TWO OF his former clubs will be going head to head at Home Park tomorrow but 200 miles away Peter Gilbert will be focusing on bringing through the next generation of young players.

Gilbert lined up for Southend United and Plymouth Argyle during his own playing career.

But he is now enjoying his role in the youth set up at West Bromwich Albion.

“I work with the under 18s and the under 23s and it’s something I really enjoy,” said Gilbert, 35.

“During my time here we’ve had some experienced first team managers and it’s been good to see how the likes of Alan Pardew, Tony Pulis and Darren Moore work.

“I decided coaching was the way for me to go quite early on after packing in playing and it’s been great.

“The under 18s have a friendly against Oxford tomorrow but after that I’ll certainly be checking the score from the Plymouth Southend game.”

Gilbert’s own spell in the game started at Birmingham but it was with Plymouth where he first experienced senior football.

“It was an excellent time at Plymouth , we won promotion and I have nothing but fond memories from my time there,” said Gilbert, who made 84 appearances for the Pilgrims.

“There was great camaraderie between the players and I’ll always be grateful for that opportunity they gave me.”

Gilbert joined Leicester City for £200,000 before also lining up at Sheffield Wednesday and Northampton Town.

But, in 2010, Gilbert decided to follow Paul Sturrock to the Shrimpers and vividly remembers his transfer talks with the Scotsman.

“Southend were going through a tough time back then and the manager was quite honest about it all, he told me there were no players and no money,” said Gilbert.

“But he gave me his word and although it was a challenging time I thought it was exciting and I never regretted making that decision.”

The new look Shrimpers finished 13th in Gilbert’s first season before losing in the play-offs in his second, something which still annoys the former left-back.

“We shouldn’t have let it slip and I do look back and become frustrated we didn’t go up,” said Gilbert.

“Myself personally I put off having operations that season. I played through the pain and it didn’t do me any favours. I lost form and confidence and should have come out the team. But I enjoyed my time there.”