JOHN Kear is thrilled to be taking a Boxing Day trip down memory lane as the Bulls face Castleford in their opening friendly.

Kear goes back to his roots tomorrow morning when his side blow off the pre-season cobwebs at Wheldon Road.

The head coach, who played over 130 games in 10 years for his hometown club, admits it is always a special feeling returning to where his love for rugby league began.

Kear said: “I was born opposite the ground. The houses have been knocked down now.

“I was born in a terraced house on Wheldon Road, number 41, so it means a lot to me to go back there.

“I used to be the kid behind the posts when they were training kicking a ball about and playing touch rugby.

“You followed Cas and didn’t bother with the round ball at all. If you were no good at rugby, that’s when you played football.

“Thankfully I was all right at rugby and went down that path.

“It’s a club that I have got emotional ties with and when you play with them as long as I did, you’re bound to have that. It does give me a buzz and I will savour every minute of it.”

Kear will not be the only one with emotional ties between the sides tomorrow. Bulls academy product Jake Trueman, who left Odsal in 2017, is in the Cas line-up.

“Young Trueman will enjoy it as well,” added Kear. “He’s an ex-Bradford lad who has gone to Cas and made good.

“He’s been on a Great Britain tour despite not playing.

“He’s a good player and I’m sure he’ll be excited for it.

“It’s a great one for the supporters and you don’t need a massive crowd to create a big atmosphere down Wheldon Road.

“The club has altered completely in the 30 years since I played for Cas but the ground is still there.

“I’ve spent many a happy hour down there so it will mean a lot to me.”