JAMIE CURETON

You’re among a handful of players – alongside the likes of Peter Shilton and Roberto Carlos – to have racked up more than 1,000 games. Are you glad to be in that sort of company?

I never expected to play this long – 35 was always the retirement age when I was coming through. My aim was to have some fun, earn a decent living and enjoy my career. It wasn’t until my early 30s that I realised I didn’t want to stop so soon. I still had the hunger, and decided that I’d just move down the leagues and even play non-league football if the opportunity came along. It was only as my 1,000th appearance approached