Every one is special. Especially after the disappointment of last year, losing out on the last day, it is a great achievement by the lads.

I do not wish to hide my origins, nor do I seek to make it a subject of conversation. I am what I am.

I've put myself forward to be involved. Whether I get picked, we'll have to wait and see. Obviously everybody is excited about it, about the Olympics coming to London and the football being played in different parts of Britain.

I had my footballing heroes such as Bryan Robson and Diego Maradona but my dad was a rugby league star, and he was my real hero. But the relationship with my mum was rocky and we saw things that would affect any youngster.

Many players want to make as much money as they can and change teams for ten grand. How is that going to make much difference to their lives?

In my career, there've been three stages really. There's been the stage when you come into a team, you don't feel the nerves, you just go out and play. Then through your 20s you start thinking a lot more about the games and what's at stake. And then, as you get more experienced towards the end of your career, you enjoy it a lot more and you're a lot more relaxed.

A lot of people don't know that my father is black