TROWBRIDGE TOWN: INJURY-PRONE goalkeeper Adam Shepherd says superstition played a big part in his shock decision to return to Trowbridge Town.

Shepherd quit Woodmarsh and followed former Trowbridge boss Neil Kirkpatrick to Larkhall Athletic when the Bees missed out on promotion. But after just two pre-season training sessions at Plain Ham, Shepherd has performed a surprising u-turn and declared himself a Trowbridge player once more.

He said: "There's a theory that whenever a player leaves Trowbridge he gets injured. I'm quite a superstitious person and during my first session with Larkhall I injured my knee.

"I'm probably going to miss the first few games of the season, so I didn't think it was fair to join a new club and then let them down at the last minute.

"Kirky (Neil Kirkpatrick) has been good to me and I feel like I'm letting him down, but I have to do what's right for me and my family. "I can't afford to take time off work with any injury. At Trowbridge we have five quality goalkeepers, so there's no pressure on me to rush back straight away."

Shepherd revealed he had never wanted to leave Trowbridge but felt he owed it to Kirkpatrick to follow him out of the door. When the 26-year-old discovered the other players were staying put, he suddenly felt a longing for his old club.

He said: "Some of the other lads said they would be leaving as well, but then they changed their minds. It's a new era at Trowbridge and they want to be part of it.

"I'm sure Kirky will do a fantastic job at Larkhall, just as everyone is confident Shanks (Paul Shanley) will succeed here at Trowbridge."

Shanley said he was glad to have Shepherd back on board after several weeks of confusion. "Adam phoned me the other day to say he was coming back. It took me a little by surprise but I was more than happy to hear the news," he said.

"He has been an integral part of the squad for the last five years and the news is sure to boost morale among the players and the supporters." Shanley is hoping to persuade two former Wiltshire youth players to join the Woodmarsh club in the next fortnight.