HEYBRIDGE Swifts boss Jody Brown wants to instill a sense of club unity back into his side.

The Scraley Road boss believes that that is something that has been missing from the team and the terraces.

And that was why he was so pleased to bring back fans’ favourite Danny Sambridge after a short stint at Ryman League division north derby rivals Maldon and Tiptree.

The keeper re-signed for Swifts ahead of their 1-0 defeat at Dereham Town last weekend.

Swifts fell to an unfortunate own goal in what was an improved performance from Heybridge before losing out 3-1 at Harlow on Tuesday night.

Brown said: “I am pleased to have Danny back in the side.

“It’s only been two years since I left the club and I think the affiliation between the players and the club has gone down in that time.

“There has been a lot of changes in players and that’s why it is good to get someone like Danny back at the club.

“Don’t get me wrong, Sam Cowler is a decent keeper.

“But I think we have lost a unity between the players, the supporters and the committee.

“We all need to get that back and we need clubmen like Danny, who are familiar faces for the fans.

“It also helps to have players that have experienced winning ways with the club in the changing room.

“Last season Cliff Akurang did well to save the club from a relegation battle and Danny was a part of that.

“But at the start of this season they were in a relegation battle again and you get a losing dressing room.

“So you need to get players in there that have experienced winning with the club.”

Despite the Derham defeat Brown was upbeat and pleased by the reaction to Sambridge’s return.

He added: “The fans were really happy to see Danny back between the sticks on Saturday.

“He has made an immediate and positive impact on the side.

“But we still need three or four experienced players in the side and I am trying to attract a couple of former players back to the club.

“When I was here before the fans would be singing songs about individual players.

“I don’t think the fans know who the players are now that we have had so much change.

“We have had a lot of players leave as well and I have had to bring in new players as well.

“But I think the squad is stabilised now and we have a spine of a team I just need to make a few more experienced additions.