United's FA Trophy clash against Hayes & Yeading earlier this month was special for one main reason. Though it represented the Us' second cup appearance in the space of four days following their FA Cup clash at Barrow, the game also saw the return of Billy Turley between the sticks.

Marking his first competitive appearance since last season's nail-biting finale against Northwich Victoria, 'Elvis' admits that returning to the starting line-up was an experience as strange as it was pleasing.

"It was nice to be back out there. I think the lads played well but I didn't really have much to do. It almost felt quite strange being back in the goal. I haven't been out there since the last game of last season, but it was nice being out there and I think we could perhaps have had a few more goals."

With a smaller crowd than usual present for the tie, Billy's trademark vocal performance was particularly difficult to ignore.

"I started screaming after about two minutes and I could hear a section of the supporters behind the goal laughing. I suppose when you're not playing people soon forget what you're like. There's no malice in my shouting, though. I'm only ever giving them encouragement or at worst a bit of a telling off. Ask Luke Foster who was here with me last season and he'll probably tell you that in a sadistic way defenders enjoy it. It keeps them on their toes and it keeps them focussed."

Though his verbal contributions are much the same in training as they are in a competitive match, was it a shock to the system for the likes of fellow returnee Rhys Day to feel the full force of his antics?

"I've been on a few nights out with him so I think he's used to it by now! He's my golfing partner as well so he knows how I am. It's just the way that I am. I tried to change it when I was younger and it affected my game massively. Ryan [Clarke] has got a different temprament to me. He's more laid back and I'm extremely vocal, but you can't change that."

It is of course Clarke who has taken Billy's regular starting slot for the first half of this season, wrestling the jersey away from him after nearly five years. Much like those who have a job to do further up the park, the veteran stopper acknowledges that the current tussle is simply part of the game.

"Whether I'm playing or not it's my job at the end of the day. The team has been fantastic this year and I take solace in the way that they've performed. At the end of the day it's down to me to keep coming in and training hard and giving Ryan some competition. We've all got one aim this season and everyone is pulling in the right direction."

With the halfway point of the season reached and Christmas upon us, Turley admits that now is the time for a more pressing issue to take priority: organising a Secret Santa system in the dressing room.

"A couple of the new lads have asked if we do one but we've never done one that I can remember, so I think we might see if we can get something sorted before Christmas. I think if I could get anyone to buy for it'd have to be Chappy. I'd give him a voucher towards some plastic surgery so that he could get ten or twenty pounds off of his nose reduction. I think if all of the lads were willing to chip in we could probably put away a decent amount for him."

While team spirit is clearly high going into the festive season, Billy is keen to refer to the team's recent trip to the Oxford Children's Hospital as something that helps keep people grounded.

"I've got twin girls who are five going on fifteen. We must've had our Christmas decorations up since September! They're so spoilt, and going to the children's hospital and seeing so many poorly boys and girls was a really touching experience. I sat my girls down when I got home and reminded them how lucky they are because visiting places like that can give you a new perspective on things. The nurses there are brilliant and it's just heartbreaking that some of those children have to spend Christmas in hospital rather than at home with their mums and dads."

Back on the pitch, Boxing Day sees United entertaining Rushden & Diamonds - the club Turley joined the Us from in June 2005 - for their first December 26th home fixture since 2007. Do Boxing Day fixtures produce a special atmosphere on the pitch as much as they do in the stands?

"They do. You always prefer to have home games on Boxing Day because it's local to everyone, but the players have got to be professional about it. You can't go stuffing yourself with Turkey too much. When I was at Rushden one player had the full works for Christmas dinner and to this day I've never seen anyone be as sick on the pitch as he was! The last I heard was that we'd done more than six thousand tickets for the game already and I think it'll be nearly a sell-out. I think nearly everyone wants to get out of the house come Boxing Day, so that should help us out even more."

With the Yellows set to make the return journey to the Northamptonshire side on January 1st, is there a part of Billy that wishes he could partake in some proper New Year's celebrations?

"I've never really liked New Year so it won't bother me! I think it's all overhyped and overpriced. Hopefully we'll have our Christmas and New Year celebrations all rolled into one come the summer."

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