Lee Ridley will return to his hometown club Scunthorpe United for the first time as an opposition player tomorrow.

The 27-year-old left-back turned down the offer of a new contract from the Iron and the prospect of Coca-Cola Championship football to join Cheltenham Town on a three-year deal in July 2007.

His first season with the Robins was one to forget as he struggled with a knee injury, lost his place to veteran Alan Wright and was loaned out to League Two clubs Lincoln City and Darlington.

But Ridley has shown character to force his way back into the starting line-up this season and he has been among Cheltenham's top performers since Martin Allen took over as manager last September.

He still lives only 10 minutes from Glanford Park and cannot wait to tackle his old team mates.

"It'll be the first time I have been in the away dressing room for a game, so I am quite excited to go back," Ridley said.

"I looked at this game when the fixtures came out and hoped I'd be in the side.

"It will feel strange and I have a lot of friends there and I will have some family at the game.

"But we will try and get the job done on the pitch and then I can catch up with people afterwards."

Ridley has no regrets about leaving Scunthorpe, for whom he made 99 starts after turning professional in 2001.

"It was a tough decision and I remember toying it over and wondering whether I should go with them on their championship adventure.

"But I thought I'd be a bit part player and a passenger, so I left on good terms and it was the right decision for me at the time. I have no regrets and I have adapted to the travelling this season because I was used to living around the corner at Scunthorpe. Hopefully that has showed in my performances."

Long throw specialist Ridley has made 20 appearances for Cheltenham this season, already 10 more than he managed throughout last term.

He went on as an 86th minute substitute when Scunthorpe visited Whaddon Road last October.

The scores were then locked at 1-1, but Matthew Sparrow scored a last minute winner for boss Nigel Adkins' side to leave unlucky Cheltenham empty handed.

Ridley, who is sure of a rousing reception from the home fans, believes Cheltenham are capable of causing an upset tomorrow.

"Hopefully I'll get a good reception up there, but hopefully they will be giving me some stick at the end because we are winning," he said. "We are looking forward to the challenge of going there and playing one of the best teams in the league and we have enough quality to cause them problems."