Chesham United player coach Barry Hayles is relishing a trip back to his old club Bristol Rovers in the first round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

Hayles scored 32 times in 62 matches for Rovers including 23 in the 1997-98 season that saw them reach the semi-final of the Second Division play-offs.

He has good memories of his time at the Memorial Ground and has been looking forward to the match ever since the draw was made last month.

“I’m very pleased to be back and it’s a massive occasion. I was driving home to see the draw and by the time I got home I had loads of texts telling me we got Rovers and I was ecstatic,” he told the Bristol Rovers YouTube channel.

“I have great memories of making my debut for Rovers and I scored in my first three matches so it was a hell of a start.

“I had a good relationship with Jamie Cureton and Peter Beadle, we would chop and change and we did terrorise a lot of teams.”

Hayles, 36, has been out of action in recent weeks with an injury but the Generals manager Andy Leese says he has every chance of playing and expects him to receive a warm welcome.

He said: “He has a good chance of being fit and has been training with the squad. If he does get on I am sure he will get a good reception from the Bristol crowd.

“He is well regarded there after what he did during his time with the club and has a very good chance of playing.”

Watch Barry Hayles’ full interview with Bristol Rovers YouTube channel below.