Starting out
I remember playing for my school, Boarshaw County Primary School in Middleton, probably at eight or nine. My first pair of boots looked like adidas but they had four stripes! I remember having to put the goals up - no netting, just frames - and the games were a little bit of kick-and-rush back then. I started at left-back, then centre-half, goalkeeper, midfield... I played all the positions. Let's say I was a utility player!
Becoming a player
I was 14 at the time, playing for my town team, Rochdale, when I got spotted by Ted Taylor, who was a scout for Blackburn.