Kingsley James and Matty Brown are looking forward to another reunion with Chester FC this weekend.

Both spent last season at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium before switching to FC Halifax Town, who take on the Blues for a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy on Saturday (3pm).

James turned down a contract extension for a move nearer to his home in Barnsley while Brown was not offered a new deal after damaging his ankle towards the end of the campaign.

Halifax had a miserable start to the season, sacking both Neil Aspin and Darren Kelly, but the ex-Blues duo have been a big part of the club's resurgence under ex-Chester City manager Jim Harvey.

The Shaymen are unbeaten in 12 games since the Northern Irishman took over and Brown views Saturday as a chance to extend that to 13 and gain revenge for losing twice to Chester in the league.

Ross Hannah takes on ex-Blues defender Matty Brown in the win over Halifax
Ross Hannah takes on ex-Blues defender Matty Brown in the win over Halifax

Brown told Halifax's official website: "It will be a tough game. Chester is on a bit of a bad run at the moment.

"We had a disappointing result on Saturday but other than that we've been in good form. We're in form, Chester is not the form side but it is a cup game.

"I don't think form comes into it really, especially when it's a bit of a rivalry, Chester and Halifax. It will be a tough game and definitely a competitive game.

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"The second game of the season Chester beat us 1-0 at home. In the second game, we were a bit unlucky I think it took us until the second half to get going. We need to put it right, we can't have three defeats against Chester this season so we need to put it right on Saturday.

"Everyone wants to do well against their previous clubs. Chester is still a club I hold close to my heart; I had a lot of good memories there. You always want to do well when you go back to where you've been in the past."

Kingsley James in action for Chester last season
Kingsley James in action for Chester last season

James has scored seven goals in 30 league league appearances for Halifax and is revelling in a more advanced role to the one he had at Chester.

He said: "It always adds a bit more to the game when you do play against your old club. So I’m looking forward to it, I’m looking forward to seeing some old faces. There’s some good people that I met at Chester and they are a great set of fans and of course all the staff and the players

"But again, we have to go out there and do our jobs and win the game, so there definitely won’t be any friends out there while I’m playing.

"When we played them at their place I got a little bit of stick and I’m not really sure why because I never left Chester on bad terms. But I don’t really listen to that too much so hopefully I’ll get a good reception from the fans."