Ex-Chester FC midfielder Kingsley James said his celebration after scoring against Wrexham on Monday was 'pay back'.
James netted the second goal in FC Halifax Town's 2-0 win at The Shay and made a beeline for the Dragons fans, provoking an angry reaction in the stands and on social media following the game.
But the midfielder, who moved to West Yorkshire over the summer after turning down a new contract at Chester, made no apology for his actions.
"That celebration was just emotion, they gave me a lot of stick when I was at Chester," James told Halifax's official website.
"Even towards the back end when they knew I was leaving they still gave me some stick so that was just a little bit of pay back, I’m fed up of taking it from them.
"It was high emotions anyway because we want to win every game, I want to win every game, it means a lot to me and you saw that in the celebration."
James made 46 appearances for Chester last season but the ex-Hereford United man rejected a new deal in favour of a move closer to his home in Barnsley.
Halifax had two bids turned down for the England C international but then signed him in July meaning a tribunal was required.
That took place at the end of October and ruled the Blues were entitled to £8,000 and a 20% sell-on clause.
James has now scored eight times for Halifax, who are unbeaten in seven games under ex-Chester boss Jim Harvey. That sequence has lifted them off the bottom of the table and taken them to within two points of safety after a dreadful start to the season.
