Gillingham’s promotion-winning captain Barry Fuller has returned to the club.

Fuller led the Gills to play-off success at Wembley back in 2009. He has signed a one year deal at the club.

The 33-year-old Ashford-based defender made 137 league appearances for the Gills between January 2008 - when he was signed by Mark Stimson - and the end of the 2011/12 campaign.

He’s the second of last season’s Dons team to join the Gills, following team-mate Dean Parrett to the club this summer.

Fuller said: “The place feels homely and it’s nice to come back to somewhere you know and to be local with my family nearby is important.

“The boys are in good spirits, I’ve played with a couple over the years and the lads have been very welcoming.”

Gills boss Steve Lovell added: “Barry is a great acquisition for us. He knows the division very well, he knows this club very well and I think his experience will be a positive influence inside the dressing room.

“He is a hardworking player who will give 100% every time he takes to the field and he provides strong competition for the full-back positions.”

He is the second new signing announced by the Gills on Monday, following Brandon Hanlan's arrival.

Fuller was released by Martin Allen after being sidelined for much of his final season at Priestfield with a serious knee injury, limiting him to just 10 appearances in that last year.

He bounced back from injury, however, and after a year with Barnet he enjoyed five seasons with AFC Wimbledon, where he once again lifted the League 2 play-off trophy at Wembley as captain.

Dons boss Neal Ardley let Fuller go at the end of last season, describing the right-back as a legend at the club, having played over 200 league games for the Londoners.

He will offer much-needed competition for the right-back position, which Luke O’Neill held down last season after a great first year at the club.

Fuller had been one of several players signed by then-Gills boss Stimson back in 2008 as he looked to rebuild the team mid-season following his appointment as manager. He was made captain during a roller-coaster period for the Gills.

During his time at the club they were relegated twice, inbetween that Wembley win. His last game for the Gills was the 6-1 win over Hereford in September 2011.

Earlier on in his career Fuller started out as a trainee with Charlton and went onto win the FA Trophy with Stevenage.