Tonight’s Sky Bet League One clash will be a special one for Richie Barker, who goes toe-to-toe on the sidelines with a former team-mate and manager.
Caretaker boss Barker spent time together with Chesterfield chief Danny Wilson back in the mid 1990s, when Barker was a youngster coming through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday and Wilson a seasoned-pro coming towards the end of his playing career.
“I used to clean his boots back in 1992,” Barker told MK Dons PlayerHD. “I then had a brief spell when I was a pro with him for a little bit, as he was coming towards the end of his career.”
Ten years later, Barker found himself playing under Wilson at Hartlepool United – Wilson actually signed the then-prolific goalscorer, who rewarded his ex-team-mate by scoring 27 goals in 73 games.
"I learnt a lot from him. I was a senior player at the time and he knew where I wanted to go in terms of my coaching.
"He was good to me then and he's been good to me ever since. He's a proper football person, having been in the game for years but he's always got time for people."
“I used to clean his boots back in 1992,” Barker told MK Dons PlayerHD. “I then had a brief spell when I was a pro with him for a little bit, as he was coming towards the end of his career.”
Ten years later, Barker found himself playing under Wilson at Hartlepool United – Wilson actually signed the then-prolific goalscorer, who rewarded his ex-team-mate by scoring 27 goals in 73 games.
"I learnt a lot from him. I was a senior player at the time and he knew where I wanted to go in terms of my coaching.
"He was good to me then and he's been good to me ever since. He's a proper football person, having been in the game for years but he's always got time for people."
“We want to start well, get the crowd behind us and hopefully we can do that, then they’ll help us out.”
“It’s important we continue the run that we’ve created and get something out of the game – hopefully three points.
While there may be a few memories shared ahead of kick-off tonight, once the whistle blows there will be no time for sentiments, with an important three points up for grabs for both managers and their teams. Tickets for tonight's clash with Chesterfield are priced at £22 adults, £17 over-65s/under-21s, £7 under-18s and FREE under-12s, while members and groups are entitled to discounts.
To purchase tickets click here, visit the Box Office/centre:mk kiosk or call 0333 200 5343.Tickets can also be bought from the cash-only booths around Stadium MK ahead of kick-off.
