Jon McCarthy has an affinity with York City that stretches back over 25 years.
The Chester FC boss spent five years at Bootham Crescent between 1990 and 1995 and was a firm favourite with the Minstermen faithful.
His time in York yielded almost 200 Football League appearances and over 30 goals, a record that earned him a move to Port Vale, with full international honours with Northern Ireland following soon after.
And while he is sure to get a warm reception when Chester visit his old stomping ground this weekend, McCarthy has no divided loyalties.
"It's an old club of mine and where I started my career," said the Blues boss.
"I spent five years there. There were were a lot of nice memories but I'm going back there to work and to get a result."
The weekend trip to York, now under the stewardship of former Wrexham manager Gary Mills, will provide a test for McCarthy's young squad as they look to bounce back from the disappointing 1-0 defeat at Southport in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on Saturday .
The defeat ended a run of seven games unbeaten in all competitions without conceding a goal but there league record remains intact. They sit just four points off the play-off places and McCarthy remains upbeat.
"After the Southport disappointment I will be remembering where we are at," said McCarthy.
"The league table doesn't take away the disappointment and the way that we felt about the fans who travelled – we thank them for their support. The league table does look very healthy, though.
"We go into every game positive and we can beat any team in this league. But if there are players off it then it can be very difficult.
"I always look at me first. I am the one that needs to get them in the right frame of mind and correct positions. At some point you will drop off a level of performance, though. It happens."
Chester's exit from the FA Cup denied them any potential financial windfall from progressing through the rounds. And while disappointed not to have made the first round proper, McCarthy wouldn't swap the seven match unbeaten run which has taken them into the top half.
He said: "Would I swap it to go and make some money for this football club? I don't know. I don't think I would.
"I am fully supported by the board. A lot of the football club and a lot of the playing side is heading in the right direction. We now have to stop the rot as soon as we can."
