"AFTER THAT MISS AGAINST FRANCE.I NEVER TRIED TO CHIP A KEEPER IN MY CAREER AGAIN"

The tireless midfielder talks FA Cup heartbreak and finds common ground between himself and Pele (er, sort of)

- Brian Beard

Is it true that you were forced to choose between football and life as an electrician?

It wasn't exactly a choice because I wasn't actually going to sign for Rochdale - it was intended to be a non-contract deal. I was an apprentice electrician at the time, and when I finished work I would turn up at Rochdale wearing overalls. I was often on the bench and think I only played a handful of games over the next two years. And no, I never had to fix any electrical appliances at Spotland! I wouldn't have been trusted anywhere near anything like that. I never fully qualified and it was in the final year of my apprenticeship that Crewe came knocking.

How did that Crewe move transpire?

It's quite funny: I scored against Crewe in an FA Cup match and was later told they were aware that I was a non-contract player. They then watched me for the next two or three games and maybe spotted something in me. Signing with Rochdale was never an option. I remember speaking to the manager at the time, Jimmy Greenhoff, and he admitted he was about to get sacked - and Les Chapman, who briefly took over, said I shouldn't sign for Dale. He said that Crewe was the best place to start my career. He was right, too.

You were part of a Crewe side that boasted David Platt, John Pemberton and a host of other players who went on to bigger and better things...