Early Years and School Days

Where to begin? Well I was born on the 5th of October, 1982, in John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

I lived in Bicester until the age of four before moving to Bierton, near Aylesbury. I only lived there until I was seven but within this time I’d joined a local Sunday football team called Bedgrove Dynamos -  a team that I stayed with until the age of 11 when I joined Watford.

When I was seven we moved to Longwick, where my parents still currently live, and I attended Longwick Primary School as a boy...

My Family and Friends

I’m the oldest of four boys.  Being the oldest you’d think my brothers would look up to me and want to follow in my footsteps. That couldn’t be further from the truth!  Until recently none of them had shown any interest in football whatsoever. My dad has always been a big football fan and he’s the biggest reason that football has taken such a prominent role in my life...

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Football – Kick Off and Youth Team Days

As I mentioned, I started with Bedgrove Dynamos and stayed with them until the age of 11. It was then that I was aware of a Watford scout present at one of our games.  This happened to be a game that we won 10-0 and a game that I didn’t touch the ball! Thankfully my manager at the time recommended me to the scout and I was subsequently given trials...

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2001/02 - Under Luca and 2002/03 - Under Ray

Big changes were anticipated with the arrival of Luca Vialli, unfortunately things didn’t go quite to plan and a disappointing season meant only one year at the helm for him.

For me it did mean the introduction of Kevin Hitchcock who has played a major role in my career to date and was a big reason I made the year-long loan to Blackburn – more of that later...

2003/04 – What a Nightmare!

The following season didn’t quite go as hoped. In fact it was a complete nightmare for so many reasons. It seemed doomed from the beginning, firstly I twisted an ankle one morning when I decided to go out early to work on my kicking.

I’d return to the physio room to be told I’d just been handed another call-up, which I therefore had to turn down...

2004/05 – The Cheek of it!

The following season I found the breakthrough I was hoping for. Unfortunately for a keeper it normally requires an injury or sending-off for you to get your chance and that was exactly what happened.

Alec sustained an injury that would allow me to start the season, and this wouldn’t be the only time when an injury to Alec would give me my chance – more of that later.

2005/06 – Off to Rovers

The next season was here and the new regime under Aidy would soon be in full flow. Changes were again made and players were coming and going faster than ever. The first meeting we had he informed us of his goals for the season: automatic promotion was the goal and Play-Offs the worst-case scenario...

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Dragons' Den

Since appearing on the show I think I’ve received more recognition for that than for my football!  It was a great experience and something I’m glad I went through. It all began as a joke really, as a regular viewer of the show it was my friend Daren who suggested that we apply for the show with our idea of a selection of headwear stores...

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2006/07 – My Return

The new season was here and I was determined to make an impression. I reported back and would initially be up against Alec and a young lad we’d signed from Lincoln, Scott Loach. It was widely expected that Ben Foster would be returning to us on loan at some point in the near future...

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2007/08

Well as of writing this we are well and truly in the battle for promotion, hopefully when I add to this at the end of the season we will once again be in the Premiership. Fingers crossed!

Future Dreams

I’ve included this section just as much as a reminder to myself as well as pointing out where I’d love to see myself at some point in the future. I’m a huge believer in setting goals for yourself and I love a good quote!...

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