NOTTINGHAM-born Cherries star Simon Francis is targeting victory over his hometown club as he bids to show them what they are missing.

The 26-year-old will lock horns with his local team when Cherries host Notts County at Seward Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

Francis started out as a young hopeful at Meadow Lane and played in the Magpies’ junior set-up for six years.

But he was left disappointed and searching for an alternative route into the professional ranks when County released him after opting not to offer youth-team terms.

The defender, who grew up in a Forest-supporting family, began his senior career with Bradford City and has since gone on to make more than 250 starts in the Football League.

Francis said: “I played for Notts County for six years from the age of nine to 15 or 16.

“I got released and didn’t get a youth team contract, so I was pretty gutted. I plied my trade elsewhere until I went up to Bradford.

“It is nice every time we play them. Away from home, all my family come because they are from Nottingham.

“But it will be a big game on Saturday, not just for me but for the team.

“Personally, I will enjoy facing them and, hopefully, we will get the win.”

Francis, who played in the Championship for both Sheffield United and Southend, wants to get back into the second flight with Cherries after making his loan move from Charlton Athletic permanent.

He is hoping to secure victory over his old club tomorrow in order to propel Cherries towards the top six – and please his family.

Asked if he felt he had something to show whenever he took on Notts County, Francis added: “In my early days, when I first made it, I couldn’t wait to play against them.

“But they were always a league or two lower than where I was playing. It was quite nice that they were not in the same league and I was playing higher than them.

“Now we are in the same division, I have played them a few times. It is always nice to play against them, especially if we win.

“My family are all Forest fans so they will be hoping we get a win as well.”

The Magpies arrive in Dorset having dropped to 11th position – two points behind Cherries – after failing to win in their past five League One matches. But they ended a four-match losing streak by drawing 2-2 with Huddersfield last time out, before returning to winning ways in style by recording a 2-0 FA Cup victory at Championship outfit Doncaster last weekend.