CHELMSFORD City’s returning striker Bertie Brayley has revealed he’s enjoying his football again after “falling out of love” with the game during a sporadic recent period in his career.

He’s determined to repay the faith shown in him by new manager Dean Holdsworth by knuckling down and firing the club to success in 2013/14.

Brayley, who is in his third spell with Chelmsford having spent two years at the club from 2007 then a brief flirtation shortly afterwards, surprised many when he reappeared in pre-season friendlies for the club at the start of the new campaign.

But his commitment in training and matches, not to mention his stunning equaliser in the recent 1-1 draw with Southend United, convinced Holdsworth to offer him a short-term deal.

Brayley was always popular on the terraces at Melbourne Stadium and he wants to return to those days in his latest spell.

He explained: “Chelmsford have always been the club on my mind this summer. I phoned Dean and I’m as surprised as anyone that I’m back!

“I’m delighted he’s given me the chance. Like he’s told me, you don’t lose your ability as a player, so it’s all about hard work to show what I can do again.

“When I left the first time I’ve always looked back and thought I made the wrong decision.

“I’ve been doing clubs some favours recently and playing out of my favoured positions and I fell out of love with football a little bit.

“I want to get back to the happy Bertie. It’s so great going to training and knowing the manager’s going to put on a good session.”

In his first full season at Chelmsford he was part of a squad which won the Ryman League Premier Division title.

Bertie recalled: “I’ve got some special memories from my previous time with the club. Obviously in my first year we won the league and we had a special bunch of players that year.

"I’ll always remember scoring four against Margate [5-1 win in 2007] as it was against the manager who had got rid of me!”

Still only 31, Brayley knows he has plenty to offer the Clarets in their quest for success in the newly-named Skrill South division in 2013/14, claiming: “I want to play as much football as I can in the starting 11.

“If I’m not on the pitch I’ll support the players who are and I’ll work harder to get into the team. It’s all about the squad this season, and we’ve made some good signings so far so we have options in all positions.

“If someone’s not doing it on the pitch they know there’s somebody ready to come in ahead of them.

"We’ve still got some trialists playing in our friendlies but the lads we already have are all excellent characters, and that’s what you need in a squad.

“There are no ‘big time charlies’ here and we all stick together for the good of the team.”

Brayley took part in Chelmsford’s 5-1 defeat to a talented Norwich City side last Saturday, which contained a number of England Youth internationals.

The Clarets also met Heybridge Swifts on Tuesday night and this Tuesday they host a side from Tottenham Hotspur to round up their pre-season friendlies.