TOP OF THE POPS/NOVEMBER 1999

The healthy-livin', sporty Nicky gives us a peek at the hallowed grounds of Home Farm Football Club in Dublin and the very pitch where he kicked off his famed footie career.

"Back then football was my life. Nothing else mattered. School work, girls, cars... nah! I lived, breathed, drank and ate football. I was picked to play for Home Farm at the age of eight after being spotted by scouts at a local tournament. It's a good thing I loved football cos this place was like a military boot camp! Our coach was very strict. We had to have spotless boots, clean socks and if you were late for practice you didn't get to play the next day. The training was tough, especially when it was rainy and cold! As a goalkeeper I had to work extra hard cos I wasn't running around much during matches.
I've never owned a pair of lucky boots like some players but I had a lot of lucky charms which I'd keep in my goalie's glove bag at the back of the net. My granny is very holy so she'd give me miracle prayers and guardian angels. My family were really supportive but I did get annoyed with my dad when he shouted at the referee during matches. I once showed him the red card and made him leave the football ground cos he was embarrassing me so much!
At home I've got all my trophies on display. My own personal favourite is for the best goalkeeper at the European Youth Championships. It was a prestigious award to win cos it meant I was regarded as the best young keeper in the whole of Europe. After any match I'd always want a warm bath. Did we all get in the bath together? Yeah, when I played for Leeds we did! We'd all climb into the Turkish bath! They're like big swimming pools really so it's not as bad as it sounds!
When I was younger if anyone asked me what I wanted to grow up to be I'd say a footballer every time. It's funny though cos when I was at Leeds this guy heard me singing in the dressing room and he said , 'Hey, you should be in a boy band!' I'm sure I just laughed at him!"

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© 2001 Pami

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