ALL of Paul Smith's childhood fantasies will be realised on Saturday when he leads out Gillingham against his schoolboy heroes Ipswich at Portman Road.

Watching from their seats will be parents Pat and Les who took him to Portman Road as a boy and where he dreamed of one day playing in the blue of Ipswich rather than Gillingham’s.

The Ipswich connection started with his father, Les, who was taken to watch Arsenal against Ipswich as a boy with the idea he would support the Gunners. He came away an Ipswich supporter and nailed his colours to their mast.

Young Paul followed suit and together father and son would travel to home games from their Essex home. He was enrolled in the Ipswich Junior Blues during the club's halcyon era when Paul Mariner, Terry Butcher, John Wark and Frans Thyssen were the kings of Portman Road and to this day possesses a birthday telegram from the club and autograph books.

“When I was a boy I dreamed of leading out Ipswich at Portman Road but I’ll settle for leading Gillingham,” he said. “I was sad when the club were relegated from the Premier League last season but it has given me the chance to play there in the league."

Though Saturday’s match represents a sentimental journey, Smith insists he will be focused on Gillingham's need to stretch their unbeaten run to three games and follow up Saturday’s win over Watford with another.

“Sentiment goes out of the window,” said Smith. “It's important we put together a long unbeaten run."