DEAN Kiely, a Bury Football Club legend in every sense of the word, made a very popular return to his old stomping ground for Good Friday's Fill The Ground Day.

Given the weekend off due to the World Cup qualifying matches, the Charlton Athletic and Republic of Ireland keeper still has great affection for the Shakers and the fact he drove up five hours from London with son Mason to help the club celebrate 120 years at Gigg Lane bears that out.

Seven-year-old Mason, who was born on the morning of Bury's epic 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Valentine's Day 1998, was given a trip around town by his famous dad, who showed him the road the Kiely's lived on at Lowercroft and Fairfield General Hospital where he was born.

But it was footballing memories that 34-year-old Dean shared after the game and, predictably, for all his Premiership glory with the Addicks, he remains as unaffected as the day he left the Shakers to move to south-east London in May 1999 for a £1m fee.

"We have been given the weekend off to re-charge our batteries because Charlton have a tough April and May," he said

"As soon as I walked into the club I was greeted by friendly faces and received a really good welcome.

"This place has nothing but good memories for me and it's great to come back.

"I'm very mindful of what Bury did to help my career and it was no trouble for me to make the trip up, it's been brilliant."

Dean received a tremendous ovation when he took to the field to make the half-time Golden Gamble draw ,and revealed that he has recently picked up his UEFA B coaching badge with an eye on a career in the game after playing.

He was introduced to Shakers' boss Graham Barrow by assistant manager Kelham O'Hanlon a fellow goalkeeper that Dean has known for years who explained the ins and outs of managing a club on the breadline.

"Some of the stuff Graham was telling me about management you cannot coach," he explained.

"The wheeling and dealing and work that goes on off the pitch is a real eye-opener, my hat goes off to him, he deserves all the credit he gets.

"He's got the lads playing although they are down to the bare bones, that's all about working hard on the training ground.

"Bury's is always the first result I look for when I finish a game and I'm delighted they got a good one today.

"We played Grimsby in the Carling Cup earlier in the season and they aren't a bad side at all."

His promotion-winning penalty save from Tommy Mooney down at Watford in 1997, is still fresh in his mind, as it is in every Bury fan who was at Vicarage Road that day.

"I still have the picture at home," he said.

"It was also great to reminisce looking at all the photographs they have up in the Social Club."

And he hopes to be able to help the Shakers in the future by directing promising young players from the Valley to loan spells at Gigg Lane.

"Charlton have some young players at Leyton Orient and Rushden and Diamonds at the moment but with my connections with Bury there's no reason why they can't come up here," he said.

"The position I hold at our club I would be able to do that and I'll be getting in touch with Graham to see what we can do.

"There is no substitute for young players getting first team football at this level, and if that helps Bury out, then all well and good, everybody wins."