BILEL Mohsni said his return to Southend United felt like a family reunion on Saturday.

The popular Frenchman was back at Roots Hall  for a game to remember his former Shrimpers team-mate Chris Barker.

And Mohsni – who had not visited Blues since leaving in 2013 - thoroughly enjoyed seeing a number of familiar faces both on and off the pitch.

“Southend will always be the club in my heart because they made me a professional footballer,” said Mohsni.

“The people at the club treated me so well it was like a family.

“When I came back it was still the same with those people and felt like a son who had come back from working away.”

Echo: Back - Bilel Mohsni returned to play in a game to remember Chris Barker Back - Bilel Mohsni returned to play in a game to remember Chris Barker

Mohsni scored 18 goals in 80 games during an eventful three year spell with the Shrimpers.

And he was overwhelmed by the reception he received on his return.

“It was a sad reason to come back but I enjoyed it so much and it was very, very good,” said Mohsni.

“When I was at Southend I was always very close with the fans but I was expecting them to have forgotten me.

“It was so many years ago and they would have seen so many players since then but they were still very kind with me and very nice.

“I saw fans who showed me pictures from my time here before when they were very young.

“Now they’re adults and some of them had babies themselves.

“It was amazing.”

Echo: Reunited - Bilel Mohsni lined up alongside a number of his former Southend team-mates Reunited - Bilel Mohsni lined up alongside a number of his former Southend team-mates

Such was Mohsni’s popularity it took him 40 minutes to walk across the car park due to the amount of supporters waiting for photographs and autographs.

But, once inside the stadium, Mohsni was also happy to see a number of familiar faces in the dressing room.

“It was good to see my former team-mates,” said Mohsni.

“Barry Corr was always really good with me and he helped me to settle in the UK.

“He is amazing with me and is a good friend.

“I actually lost my phone a while ago so I had lost all my English contacts but now I have them all again so I can stay in touch with him and everyone else too.

“I was delighted to see him and all of my old team-mates.

“It was very good to get everyone together because I know how hard that can be.”

Echo: Overwhelmed - Bilel Mohsni was surprised by how well he received at Roots Hall Overwhelmed - Bilel Mohsni was surprised by how well he received at Roots Hall

Mohsni skippered the Southend side in Saturday’s match which has already made more than £11,000 for South East and Central Essex Mind.

But it could well prove to be one of the last times the 34-year-old steps onto the field.

“It might be the time to stop playing football but I don’t know,” said Mohsni.

“I enjoyed Saturday a lot and I didn’t get sent off like everyone kept saying but I don’t know if I will retire.

“I will think about it when I’m on holiday and see if I will stop.”

Since leaving Blues, Mohsni has gone on to play for a number of clubs including Rangers, Dundee United, Grimsby Town and Barnet.

Echo: Support - Bilel Mohsni applauds Chris Barker's brother Richie Support - Bilel Mohsni applauds Chris Barker's brother Richie

He also finished last season playing for Dungannon Swifts in Northern Ireland.

But should Mohsni opt to retire he will certainly not be short of things to do and he is already planning to become a pilot.

“I will be a pilot and I’m passing all of the tests,” said Mohsni.

“I started with my driving licence, then my motorbike licence, then my boat licence and the plane licence will be next.

“I don’t know if I will ever actually be a pilot but I want to get the licence and then see what I will do with it.

“I like to try to discover things other than football.

“I have my certificates in rock climbing, I love scuba diving and I’m one level away from being an instructor.

“I don’t want to be an instructor but scuba diving is something I enjoy.

“But I want to discover more and more and learn as much as I can.

“After football it’s another life and I want to do a lot with it.”

Echo: Flashback - Bilel Mohsni celebrates during his spell with Southend United Flashback - Bilel Mohsni celebrates during his spell with Southend United

But he does still have one ambition left in football.

“I’d love to start my own academy,” said Mohsni.

“I worked with kids when I was younger before football and maybe I could do that again but with football this time.

“It’s a project in my head that I want to build slowly and if it happens it would be great.

“Maybe I might have to look for some land in Southend!”