with a crowd like that to see the spirit they had was big for me. I came here on the back of relegation, but the club had had success before that and players who were part of the play-off final and success were still here.

“It was a great spirit and went a long way to promotion that year. I don’t know too many of this squad for now, four or five and it’s the fourth club I’ve been at with JK so he can’t shake me off.

“I’m sure we can get on with a good second half of the season.’’

Liddle left Pools with the club entrenched in League One, they finished the season 13th in the table.

Since then, Liddle has played for Notts County, Bradford, Chesterfield and Carlisle before Walsall. Pools are playing Boreham Wood and Bromley instead of Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End.

“The club is different now to how I left it,’’ mused Liddle. “Things have changed from back in the day, be it personnel or financially, there’s no getting away from the fact it’s not the club it once was.

“I left in League One, over the course of coming back the club is two leagues below. It’s been tough. People have been through it and this is a new era if you like with the manager coming in and the only way is up.

“I came here to play football from Middlesbrough and played almost 300 games. I loved my time here, won a few personal awards, got promotion in my first season. I’ve always had an affinity and wanted to come back, but other times when they made offers I had other offers from bigger, no getting away from it, clubs. It’s all fell into place now and I want to get a few games and make an impression.’’

It's not the first time he’s had the chance to return to Victoria Park. He would have liked to, but the timing was never right. This time it’s all fallen into place nicely. Challinor wants someone solid and reliable at the back, Liddle wants to play football.

He added: “I don’t see this as a final move or the like. If the loan ends and not extended then I go somewhere else or back to Walsall. I’ve plenty of friends in the game, who have played well into their 30s. I’ve just turned 33 and don’t see myself as an old dog. Hopefully there’s plenty of more games to come and hopefully at Hartlepool United – it’s a loan deal at first and then we will see after that.

“It’s a new management team here, I’ve been close to coming back here before, both under Higgy and a couple of times under Colin Cooper. Gary Coxall phoned me a couple of times back in the day, but timings weren’t right then.

“It all fell into place this time. A new manager has come in, he’s spoke of how changes are needed and I guess I’m one of them.’’

Liddle’s last game for the Saddlers was in the North-East – an FA Cup replay win at Darlington. Since then he’s not kicked a ball for Clarke. It looks as if his 16th outing for them was his last.

The loan is until the end of January, extending it does not seem to be an issue.

He added: “A lot of games in a short space of time give the manager and his staff a chance to see me and if they want to extend it then hopefully they will. If the chance comes for a bit of security or happiness, then that’s good.

“I’m from the area and you want to be a club where you feel wanted. I’m glad the chance arose.

“Sweens spoke to me and he didn’t need to sell it to me. It was all in place, a club I know, a club I’m fond of and got on with people here. The making things was making a difference and playing football. The club is mid-table now and a few wins can move us up there.

“As I’ve got older with the game in front of me, I see myself as a defensive player. I played a lot of games in midfield here before, but a lot at centre-half as well with Sam Collins and Peter Hartley. I feel I can bring some composure to the position.’’