NEW Dorchester Town signing Chris Dillon admitted he was glad to make his return to football after putting in a man of the match display in the Magpies’ win over Hungerford Town on Saturday.

The former Eastleigh defender produced a classy performance in the heart of the county town defence and believes he will settle quickly under manager Graham Kemp, who he worked with previously during their time together at Christchurch.

“It has been good to get back playing,” he told Echosport.

“I haven’t played any football this season at all so to come in, do well and get man of the match was nice.

“Kempy getting the job at Dorchester was huge, he asked me to come back training and I made the decision to play and it was good to be involved. To get man of the match is always nice personally but to get the three points is the main thing.”

Dillon had already agreed to link up with Kemp at Hamworthy United this term, but the centre-half, who arrived at the Avenue last week on non-contract terms, had a rather unique reason for not turning out for the Hammers.

“I signed for Hamworthy but I am currently applying to join the fire service,” he added.

“I had to do physicals for them so I didn’t want to play, get injured, and not be able to do it.

“I have passed the physicals now and I am through to the next stage so that’s why I’ve decided to play again.”

In preparing to join the fire service, for which he has interviews in a couple of weeks, Dillon admitted his lack of football triggered a handful of clubs to try and recruit him.

He said: “I had a few clubs ask me what I was doing this season, including Dorchester when Phil (Simkin) was there. He rang me up but I couldn’t commit to anything because of the fire service and the career I want.

“When Kempy got the job he wanted me to be his first signing, I missed playing football so I thought I might as well go ahead and play.

“I am quite a humble guy and I don’t class myself as a flash player or anything like that. I just do my job, get on with what I have to do and as long as it’s helping the team I’m happy.”