I made no secret of the fact I'd love to stay in football and to do that, you need badges. I'm starting them and that's the next step for me - to continue this next season.

I don't know what I'd have become if I hadn't been a footballer; I wrote down 'dustbin man' on a careers questionnaire at school till my dad made me change it to 'joiner'.

I have always said that the best feeling in the world is scoring a goal. Don't tell my missus that, but it is. When that ball hits the back of the net, it is fantastic.

Yes, I do like to be in control. I do like everything to be laid out, to know what I'm doing. I'm very impatient. I like things done yesterday, which is probably a fault of mine. I like things to be neat and tidy and organised. I say what I want and show what I want and I keep things private.

I always dreamed about scoring at St. James' Park. I fancied my chances and the ball flew into the net. I was ecstatic.

I've got a great life that I really enjoy. But there is something chewing at me inside: that adrenaline rush from football, I miss that.

One accusation you can't throw at me is that I've always done my best.