I love football... Owen

Former Manchester United and England striker Michael Owen reveals who he used to go and watch and his earliest memories.

MY EARLIEST MEMORY OF FOOTBALL IS...
The 1990 World Cup, Gary Lineker and England doing so well, getting to the semi finals before getting knocked out by Germany.

MY FOOTBALLING HERO WAS...
Gary Lineker was my footballing hero. I supported Everton as a kid and he was scoring goals for Everton and England - the two teams I followed.

MY FAVOURITE GROUND WAS...
Chester is where I was born and brought up and my dad played there for many years, did really well there, had the best year's of his footballing career there and we used to get the odd free ticket there so that was probably why we used to go there. Since then the stadium has changed. Now it's at the Deva Stadium but Chester will always hold a place in my heart.

MY FAVOURITE PIECE OF MEMORABILIA IS...
My trophy for European Player of the Year in 2001. Came after a great season with Liverpool and England - we had just beaten Germany in Munich 5-1 - and there had been a few other great games as well. It was a fantastic achievement.

IF I DIDN'T HAVE FOOTBALL GROWING UP I WOULD...
I would definitely have taken an interest in another sport. I boxed for three or four years and had about two bouts and that was quite enjoyable. I was quite good at snooker - maybe snooker. Although now when I look back I think I'm small enough to have been a jockey.

YOU WOULDN'T KNOW I USED TO...
I couldn't have played football unless I knew my dad was standing behind the goal watching me. If he was one or two minutes lateI just couldn't concentrate. I'd be looking at the gates to see when Dad was coming.

I LOVE FOOTBALL BECAUSE...
I love football because of the feeling you get at the end of a game if you've won. If you've played well you really feel a part of a good performance and there is nothing quite like driving home, and the two or three days after the game, because you are on a high. The feeling you get from winning a game is unmatched in any other walk of life.