2nd Chance / Never go back

[TheDonnyPop]

Ian's return has got me thinking, which players have left the club, returned and been better in their 2nd stint.

Rules
- Players must have left the club permanently, not on loan (rules out Copps)
- Players must have played for a different club in between stints (rules out players signing after a loan spell)

[Prez]

Tim Ryan

[Donny Exile in York]

Colin Douglas

[curley]

Russell Wilcox

[idler]

Alan Warboys.

[The Dav]

Billy Sharp

[donnyspadge]

Ian Lawlor

[TheDonnyPop]

Billy Sharp

Better in his 2nd stint?

[The Dav]

Nah ! fair point....

[Canadian Rover]

Tommy Rowe (imagine where we'd actually be without his influence) he's played centre half, full back mainly. He's very committed to the club and very very knowledgeable about the game and is a true leader.

So undoubtedly Tommy Rowe.

[TonySoprano]

Wellens .

Edit .
Not better in 2nd spell

[RoversInSpain]

Chris Brown

[NickDRFC]

Tommy Rowe (imagine where we'd actually be without his influence) he's played centre half, full back mainly. He's very committed to the club and very very knowledgeable about the game and is a true leader.

So undoubtedly Tommy Rowe.

Rowe was a shining light in our relegation season but last year was only really OK (mitigating circumstances that he was playing in a number of different positions and not fully fit a lot of the time). I’d say it’s only debatable that he has been better for us second time round

[Canadian Rover]

Andy Butler

[Branton Rover]

Laurie Sheffield

[Bollinger]

Alick Jeffrey.

From what I’ve read, clearly not better second time around, but just as lethal.

[Upton Rover]

Donny dog

[Reg of the Rovers]

Grant McCann 

[Dutch Uncle]

Graeme 'Willie' Watson

[Dutch Uncle]

Laurie Sheffield

The bar was set very high first time round, and IMHO Laurie (my all time favourite player btw) didn't really reach the same heights

[Michael Shaw]

Crikey, some people have darn good memories. I can barely remember Tim Ryan, Colin Douglas, Russell Wilcox, let alone whether they were better first or second time. That's dedication...

[Bentley Bullet]

Billy Sharp

Better in his 2nd stint?

He was our top scorer!

[NickDRFC]

Crikey, some people have darn good memories. I can barely remember Tim Ryan, Colin Douglas, Russell Wilcox, let alone whether they were better first or second time. That's dedication...

I’m too young for Wilcox and Douglas but have very vague memories of Tim Ryan’s first spell being entirely meh. When we re-signed him, he was a bang average left back but moved to centre half and was outstanding. He then moved back to left back (I think it was to accommodate Foster and Albrighton in the middle) and was brilliant again, and added long range goals to his game. He was easily one of my favourite players in that spell. SHOOOOOOOOOOOT!

Edit - also saw and had a chat with him out in Cologne for the World Cup in ‘06 when my dad and I were having a pint with Andy Liney. It was about 1pm and he was absolutely steaming, topless and wearing a bucket hat. Went up another notch in my estimation from an already extremely high bar.

[Branton Rover]

David Harle came back via Exeter

[Chris Black come back]

Wilcox was superb second time. Peerless.

[Sammy Chung was King]

What about getting George Friend back for a second spell, just been released by Birmingham?, unlikely with them wages I know.

[Draytonian III]

David Harle came back for a 3rd stint via Peterborough, he was born on the exact same day as Ian Snodin 15/08/63

[Draytonian III]

Ian Snodin via Leeds ,Everton etc came back and played a couple of times

[ravenrover]

Copps........ just saying :-]]

[drfchound]

Wilcox was superb second time. Peerless.

I was playing in the same team as Russ earlier today.
Still a quality footballer.