FOND memories came flooding back to Darrell Clarke when he returned to his old stomping ground on Saturday.

The 38-year-old brought his Bristol Rovers to the Ray Mac - the place his managerial fortunes began six years ago - for a pre-season friendly in which they ran out 3-0 winners.

It was a second year running Clarke returned to Salisbury where he initially joined as a player in 2007 from Hartlepool.

In 2010, he was appointed manager and took the Whites from Southern Premier to Conference Premier in three seasons.

Speaking to JournalSport, he said: "It certainly gave me a great grounding for where I am now.

"It was great working with full-time players, albeit young lads and certainly helped me on my managerial path as a young manager and it's good to be back. And it was nice to bring my team back as well.

"I've got some good memories here, a couple of promotions, the third round of the FA Cup."

But a year after Clarke exited, and Whites completed their first season back in top level of non-league, the club folded due to financial woes.

That meant there was no football in the city for a year, which saddened the ex boss.

He added: "I'm just still so disappointed how the club found itself not playing for a year, it wasn't good.

"It's a shame that the club had to start again but always nice to bring a team back and to get 800 supporters to a pre-season friendly isn't bad at all."

Clarke was originally appointed as assistant manger at the Memorial Stadium before taking the first team job in March 2014 - the season they were relegated to Conference Premier.

But two years later Clarke orchestrated back-to-back promotions, guiding Rovers to Sky Bet League One, which attracted interest from Championship big guns Leeds United.

He snubbed a summer move to Elland Road and instead signed a new-three year deal with the Pirates last month, in which he went on a stag do in Las Vegas, got married and honeymooned in Hawaii.

Clarke continued: "The Leeds thing; compensation was agreed but I felt it wasn't the right time and I'm enjoying this project and trying to build the infrastructure at the club."