I went from Anelka’s Bolton to playing with painters and decorators ... a great learning curve!

so that was a shock to the system. Going from being at Bolton and playing with Nicolas Anelka to Stafford Rangers and playing with a gas-fitter and an engineer was a bit weird.

“It was a great learning curve, though, just like when I was at Rochdale. We got to the League Two play-offs and Keith Hill was a demanding manager.

“He was not scared to tell me if I was not doing right, but would also put an arm round you if you needed it.”

And what about his days serving Big Macs and fries to paying punters to earn a few quid?

“I got released from Newcastle when I was 16 and then I had two years at Gateshead College,” recalled Basham.

“I basically needed to get myself out and about for work. About five miles from the college there was a Mcdonald’s. I had a little moped and I used to drive there and pick up my money from doing night shifts.

“I just learned a lot about industry and it’s proved to be a really good thing because it’s shown me how to live my life and to have respect for everybody.

“It shows you can work for something and still have that dream at the end of it as well. It also makes you feel how privileged you are to have that dream.

“I still drive through that Mcdonald’s and there’s still the same staff working there. I’m the one playing in the Premier League, but it’s still nice to say hello.”

At 32, Basham is relishing the chance to blossom in the top flight, and he’s right to stress that the Blades can be incredibly proud of their season.

He added: “There was just a little bit of disappointment that we didn’t get the European place that the boys deserved.

“I don’t think the lockdown really helped everyone in this team – but it’s been tough for everybody.

“Everything was just a little bit upside-down for us, but when you look back at how well we did, we’ve got to be proud. I think we were outstanding.

“We had a ninth-place finish in the Premier League, with the clean sheets that we kept.

“Dean Henderson was unbelievable in goal and we’ve got international boys coming through like John Egan, which is fantastic.”