Adam Barrett is reminded of the special year he had at Gillingham every time he walks past his trophy cabinet.

The championship-winning medal and the player-of-the-year trophy are proudly displayed by the centre-half, who captained Martin Allen’s side to the 2012-13 League 2 title.

It was a memorable season, one of his best, but Barrett’s heart belongs in Southend.

He returned to his boyhood club from the Gills in January 2015, a side he watched alongside his dad as a child and one he has now clocked up more than 300 appearances for.

There is no question about split-allegiances ahead of this weekend’s sell-out promotion clash.

Barrett, 36, said: “Southend was my club when I was growing up and I have had my best years of my career here. To come back was fantastic.

“It is my club, my team and who I am playing for at the moment.

“I did have two fantastic years at Gillingham and it was unbelievable to captain a side to only their second championship in the club’s history. That was a special year.

“I have got a lot of friends there and the supporters were great. It is a club which I hold in high regard, with the chairman and those behind the scenes.

“I am pleased to see the club doing well. I am surprised they have sustained it for as long as they have, with some of the squads that are in this division.

“It is a fantastic achievement for everyone there. I would like to see Gillingham go up, along with ourselves.”

Read the full interview in Friday's Medway Messenger