Quotes from Jimmy Bullard

I was always intrigued by management and I wish I could turn the clock back and pick the brains of each of my managers.

Jimmy White was my massive idol.

I was still playing for Gravesend at 18 and it seemed that every other kid had been snapped up except me.

If I have a keeper who can play like a central midfielder, then I have 11 players rather than 10. Ive got a deep sweeper.

When I first arrived at Leatherhead, I banned our keeper from kicking it long.

My old knee injury has never allowed me to get back to where I want to be as a football player; it's always hindered me.

I want to be out there playing but at the same time I know my knee won't allow me to play at my best and to keep my place in the team. I'm hindering myself more than I am helping myself for the future.

I never felt any pressure to be funny. A lot of the funny stuff I did was more off-the-cuff. I might be bored with an hour-and-a-half until afternoon training and itd be a chance to mess about.

I struggled to get into any sort of team as a kid, but I struggled along and, though it's amazing how long it has actually taken me, I am finally in the Premiership and to play against my old mates from West Ham, the team I supported as a boy, was unbelievable.

Fans booing when a ball was passed backwards used to spin me out. Theyd rather cheer a right winger, running 100mph down the flank and then crossing into the stand. Thats no good.

I know how far a fiver can go in non-League, let alone 100,000! So it is a lot of money. That money can be spread across the country to grassroots football which is fantastic. It can help them with things like electricity bills, new kits, new footballs and lawnmowers.

But in football my main aim was to become a pro. I became one and played in the first division. But then I reached the Premier League and before I knew it I was in the England squad.

I suppose when its your own life you dont realise what youve achieved and what youve done until youve stepped out and looked back.

When I used to play for Peterborough I played against loads of players who, now I've stepped up into the Premiership, I believe could have played at this level. You just need to have the rub of the green.

I'm not always nuts, you can't be nuts 100 per cent of the time, I don't even think I'm nuts.

The truth is that Roy Hodgson and I never clicked because I was far too outgoing for his liking and I had to rein that in when I was in front of him.