Former Rotherham United midfielder Steve Thompson admitted that he still holds many fond memories from his time with the club, after his recent visit with Preston North End.
The influential playmaker returned to South Yorkshire as Prestr first team coach, after joining the Lilywhites during the close season.
The 50-year-old enjoyed a 20 year playing career which included three years at Millmoor, where he helped the Millers to promotion from the old Division Three under Ronnie Moore in 2000.
“I had three good years there until I left and I always look back at Rotherham with fond memories,” Thompson told the Millers’ official matchday programme.
“Millmoor was a great place and I’ve got great memories from three happy years there. I still keep in touch with the people and I’m delighted the club is where it is. Steve Evans has done a fantastic job to get them in the Championship and keep them there.”
The Oldham-born midfielder recalls making the daily commute across the Pennines with his fellow Lancashire-based team mates which, alongside the man management skills of Ronnie Moore and John Breckin, helped provide a jovial dressing room atmosphere.
“I had some great memories there,” Thompson added.
“I left Burnley to come to Rotherham and I used to share a car with Mike Pollitt, Warney and Alan Knill and we kept each other going.
“I had the experience with a lot of young lads around me and I’d like to think I helped them in that respect. We had good players in the team, we enjoyed it and we all bought into what was going on there.”
Thompson was at the club right at the start of a golden period for the club with the Millers going onto achieve another promotion into the second tier, before enjoying four seasons in The Championship under Ronnie Moore.
“We had that mentality that we worked hard and we played good football and that’s why we won promotion,” Thompson ascerted.
“You go where football takes you and I have no regrets about my time at Rotherham United."