Martin Calver has made a shock return to Harwich and Parkeston - just six weeks after signing for Halstead Town.

The 23-year-old caused a storm when he quit The Royal Oak in July for a move to Andy Clark's fellow Ridgeons League premier division outfit.

After declaring Halstead were 'a more ambitious' club, he came under attack from Shrimpers chairman Tony Armstrong, who accused him of being 'disloyal'.

Armstrong subsequently declared that neither he, nor Matt Carmichael, who also moved from Harwich to Halstead, would play for the Shrimpers again.

But that all changed when Calver approached the club on Friday.

Three days earlier he had played in Halstead's 2-1 victory over Harwich at Rosemary Lane.

But Armstrong said: "He told me it had felt like he had been playing in the wrong shirt. He apologised to me and to the club and admitted that he made a mistake in moving.

"I've shaken his hand and welcomed him back with open arms.

"It takes a big man to do what he did and I am impressed by the way he went about coming back to us."

Published Wednesday, September 8, 2004

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